Indigenous Relations Specialist

JOB TITLE: INDIGENOUS RELATIONS SPECIALIST, TFT STATUS: TEMPORARY FULL TIME DEPARTMENT: INDIGENOUS HEALTH SERVICES AND RECONCILIATION LOCATION: CORPORATE/MULTI-SITE HOURS OF WORK: 75 HOURS PER PAY PERIOD POSTING DATE: 29 January 2026 CLOSING DATE: 04 February 2026 UNION: NON UNION WAGE RANGE: $49.897 to $58.684 PER HOUR POSITION OBJECTIVE: Niagara Health is currently supporting individuals and families from Kashechewan First Nation who have been displaced due to a water emergency. This temporary position will play a key role in supporting evacuees during their time in the Niagara Region. Reporting to Manager of Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation and working collaboratively with the clinical team, other members of the Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team, the incumbent will provide support and advocacy for Indigenous patients and their families by facilitating the coordination of access to services provided at Niagara Health, along with assist and support transitions from the hospital to the patients' next care destination and working collaboratively with community partners. The incumbent must be willing to work at various Niagara Health sites. This role will take part in an on-call rotation and the successful candidate must be willing to work days, evenings and weekends to support the community. RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide personalized support and navigation for Indigenous patients and their families accessing services at Niagara Health Maintain a high level of confidentiality and safety in support of a respectful, inclusive and compassionate care journey for Indigenous patients, their families and caregivers, and members of their care team Facilitate communication with the patient/family and all members of the care team to promote a culturally safe care environment and the delivery of high-quality patient care Facilitate the intake and follow-up of Indigenous patient experience concerns/ complaints/ questions and work with the care teams to achieve resolution for patients and families Facilitate access to traditional healing practices including, cultural and spiritual practices for patients and families at their request Work collaboratively and build relationships with all Indigenous healthcare providers and organizations in the region to ensure continuity of care and improve transitions from hospital to home or community care environments Work collaboratively with other Indigenous Navigators across the care continuum to facilitate access and the coordination of care Develop and maintain an inventory of Indigenous health and social services in Niagara to be utilized by all care team members involved in discharge planning Align improvement work with Niagara Health's Strategic Plan by identifying, monitoring, and implementing an action plan in support of the Indigenous patient journey Participate in education and training specific to current, relevant federal and provincial health and safety legislation, standards and guidelines QUALIFICATIONS: Four (4) year Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences, Social Sciences, or in a related field, from an accredited university would be considered an asset Three years of navigation, case management, or other similar experience in healthcare or the social services sectors Lived experience (must self-identify as Indigenous) Strong knowledge of the history of Indigenous Peoples and the impact of intergenerational trauma Familiarity with system navigation models and principles Knowledge of local Indigenous organizations and community resources Knowledge and experience with traditional ceremonies and healing practices Ability to perform some culturally relevant ceremonies would be an asset Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) Superior interpersonal, collaboration, facilitation, and negotiation skills Strong problem-solving abilities Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment Possession of a valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle Consistent and regular attendance required Proficiency in both official languages (English & French) will be considered an asset How to Apply: If you are interested in this position, please visit our careers page by 11:59pm February 4, 2026 and submit an application through eRecruit. (Reference Job Posting #42435) Please note - you will need to create an eRecruit profile to apply. Question, quoting the job posting number, can be directed to hrrecruit@niagarahealth.on.ca At Niagara Health, we value diversity, equity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all people. We are especially interested in hearing from you if you are excited about being part of a respectful and hard-working team in the beautiful Niagara Region, have a passion for service and excellence in healthcare, have a background or related expertise in the healthcare environment, supporting patient care and providing extraordinary customer-service. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Niagara Health will provide accommodations through the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. If selected to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please inform Human Resources of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation. At Niagara Health, we are committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. As a part of this work, we collect information on Ontario Human Rights Code grounds and non-Code grounds in order to: hire and retain diverse talent, prevent and/or address systemic barriers to access and opportunity, improve service delivery and programs and advance diversity and inclusion overall. All identification questions are optional and include a "prefer not to answer" option. #J-18808-Ljbffr