Employment Opportunities
The Survivors’ Secretariat is a Survivor-led, trauma-informed organization dedicated to uncovering, documenting, and sharing the truth about what happened at the Mohawk Institute. We invite Survivors, family members of Survivors, and allies to join us in the important work of truth-telling.
Please see below for current employment opportunities with the Survivors’ Secretariat. If you have any questions about a position, please contact us at
Current Listings
Executive Director
Job Status:
Full-Time Position
Please submit Cover Letter, and Resume by 11:59PM EST on June 6, 2022. Click Here to Apply Now »
See the full briefing for the Role of Executive Director »
Executive Director
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will be a Survivor or Intergenerational Survivor of the Mohawk Institute and/or a member of Six Nations of the Grand River, or a member of one of the First Nations that had their children taken to the Mohawk Institute. They will have leadership/executive experience from working in an Indigenous organization and a deep understanding of the legacy of the Mohawk Institute and Indian Residential Schools. The Executive Director will provide leadership in delivering the mandate of the Secretariat as set out by Survivors.
Key Responsibilities
- Board Support and development
- Financial Management
- Human Resources, including the recruitment and retention of Staff, and creating an organizational culture where everyone feels safe, valued, included, and heard
- Survivor and Community Relations and Communications
- Sustainability and Development of Programs and Resources
- Technology and Operations, including the creation of a Data Strategy
- Foster relationships with Indigenous leadership, and all levels of government
Education And Experience
- Post-Secondary Degree in Humanities, Public Administration, or another relevant field with several years of senior level management in the non-profit community & human services sector
- Organizational design and leadership skills with an ability to identify and develop talent through effective coaching, mentoring, and succession planning
- High level of business and financial acumen
- High-level strategic thinking and planning skills in designing and developing programs and major projects
- Strong political acuity
- Demonstrated public speaking skills, including experience with news media
- Excellent time management skills, including a proven ability to prioritize workflow amid interruptions, and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Demonstrated understanding of Indigenous protocols
- Demonstrated success in managing government and foundation relations, and fundraising
- Proven experience in providing support to a Board of Directors
- Knowledge of the Indian Residential School System, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and the history of the Mohawk Institute
Location and Compensation
- The Successful Candidate will be required to work mostly from the Survivors’ Secretariat office located at Six Nations of the Grand River, with some flexibility for remote work
- The Survivors’ Secretariat will provide a competitive compensation to attract an experienced Candidate
- Given that the Candidate will be working with older Survivors, proof of COVID vaccination will be requested
Interested Candidates are encouraged to review the full website of the Survivors’ Secretariat and Volume 4 of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
See the full briefing for the Role of Executive Director »
Please submit Cover Letter, and Resume by 11:59PM EST on June 6, 2022
Online Application
Site Coordinators
Apply Now »
Job Status:
Contract Position
Time Frame:
Spring 2022 – September/October, 2022
Please submit Cover Letter, and Resume by 5PM EST on May 24, 2022. Click Here to Apply Now »
Site Coordinator Positions
The Site Coordinators are responsible for the day-to-day activities and safety at various work sites. They work closely with the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Lead Coordinator to ensure that proper processes and procedures are followed during GPR scanning.
Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) has become a widely used tool for locating unmarked burials at former residential school sites. It is a geophysical locating method that uses high-frequency radio waves which are sent into the ground to document the distribution of features underground.
The Survivors’ Secretariat is currently using archival and modern-day maps, records, and documents to outline the grounds associated with the Mohawk Institute that may be searched for missing children and unmarked burials. These include the Mohawk Parsonage Lot, the Mohawk Mission School Lot, the Manual Labour Farm and the Mohawk Chapel Grounds— totaling over 600 acres.
For more information about what GPR is and its limitations, please see our blog post, “How Technology Is Helping Survivors Uncover the Truth.“
Key Responsibilities
- Be the main point of contact on site and act as a liaison between the Secretariat and the property owners/managers of the work locations
- Collaborate with other Site Coordinators, Program Coordinators, Cultural Monitors on a day-by-day basis to assess weather and site conditions
- Oversee all activities that occur on site while the GPR scanning occurs
- Oversee the proper storage and retrieval of equipment and data
- Schedule and coordinate the GPR operation team
- Supervise and coordinate the tasks and activities of GPR Search teams
- Monitor and enforce site safety protocols
- Facilitate and document team meetings and debrief sessions
- Attend Secretariat and Survivors’ meetings as required
Experience
- Relevant supervisory experience, and experience working outside
- Ability to understand and interpret site maps and drawings
- Strong planning, organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to learn new technology
- Demonstrated problem solving and critical thinking skills
- Knowledge of the Indian Residential School System, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and the history of the Mohawk Institute
- Experience working independently and with a team
- Available to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends
- Valid First Aid Certificate
- Priority will be given to Intergenerational Survivors
Please submit Cover Letter, and Resume by 5PM EST on May 24, 2022.
Online Application
System Navigator
Apply Now »
Job Status:
Full-Time Contract Position
Please submit Cover Letter, and Resume by 5PM EST on May 30, 2022. Click Here to Apply Now »
System Navigator Position
The System Navigator will be the first point of contact for Survivors at the Survivors’ Secretariat. They will be responsible for informing Survivors about Statement Gathering options and processes and explaining the consent and privacy procedures that have been put in place.
The System Navigator will be available to Survivors before, during and after the Statement Gathering process to connect them with available social and community resources. The Navigator can also assist in keeping Survivors informed about the Police Task Force’s investigation and be a liaison between the Police Task Force, Survivors and the Survivors’ Secretariat.
The System Navigator will work closely with the Indigenous Human Rights Monitor, and the Cultural Monitors.
Key Responsibilities
- Be the main point of contact with Survivors as they begin the statement gathering process
- Explain the different ways Statements can be shared with the Secretariat and/or the Police Task Force
- Explain privacy protections, and consent forms
- Explain how an interview is conducted, and what to expect
- Explain what supports and resources are available in the Survivors’ local community and coordinate referrals to Survivor specific programs
- Liaise and advocate on behalf of Survivors with the Police Task Force, the Indigenous Human Rights Monitor and the Cultural Monitors as needed or required
- Be available to Survivors after they have provided their statements to assist in connecting them with resources and to answer any questions they may have
- Update Survivors on the progress of the Police Task Force’s work
- Attend Community meetings on behalf of the Secretariat
- Attend Secretariat and Survivors’ meetings as required
Experience
- Social Service/ Social Work Background and relevant experience
- Experience working in the Justice/ Social Service Sector
- Trauma informed approach to working with Survivors
- Strong planning, organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to co-ordinate with social service providers
- Demonstrated problem solving and critical thinking skills
- Knowledge of the Indian Residential School System, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and the history of the Mohawk Institute
- Priority will be given to Intergenerational Survivors
- Possess a Valid Class G Driver’s License
Location and Compensation
- The Successful Candidate will work primarily out of the Survivors’ Secretariat office located at Six Nations of the Grand River. Limited travel may be required
- Given that the Candidate will be working with older Survivors, proof of COVID vaccination will be requested
Please submit Cover Letter, and Resume by 5PM EST on May 30, 2022.
Online Application
Youth Supporting Survivors Program
The Survivors’ Secretariat is seeking applications to fill ten positions with the Youth Supporting Survivors Program.
Time Frame:
16 weeks, May-August 2022
Please submit Application, Cover Letter, and Resume by 5PM EST on May 24, 2022. Click Here to Apply Now »
Youth Supporting Survivors Program Positions
The “Reclaiming Our Role – Youth Supporting Survivors Program” is focused on engaging young people in the work of the Survivors’ Secretariat. The Youth Supporting Survivors Program has been developed to create a safe, and community-focused environment for 10 youth who identify as Intergenerational Survivors. This 16-week summer employment opportunity is open to post-secondary students between the ages of 17-29 yrs.
Youth Applicants are being sought from Six Nations of the Grand River and other Impacted Communities to be trained in the use of GPR (ground-penetrating radar) machines and to participate in the search of lands associated with the Mohawk Institute. For more information about what GPR is and its limitations, please see our blog post, “How Technology Is Helping Survivors Uncover the Truth.“
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled or will be a student in a post-secondary program in September 2022
- Identify as an Intergenerational Survivor of the Mohawk Institute
- Knowledge of the Indian Residential School System, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and the history of the Mohawk Institute
Other Details
- Interview dates and times will be arranged
- Pay: $16.00/hour
- References will be required
- Only those selected for an interview will be contacted
Please submit Application, Cover Letter, and Resume by 5PM EST on May 24, 2022.
If you are having trouble with our online or printed application, please request an application form at
Print Application Form
Download the Application
Submit the Application
Please scan and submit by email along with your resume and cover letter to: