Canada: Director, Indigenous Community Engagement

Jan 23, 2022 | Water First
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Water First addresses First Nations’ drinking water and environmental water challenges through education, training, and meaningful collaboration.

With significantly expanding operations and community partnerships, we currently have an opportunity for a Director, Indigenous Community Engagement, reporting to the Executive Director & Founder. The Director of Indigenous Community Engagement will support and strengthen our existing community engagement and stewardship activities. The successful candidate will support respectful and effective Indigenous community relations while collaborating with the incredible team of Water First’s staff, from water scientists and engineers to educators and specialists in communications, fundraising, finance, and human resources.

Start Date: Immediate

Work from Home / Remote: Yes

Wage: $65,000 - $85,000 (Some flexibility based on the level of experience)

Application Deadline: Friday, February 4, 2022 at 5PM EST and applicants are encouraged to apply early for advanced consideration

Water First supports progressive labour policies, including:

  • Flexible hours
  • Health benefits
  • Defined benefit pension plan
  • Generous paid vacation

This role is a remote work-from-home position. Candidates must be available to travel during the week to the Creemore, Ontario office located at 178 Mill St., Unit D, for critical meetings as required.

Responsibilities for this position include:

  • Supporting and stewarding Water First’s relationships with past, current, and potential Indigenous community partners to achieve respectful, effective, and meaningful relationships and collaborations.
  • Advising Water First’s public communications strategies through an Indigenous lens, fostering respectful, engaging, and positive Indigenous and Non-Indigenous relations and partnerships.
  • Evaluating, overseeing, and stewarding Water First’s internal Indigenous-focused cultural sensitivity training and new employee onboarding processes.
  • Advising Water First on our ongoing efforts to respectfully and appropriately weave Indigenous knowledge, customs, and traditions into our programs.
  • Supporting and stewarding productive and honest relationships with non-Indigenous partners, including governments, funders & donors.
  • Engaging with a diverse team of Water First’s staff who have a wide range of skills, including water treatment, water quality analysis, fish habitat restoration, education, training, environmental research, communications, fundraising, finance, & human resources.
  • Representing Water First during special events and community visits.
  • Managing multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously.

The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following:

  • A minimum of 5 - 10 years of professional Indigenous relations experience with a non-profit, governmental, or for-profit organization.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience collaborating with multiple Indigenous communities.
  • Experience with Indigenous - Non-Indigenous collaborations.
  • Experience in policy and program development, implementation, and management.
  • Experience in conflict resolution & communications.
  • Demonstrated track record of successful leadership experience.
  • Self-starter, requiring limited oversight, capable of independently identifying opportunities, creating strategies, and successfully implementing plans.
  • Regular access to a vehicle and the ability to travel (expenses paid) to northern Indigenous communities approximately 10 - 15% of the time.
  • A willingness to continually expand one’s professional skill set, learn on the job, take on additional responsibilities as required and respond to and thrive in a dynamic work environment.
  • Candidates must have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada under relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

If you are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity, we would love to hear from you!

Water First is an equal opportunity employer and employs personnel without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, language, citizenship, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical and or mental handicap or financial ability.

By following the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Water First Education and Training strives to ensure that all recruiting processes are non-discriminatory and barrier-free. If you require accommodation, please advise in advance of attending an interview.

While we appreciate all interest, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.