Indigenous Engagement & Communications
Vice-President (Indigenous)
Position number: 30394
Date posted: June 12, 2026
Events Manager - AA6 (AESES)
Existing Project Full-Time (Budget Funded)
Work schedule:
35 Hours/week (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm)
Salary:
$36.10 to $52.05 per hour ($65,702.00 to $94,731.00 per annum)
Appointment Dates
August 10, 2026 to August 20, 2027
For more information please contact: Jennette Trenchard - [email protected]
Preference will be given to Indigenous (First Nations, Metis or Inuit) candidates. Please self-declare in your cover letter.
MINIMUM FORMAL EDUCATION/TRAINING:
- Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree, preferably related to communications, marketing, education, or a related field is required.
- An acceptable combination of education and experience may be considered.
EXPERIENCE:
- Six years of directly-related experience in University or non-profit event management is required.
- Experience leading teams, volunteers and large on-site event teams is required.
- Proven record of success in organizing high-profile public and large-scale events is required.
- Experience managing event budgets and annual forecasting is required.
- Proven history working in a multi-layered, complex organization is required.
- Experience is creating digital content is required.
- Extensive experience, knowledge, competency with respect to Indigenous cultures and histories required.
- Experience working with Indigenous communities, Elders, residential schools survivors and organizations required.
- Experience and ability to independently make decisions in a timely fashion is required.
- Experience in building strategic partnerships with external organizations is required.
- Experience in negotiating with vendors is required.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Strong Indigenous cultural awareness and knowledge is required.
- Must be a visionary thinker with the ability to identify content, speakers, and formats most appropriate for events.
- Outstanding project and event management skills including budget management is required.
- Decision-making, critical thinking, and building strategic partnerships is required.
- Ability to coordinate large, multi-faceted in-person and digital events with professionalism for a variety of audiences is required.
- High level of organization and prioritization skills is required.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise employees and volunteers is required.
- Must be an expert in coordination and logistics.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, coordinate and establish work priorities and deadlines and chair meetings is required.
- Excellent communications skills (verbal and written) and ability to communicate and present materials in an articulate, knowledgeable, and diplomatic manner is required.
- Ability to make sound independent judgments and utilize problem-solving abilities is required.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various levels of internal and external contacts is required.
- Ability to write promotional content and develop and execute promotional strategies is required.
- Must be a dynamic and charismatic public speaker with significant related experience and the ability to present an upbeat, positive, and energetic attitude.
- Ability to learn quickly and retain new knowledge, be proactive in learning and to further common goals of the department is required.
- Superior time management skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently is required.
- Demonstrated ability to work in close collaboration and partnership with academic and administrative colleagues, students, alumni, Elders, residential school survivors and community partners is required.
- Ability to relate to Indigenous post-secondary students in an effective manner is required.
- Demonstrated ability to deal with high demand and/or stressful contacts is required.
- Strong work ethic and be willing to take the initiative to solve problems and learn new tasks is required.
- High energy level and a positive attitude, and the ability to enjoy challenges and cope well with change is required.
- High level of commitment to The University of Manitoba community and the OVPI is required.
- Proficiency in Word, Excel and PowerPoint and knowledge of social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)and/or the ability to learn and adapt to new computer and web programs, and social media trends quickly is required.
- Satisfactory work record, including satisfactory attendance and punctuality, is required.
OTHER JOB RELATED QUALIFICATIONS:
- A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle is required.
- Must be physically capable of performing duties as assigned, including driving and standing for lengthy periods and lifting display units and boxes weighing up to 15 kg.
- The ability to speak an Indigenous language or French is an asset.
- Prepare and implement event strategies with an emphasis on Indigenous engagement, OVPI Strategic plans, and the larger UM Strategic plans.
- Responsible for strategic event planning, implementation, assessment, and oversight of key events on behalf of the Office of Vice-President, Indigenous (OVPI).
- Provide strategic advice to the University community in identifying opportunities and challenges regarding Indigenous inclusion related to event planning processes.
- Establish KPIs and other appropriate benchmarks to consistently measure and evaluate OVPI events and ensure they stay aligned with key institutional priorities.
- Develop and maintain strong, collaborative, mutually beneficial relationships with areas of strategic importance at the University.
- Provide direction and serve as a central resource for campus partners and faculties on event strategy, traditions, protocols, content and best practices to drive excellence and ensure participants' the best possible outcome and experience for OVPI events.
- This position acts in an advisory capacity for processes related to event management and the procurement of equipment, platforms, services, and products used to execute events.
- Provides guidance on the protocols and processes for engaging with colleagues, donors, vendors, and clients both on and off-campus.
- Provide direction in all aspects of risk management as it relates to the health and safety of those working at and attending the events.
- Advise and collaborate with the OVPI’s Communications Coordinator as well as the Marketing & Communication Office to create communications strategies for all events.
- Prepare pre-and post-event analyses, year-end and periodic progress reports, assess opportunities, make recommendations for improving services to internal and external partners, and implement those improvements as appropriate. In addition, continuously evaluate and contribute to the University's special events policies and practices to ensure efficiency.
- Maintain and revise strategic sponsorship, partnership and engagement processes and procedures.
- Independently responsible for driving the development and delivery of events, and for managing annual event work plans for the Office of Vice President, Indigenous (OVPI).
- Lead the creative development of event concepts, themes, agendas and programs that support the mission of the OVPI.
- Develop event implementation plans in conjunction with the Executive Director, including timelines, purpose and budgets to advance key priorities.
- Manage high level events for the successful delivery of all details, including logistics, invitations and guest lists, accommodations, venue, catering, vendors, entertainment, design, transportation, parking, wayfinding, speeches, presentations, audio-visual equipment, event programs, agendas, video production and other elements as needed.
- Create, organize and manage in-person and digital Indigenous-related events geared towards students, staff, faculty, and community.
- Liaise with the Indigenous community across all campuses as well as Indigenous, municipal, provincial and federal governments, and Indigenous organizations from the wider community for participation and planning of events.
- Chair meetings and make decisions for Indigenous-related events.
- Manage coordination of Indigenous ceremonial gatherings and provide support as required.
- Work with internal and external vendors to negotiate contracts on behalf of the University for event services and ultimately oversee the execution of said services.
- Implement mechanisms for event evaluation and feedback. Create follow-up reports on event activities.
- Review and approve development plans and final event project plans with milestone markers along the way.
- Approve final event communications being sent to senior administration.
- Provide the Executive Director with event final reporting for approval.
- Provide guidance and direction in the development of event concepts and project plans.
- Represent OVPI at various functions throughout the year, both on and off-campus.
- Contribute to an Indigenous-led event guide for events on campus.
- Intake sponsorship, partnership and engagement requests, providing Executive Director with recommendations for approval.
- Supervise employees, including hiring, disciplinary action, probation period, performance evaluation, coaching, mentoring, and timekeeping.
- Administer performance reviews and provide feedback.
- Provide leadership for staff and student volunteer coordination, including finding, retaining and working with volunteers, faculty/staff colleagues and vendors to achieve the goals established for each event.
- Coordinate, train, and supervise volunteer staff and ensure compliance with university best practices, procedures and policies.
- Develop and implement training opportunities for staff to continuously upgrade skill sets and provide pre-event and onsite learning experiences.
- Create schedules, manage event site hours, flex schedules and overtime for staff to ensure it remains within union and fiscal markers.
- Create and maintain a positive work environment with open lines of communication.
- Develop annual budgets and forecast costs of production, technical and promotional needs.
- Evaluate the value and appropriateness of event expenditures.
- Create and manage expenditures for event budgets as assigned.
- Preparation, tracking and reconciliation of honoraria, travel costs, or appropriate remuneration for meeting and event attendees.
- Collaborate with Finance Officer to reconcile event budgets and review financial reports for accuracy.
- Provide budgetary analysis and report to event host departments.
- Ensure compliance with University accounting, audit and fiscal controls.
- Other duties as assigned.
About us:
As part of the Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba, the Indigenous Engagement and Communications team works collaboratively with Indigenous communities and partners across the university to co-design programs and initiatives that support Indigenous students; to highlight and share Indigenous research and knowledge(s); and to celebrate First Nations, Métis and Inuit success.
About the role:
The Events Manager creates over-arching and individual event and engagement plans to deepen relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, advancing the Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous)'s strategic priorities. This position is responsible for planning, organizing, executing and managing numerous events that are hosted by the OVPI and its units.
The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).
If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.
Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provisions of "The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act" (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae will be provided to participating members of the search process.
