New job Social Studies & Northern Studies Coordinator - Term in Northwest Territories

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) provides the residents of the Northwest Territories with access to quality programs, services and support to assist them in making informed and productive choices for themselves and their families with regard to education, training, careers, employment and labour, child development, languages, culture and heritage.

The Social Studies and Northern Studies Coordinator is responsible to lead, manage and coordinate the development, implementation, in-service and evaluation northern studies and social studies curriculum, inclusive schooling and student support services for all educational jurisdictions in the Northwest Territories (NWT) to ensure that students receive a high quality of education that meets their needs.

Reporting to the Director of Curriculum Development and Student Assessment (CDSA) and located in Yellowknife, the Coordinator is responsible for northern studies and socials studies curriculum and program development, as well as, managing, supporting, promoting and actively encouraging: student-centered/family-centered, culture-based, process-orientated, research-based, interactive, experiential, competency-based, cognitively challenging, inclusive education in accordance with the NWT Education Act, the NWT Official Languages Act, the NWT Day Care Act, regulations, ECE Departmental philosophies, guidelines, Frameworks and Action Plans, Ministerial Directives, curricula, and inter-jurisdictional initiatives.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) is currently undertaking a process of renewal both in the early childhood sector and Junior Kindergarten to grade twelve (JK-12) schools. Substantial changes to curriculum and assessment approaches may result from this work. It is anticipated that this Coordinator position will require substantial inter-disciplinary theme and project based work.

The Coordinator is expected to work collaboratively with staff within the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC), Student Support and Wellness (SSW), Education Operations and Educator Development (EOED), and Culture and Heritage (CH) Divisions, and the Indigenous Languages and Education Secretariat (ILES), in addition to other GNWT Departments, and colleagues and educators from across the NWT, Yukon, Nunavut, and other jurisdictions in Canada.

The Coordinator controls a budget of up to $500,000, with spending authority of up to $20,000 and contract authority up to $200,000.

Critical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of social studies and northern studies philosophies, theory, pedagogy and instructional practice;
• Understanding of departmental philosophy, curricula, directives, policies and approaches, and model best practices as described in documents issued by the Department;
• Knowledge of child development, pedagogy, and instructional leadership;
• High levels of knowledge and expertise in: kindergarten, primary and secondary education;
• Curriculum development, design and implementation;
• Inclusive schooling and student support and Culture-based education.
• Strong coordination, facilitation and interpersonal skills demonstrated in a variety of diverse cultural and community contexts, including working with Elders and community cultural resource people;
• Understanding of Indigenous culture and educational history and context in order to incorporate traditional knowledge into all aspects of the work;
• Strong ability to critically analyze, organize and apply information gathered through research and present information in a variety of formats to various audiences;
• Excellent written communication skills for a variety of areas including Ministerial and departmental briefing notes and correspondence, policy, and curriculum documents.

Typically, the above qualifications would be attained by:

Enrolment in, or completion of a Master's Degree in Education or related field, and eight (8) years of related work experience, including a minimum of five (5) years of successful experience teaching social studies or northern studies within a Northern context. Preference will be given to a candidate who has JK-12 Northern classroom teaching experience, and is eligible for NWT teacher certification. Proficiency of the incumbent in at least one NWT Indigenous language or French would be an asset.

Inquiries Only:

Department of Finance
Government of the Northwest Territories
YELLOWKNIFE CENTRE 5TH FLOOR
BOX 1320 YELLOWKNIFE NT X1A 2L9
Tel (867) 767-9154 Extension 14106
Fax (867) 873-0445
[email protected]

Note: If you do not receive electronic notification confirming receipt of your application, please follow up via telephone.