Director of Lands

K'ómoks First Nation; Courtenay; Híbrido; CAD 96.000 - 123.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Cost-shared benefits

Relocation assistance

Company laptop and tools

Two weeks vacation + holidays

Hybrid work flexibility

Community engagement opportunities

Descripción de la vacante

K’ómoks First Nation is seeking a full-time Director of Lands based in Courtenay, BC. You will lead land governance, planning, and registry transition, guiding a team of five and coordinating with governments, developers, and advisors to advance Treaty implementation and land priorities.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field, 5+ years in lands/planning roles (3 in leadership), and strong Indigenous governance experience.

Formación

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.
• 5+ years in lands/planning/environmental roles with 3+ years in leadership.
• Experience in Indigenous government or First Nations governance is highly valued.
• Availability for local travel up to ~30% as needed.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle; able to undergo a background check.

Responsabilidades

• Lead lands governance, community planning, policy development and priorities.
• Oversee land use, environmental protection, and culturally informed management.
• Guide transition of land registry to a Treaty governance environment.
• Manage commercial leases and assess real estate opportunities.
• Negotiate development agreements and related contracts with advisors.
• Coordinate with legal, engineers, planners, funding bodies, and governments.
• Prepare proposals for government funding supporting lands and infrastructure.
• Lead and mentor a growing team; represent K’ómoks with external partners.

Conocimientos

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Land Use Planning, Environmental Science, Resource Management, or related field

Herramientas

GIS

Descripción del empleo

• Be at the forefront of K'ómoks First Nation's transition to Treaty, building the systems and structures that will define its self-governance
• Join a supportive team in the beautiful Comox Valley, where your leadership will shape the Nation's future for generations to come
• Earn a competitive annual salary of $96,000 – $123,000, Relocation Assistance, plus a comprehensive cost-shared benefits plan

K’ómoks First Nation is a growing Indigenous government in the Comox Valley, guided by a strong connection to its lands, culture, community, and future generations. The Nation provides services and programs that support its members and community, while managing lands, natural resources, environmental matters, housing, education, health, and social development. K’ómoks is also in the early stages of implementing its Treaty, bringing new responsibilities, opportunities, and growth across the organization. Its lands work plays an important part in balancing community priorities, environmental stewardship, development, and relationships with governments, contractors, developers, and neighbouring First Nations.

For people looking for work with a clear connection to place and community, K’ómoks offers the chance to contribute to meaningful decisions, work alongside people who care deeply about the Nation, and take part in shaping what comes next for K’ómoks and its members.

For more information, please visit the website: komoks.ca

About the Opportunity

K'ómoks First Nation is looking for a full-time Director of Lands based in Courtenay, BC.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, you will lead the Lands Department’s strategic and operational work, overseeing land governance, community planning, environmental management, land registry, and the transition from the K’ómoks Land Code system to a Treaty governance environment while guiding a team of five.

In this position, you will be primarily responsible for advancing K’ómoks’ lands priorities while working across internal departments and with governments, developers, contractors, legal and financial advisors, and other First Nations to support sound land management, development, environmental protection, and Treaty implementation.

More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Leading lands governance, community planning, policy development, and departmental priorities
• Overseeing land use, environmental protection, and culturally informed environmental management
• Guiding the transition of the land registry from the Land Code system to the Treaty governance environment
• Managing commercial leases and assessing real estate acquisition, divestiture, and development opportunities
• Negotiating development agreements, MOUs, leases, and related contracts alongside legal and financial advisors
• Coordinating with legal counsel, engineers, planners, funding agencies, governments, and external partners
• Preparing proposals for government and funding bodies supporting lands, housing, infrastructure, and economic initiatives
• Leading, mentoring, and developing a growing team while representing K’ómoks with external stakeholders

About You

To qualify, you will need a bachelor’s degree in Land Use Planning, Environmental Science, Resource Management, or a related field, along with ideally 5+ years of experience in lands, planning, or environmental roles, including 3 years in leadership, and experience working within an Indigenous government or First Nations governance context.

K'ómoks First Nation is open to candidates with less experience where they demonstrate exceptional capability and maturity.

The following are required:

• Availability for local travel as needed, up to roughly 30% of working time, depending on the season
• Valid driver's licence and access to a vehicle
• Ability to undergo a criminal background check

Additionally, the following skills and background will be highly valued:

• Strong knowledge of Land Code, land tenure systems, land use policy, and registry processes
• Background in lands planning, environmental management, and related governance work
• Familiarity with intergovernmental relations, natural resources, and referral processes within a First Nations setting
• Track record collaborating with developers, contractors, government agencies, funding bodies, other First Nations, and external interest groups
• Understanding of environmental data collection, mapping, GIS integration, and reporting
• Strong communication, negotiation, and team leadership abilities
• Comfort moving between high-level planning and strategy and practical, ground-level departmental work
• A history of guiding teams through organizational growth, change, or evolving responsibilities

As our ideal candidate, you bring strong self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Cultural sensitivity is essential to succeed in this role. Building trusted relationships, with staff, Council, knowledge keepers, Elders, governments, and external stakeholders, comes naturally to you.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity during an important period of Treaty implementation and organizational growth. K’ómoks is looking for a mature, culturally sensitive lands professional who can lead a close-knit team, build trust, manage competing priorities, and help shape how the Nation’s lands, resources, and governance responsibilities move forward.

About the Benefits

Compensation based on skills and experience, is a competitive annual salary of $96,000 - $123,000, and a host of excellent benefits including:

• Comprehensive cost-shared Benefits Plan covering prescription drugs, glasses, paramedical services, and more
• Two weeks’ annual vacation, all statutory holidays, and two additional weeks of paid time off during the Christmas closure
• Relocation Assistance for the right candidate
• Company-provided laptop and work tools
• Occasional flexibility to work from home, based on operational needs
• A welcoming, down-to-earth workplace with casual dress and regular catered all-staff gatherings
• Opportunities to connect with the community and experience K’ómoks culture through public celebrations and activities, including National Indigenous Peoples Day events

Upon joining K'ómoks First Nation your work will help shape the Nation's future during a pivotal transition to Treaty, backed by genuine investment in your professional development. Here, cultural understanding matters as much as technical expertise, and you'll be supported every step of the way.