Strategic Projects Specialist

Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government (Ucluelet First Nation Government); Ucluelet; Hybrid; CAD 71,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government (Ucluelet First Nation Government) is seeking a Strategic Projects Specialist to coordinate priority initiatives across the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs. You will manage project plans, track milestones, engage partners, and ensure timely delivery while maintaining comprehensive records.

Reporting to the Manager of Intergovernmental Affairs, you will collaborate with internal departments, external governments, consultants, and legal advisors on high-impact

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in public administration, Indigenous governance, political science, project management, business administration, law, policy, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience coordinating or delivering projects involving multiple participants, organizations, or areas of expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple files, priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication, research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Valid BC Driver's Licence and willingness to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Take day-to-day carriage of assigned strategic projects, special initiatives, and priority files.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and action items.
• Coordinate project activities from initial scoping and planning through implementation and completion.
• Maintain a clear understanding of the status of each assigned project, including outstanding actions, upcoming deadlines, decisions required, and next steps.
• Proactively follow up with project contributors to maintain momentum and ensure commitments are advanced.
• Identify project risks, delays, competing priorities, or matters requiring management direction and advance them appropriately.
• Maintain organized and accurate project records and documentation.
• Serve as a primary point of coordination for assigned projects.
• Coordinate contributions from IGA staff, other YG departments, external governments, consultants, technical advisors, and other partners.
• Organize and support project meetings, working groups, engagements, and other collaborative processes.
• Track commitments and follow-up arising from meetings and discussions.
• Build and maintain positive, professional relationships with internal and external partners.
• Support effective information-sharing between individuals and departments involved in assigned projects.
• Conduct research and analysis required to advance assigned projects.
• Gather and synthesize information from government policies, legislation, agreements, reports, and technical materials.
• Identify key considerations, risks, opportunities, and decision points for review by the Manager and Director.
• Prepare briefing materials, reports, presentations, correspondence, and meeting materials.
• Support the development of options and recommendations related to assigned initiatives.
• Translate strategic direction and decisions into clear project activities, responsibilities, and next steps.
• Monitor implementation of project decisions, commitments, and deliverables.
• Provide regular and concise project status updates to the Manager.
• Identify where decisions or intervention are required to keep projects progressing.
• Support project evaluation, close-out, and documentation of outcomes and lessons learned.
• Work collaboratively with IGA Analysts and other team members where assigned projects intersect with established portfolios.
• Coordinate with other YG departments so departmental knowledge, interests, and responsibilities are incorporated into projects.
• Support a whole-of-government approach to complex or cross-departmental initiatives.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of IGA project-management tools, processes, and practices.

Skills

Communication

Research

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Time management

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Public administration

Indigenous governance

Political science

Project management

Business administration

Law

Policy

Job description

• Classification: Band 6 — Lead / Supervisor
• Reports To: Manager, Intergovernmental Affairs
• Supervises: None — coordinates project contributors without supervisory authority
• Location: hitac̓u, BC — hybrid work options as approved
• Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
• Salary Band: Band 6 ($71,070 – $106,605
• $36.45 – $54.67/hr

POSITION PURPOSE

The Strategic Projects Specialist supports the planning, coordination, and delivery of priority projects and special initiatives within the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs. Reporting to the Manager, Intergovernmental Affairs, the Specialist takes carriage of assigned projects and serves as the central point of coordination throughout the life of the file — keeping projects organized, tracking timelines and commitments, engaging the right people, identifying emerging issues, and following actions through to completion. The role works across IGA portfolios and with other Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government departments, leadership, external governments, consultants, legal and technical advisors, and other partners, including major undertakings such as the Periodic Review.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Strategic Project Management

• Take day-to-day carriage of assigned strategic projects, special initiatives, and priority files.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and action items.
• Coordinate project activities from initial scoping and planning through implementation and completion.
• Maintain a clear understanding of the status of each assigned project, including outstanding actions, upcoming deadlines, decisions required, and next steps.
• Proactively follow up with project contributors to maintain momentum and ensure commitments are advanced.
• Identify project risks, delays, competing priorities, or matters requiring management direction and advance them appropriately.
• Maintain organized and accurate project records and documentation.

Coordination & Relationship Management

• Serve as a primary point of coordination for assigned projects.
• Coordinate contributions from IGA staff, other YG departments, external governments, consultants, technical advisors, and other partners.
• Organize and support project meetings, working groups, engagements, and other collaborative processes.
• Track commitments and follow-up arising from meetings and discussions.
• Build and maintain positive, professional relationships with internal and external partners.
• Support effective information-sharing between individuals and departments involved in assigned projects.

Research, Analysis & Project Support

• Conduct research and analysis required to advance assigned projects.
• Gather and synthesize information from government policies, legislation, agreements, reports, and technical materials.
• Identify key considerations, risks, opportunities, and decision points for review by the Manager and Director.
• Prepare briefing materials, reports, presentations, correspondence, and meeting materials.
• Support the development of options and recommendations related to assigned initiatives.

Implementation & Reporting

• Translate strategic direction and decisions into clear project activities, responsibilities, and next steps.
• Monitor implementation of project decisions, commitments, and deliverables.
• Provide regular and concise project status updates to the Manager.
• Identify where decisions or intervention are required to keep projects progressing.
• Support project evaluation, close-out, and documentation of outcomes and lessons learned.

Internal Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with IGA Analysts and other team members where assigned projects intersect with established portfolios.
• Coordinate with other YG departments so departmental knowledge, interests, and responsibilities are incorporated into projects.
• Support a whole-of-government approach to complex or cross-departmental initiatives.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of IGA project-management tools, processes, and practices.

Role Scope & Accountability

• Exercise a high degree of ownership over assigned files and coordinate the work required to advance them.
• No direct supervisory responsibility for IGA employees; employee supervision, work assignment, performance management, and departmental oversight remain with the Manager and Director.
• Work independently within established direction while recognizing when a matter requires management, leadership, legal, or other specialized input.

Required

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Post-secondary education in public administration, Indigenous governance, political science, project management, business administration, law, policy, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience coordinating or delivering projects involving multiple participants, organizations, or areas of expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple files, priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication, research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Valid BC Driver's Licence and willingness to travel as required.

Preferred

• Experience working within government, Indigenous government, Indigenous organizations, or another complex organizational environment.
• Experience in project management, government relations, policy, Treaty implementation, or strategic initiatives.
• Familiarity with the Maa-nulth Final Agreement and Periodic Review processes.
• Project management certification (PMP, CAPM) or equivalent training.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong project-management, organizational, and planning skills
• Strong follow-through and ability to maintain momentum on complex work
• Ability to coordinate effectively across teams without formal supervisory authority
• Sound judgment and ability to identify when issues require escalation
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Attention to detail with awareness of broader strategic objectives
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Standard work week of 37.5 hours (7.5 hours per day)
• Hybrid office environment based at hitac̓u, BC with approved remote options
• Periods of increased workload and deadline pressure tied to project milestones
• Travel within Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ ḥaḥuuɫi and to meetings with external governments and partners
• Occasional evening or weekend work for meetings, engagements, and community sessions

Cultural Requirements

• Respect for and willingness to learn Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ history, culture, language, and governance
• Understanding of the Maa-nulth Final Agreement and self-government context
• Ability to work respectfully with Elders, leadership, staff, and community members
• Commitment to the seven Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ core values in all project work

This job description is intended to convey the general nature and level of work expected. YG reserves the right to amend and update responsibilities to meet operational needs. Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ citizens are encouraged to apply.