Apatisiiwin Skills Development - Program Development Officer

Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government; Eeyou Istchee James Bay; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government seeks a Program Development Officer to implement, administer, and monitor ASD programs in Eeyou Istchee. You will manage budgets, promote programs, provide participant support, and ensure reporting compliance.

You will collaborate across teams, prepare and sign funding agreements, and coordinate with employment counselors for client referrals and monitoring. Fluency in Cree and English is required; French is an asset.

Qualifications

• College diploma in Business Administration or related field.
• Three to five years of relevant work experience.
• Fluency in English; Cree fluency required; French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Manager of Programs, manage program budgets, related to a geographic territory, a type of clientele or an economic sector of activity.
• Analyse the labour market and prepare a strategic plan to implement projects related to the programs.
• Collaborate with ASD’s Communication Advisor to design a promotion campaign based on the strategic implementation plan.
• Lead the promotion campaign and be a spokesperson for ASD through social media and participating in events such as the Regional Career Fair, conferences, and capacity building opportunities on a community and regional level.
• Assist potential recipients with project proposal submissions, guidelines and procedures by providing them with advice and information on processing and deadlines.
• Receive and analyze proposals submitted under the program to ensure their eligibility with the ASD Policy.
• Evaluate proposals from a risk-management perspective and provide expertise to ASD management before the recommendation process is initiated.
• Recommend projects to the technical group and the Apatisiiwin Skills Development and Advisory Committee (ASDAC).
• Prepare contract funding agreements to be signed with recipients.
• Meet with recipients for the signature of funding agreements to explain legal obligations and monitoring role.
• Coordinate with the Employment Counsellor for the evaluation of clients for referral.
• Approve the referral of clients made by the Employment Counsellor.
• Prepare a comprehensive schedule for on-site project monitoring visits.
• Perform on-site project visits to ensure compliance with ASD Policy and monitor progress and training received.
• In collaboration with the Financial Program Technician, verify payment requests received from recipients.
• Authorize disbursement of funds in accordance with contract agreement.
• Finalize projects and complete activity and financial reports.
• Input and maintain data in the Cree Nation Government Information System.

Skills

Customer-focused

Effective communication

Discretion & confidentiality

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Initiative

Working under pressure

MS Office

Education

College diploma in Business Administration or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location of Work: To Be Determined (Cree Community)

Status: Permanent Full-time

Closing Date: September 28, 2026

Core Functions

The Program Development Officer is responsible for implementing, administering and monitoring the various ASD programs, in all aspects of the ASD Policy, in Eeyou Istchee territory. Morever, the incumbent manages program budgets, ensures adequate promotion and provides assistance and information to participants.

Functional Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Manager of Programs, manage program budgets, related to a geographic territory, a type of clientele or an economic sector of activity.
• Analyse the labour market and prepare a strategic plan to implement projects related to the programs.
• Collaborate with ASD’s Communication Advisor to design a promotion campaign based on the strategic implementation plan.
• Lead the promotion campaign and be a spokesperson for ASD through social media and participating in events such as the Regional Career Fair, conferences, and capacity building opportunities on a community and regional level.
• Assist potential recipients with project proposal submissions, guidelines and procedures by providing them with advice and information on processing and deadlines.
• Receive and analyze proposals submitted under the program to ensure their eligibility with the ASD Policy.
• Evaluate proposals form a risk-management perspective and provide expertise to ASD management before the recommendation process is initiated.
• Recommend projects to the technical group and the Apatisiiwin Skills Development and Advisory Committee (ASDAC).
• Prepare contract funding agreement to be signed with recipients.
• Meet with recipients for the signature of funding agreements to explain legal obligations and the Program Officer’s role of monitoring and support.
• Coordinate with the Employment Counsellor for the evaluation of clients for referral.
• Approve the referral of clients made by the Employment Counsellor.
• Prepare a comprehensive schedule for on-site project monitoring visits.
• Perform on-site project visits to ensure compliance with ASD Policy by monitoring the progress of activities towards the attainment of the objective, performing on-site financial verifications and interviewing participants to monitor the training they receive.
• In collaboration with the Financial Program Technician, verify payment requests received from recipients.
• Authorize disbursement of funds in accordance with contract agreement.
• Finalize projects and complete activity and financial reports.
• Input and maintain data in the Cree Nation Government Information System.

Interaction/Communication Responsibilities

• Communicate with recipients to obtain, progress reports, claims and update them on their file.
• Present projects to the Technical Group and ASDAC meetings.
• Collaborate with local and regional partners to improve the employability.
• Provide information on the Cree Labour Market to the local and regional employers.
• Participate in career fairs, local general assemblies and any relevant events to promote and facilitate the understanding of ASD programs and services.
• Collaborate with the Employment Counsellor to complete participant post-training results reports.

Reporting Responsibilities

• Produce quarterly activity reports on program outcomes.
• Finalize projects and complete activity and financial reports.

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills in area(s) of responsibility.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

Education

• College diploma in Business Administration or related field.

Experience

• Three to five years of relevant work experience.

Language

• Fluency in verbal Cree.
• Fluency in English.
• Fluency in French is an asset.

Knowledge And Abilities

• Customer-focused and service-oriented.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively.
• Proven ability to be discreet and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple projects.
• Strong judgment and proven ability to problem-solve.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and to adapt to a changing environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.

Additional Requirements

• Typical office setting where there are no unusual physical demands.
• Willingness to travel frequently.

The Cree Nation Government may, at its discretion, waive any or all of the aforementioned requirements if a suitable candidate who is a JBNQA beneficiary accepts to follow a training plan determined by the Cree Nation Government as a condition of employment.