Executive Director of Intergovernmental Relations

K'ómoks First Nation; Courtenay; Hybrid; CAD 123,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation Assistance

Laptop and work tools

Flexible to work from home

Catered all-staff gatherings

Job summary

K’ómoks First Nation is seeking a full-time Executive Director of Intergovernmental Relations based in Courtenay, BC. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer and working with Chief and Council, you will lead the Nation's intergovernmental strategy and ensure its values and priorities are reflected in external relationships.

Your responsibilities include building government-to-government relationships, leading negotiations, monitoring policy developments, and providing strategic advice to

Qualifications

• Foundation in legal studies or law-related experience.
• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in intergovernmental relations, Indigenous governance, policy, negotiations, government relations, Rights and Title, or a related field.
• Candidates with less experience may be considered if they demonstrate exceptional capability and maturity.
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver's Licence
• Ability to undergo a Criminal Background Check
• Ability to travel for meetings, negotiations, conferences, and other engagements
• Flexibility to work outside regular business hours for Council meetings, community meetings, negotiations, or time-sensitive matters

Responsibilities

• Builds government-to-government relationships with First Nations and federal, provincial, and local governments and partners.
• Leads and supports concurrent negotiations, agreements, MOUs, and consultation processes.
• Represents K\'ómoks at government-to-government meetings and external forums.
• Advances and protects K\'ómoks Rights and Title and strategic priorities.
• Monitors legislation and policy developments and prepares briefing notes and negotiation mandates.
• Supports Chief and Council with strategic planning and external engagements.
• Coordinates with legal counsel, Treaty representatives, and departments on intergovernmental files.
• Provides leadership to staff and consultants and oversees budgets and plans.
• Identifies strategic partnerships, funding, and economic opportunities.

Skills

Negotiation

Diplomacy

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Policy analysis

Intergovernmental relations

Education

Public Administration

Political Science

Indigenous Governance

Public Policy

Master's degree (asset)

Job description

• Guide K\'ómoks First Nation\'s intergovernmental strategy and help shape relationships with governments and partners
• Earn a competitive salary of $123,000 - $143,000 per year and comprehensive benefits
• Join a collaborative team in the beautiful Comox Valley, where your work will strengthen the Nation for generations to come

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 intergovernmental work plays an important part in advancing the Nation\'s rights, interests, and relationships with First Nations, all levels of government, and external partners.

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 Executive Director of Intergovernmental Relations based in Courtenay, BC.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer and working closely with Chief and Council, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how the Nation engages with governments and external partners. In this position, you will lead K\'ómoks\' intergovernmental strategy, making sure the Nation\'s values, governance priorities, and long-term vision are reflected in every external relationship.

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

• Building strong government-to-government relationships with First Nations and federal, provincial, and local governments, as well as strategic partners
• Leading and supporting concurrent negotiations, agreements, protocols, MOUs, and consultation processes
• Representing K\'ómoks at government-to-government meetings, committees, working groups, and other external forums
• Advancing and protecting K\'ómoks Rights and Title, jurisdiction, governance interests, and strategic priorities
• Monitoring legislation, policy, and regulatory developments and preparing strategic advice, briefing notes, policy positions, and negotiation mandates
• Supporting Chief and Council and senior leadership with strategic planning and the implementation of priorities involving external governments and organizations
• Coordinating with legal counsel, technical advisors, Treaty representatives, and K\'ómoks departments departments on complex intergovernmental files
• Providing leadership to staff and consultants while overseeing departmental work plans, budgets, and strategic partnership opportunities
• Identifying strategic partnerships, funding, and economic opportunities

To read the full position description, please click here

About You

To qualify, you will need a foundation in legal studies or law-related experience. A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in intergovernmental relations, Indigenous governance, policy, negotiations, government relations, Rights and Title, or a related field will also be essential.

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

The following are required:

• ValidClass 5 BC Driver\'s Licence
• Ability to undergo a Criminal Background Check
• Ability to travel for meetings, negotiations, conferences, and other engagements
• Flexibility to work outside regular business hours for Council meetings, community meetings, negotiations, or time-sensitive matters

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

• Bachelor\'s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Indigenous Governance, Public Policy, or a related discipline; a Master\'s degree is considered an asset
• Significant experience working with Indigenous governments, communities, and leadership, with strong knowledge of First Nations governance, Rights and Title, consultation, reconciliation, Treaty, and self-government matters
• Demonstrated experience working with federal, provincial, local, and/or First Nations governments, with a strong understanding of their structures, legislation, policy development, and decision-making processes
• Proven experience leading or supporting complex negotiations and developing agreements, strategies, policies, or government positions
• Experience providing strategic advice and recommendations to elected officials and/or senior executive leadership
• Leadership experience managing staff, consultants, projects, budgets, and competing priorities
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal, policy, and political information into clear briefing notes, reports, and negotiation materials
• Confidence navigating difficult conversations and comfort working through challenging, high-stakes situations

As our ideal candidate, you will bring advanced negotiation and diplomacy skills, sharp political judgment, and strategic thinking, along with the integrity, discretion, cultural awareness, and accountability to thrive in this role. You are comfortable with the uncomfortable and approach difficult conversations with confidence.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced leader and skilled negotiator to represent K\'ómoks First Nation and help advance our rights and interests.

About the Benefits

Compensation, based on skills and experience, is a competitive annual salary of $123,000 - $143,000, plus 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

By joining K\'ómoks First Nation, you will play a key role in shaping the Nation\'s future and its relationships with governments and partners. Here, cultural understanding matters as much as technical expertise, and your work will directly support the interests of its members.

K\'omoks First Nation is open to candidates with less, and here text removed to satisfy format requirements. Ready to put your negotiation and leadership skills to work for the Nation?

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