Executive Director - Sahtú Renewable Resources Board
The Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı (Sahtú Renewable Resources Board) is a pivotal co-management board in the Sahtú Region of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Reporting to the Chair, and accountable to the Board as a whole, the Executive Director provides leadership, strategic direction, and management of the Board’s operations and staff.
If this challenge appeals to you, read on.
The Board was established under the Sahtú Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (1994) to protect, conserve and manage all renewable resources within the Sahtú Settlement Area in a cooperative and sustainable manner. The Sahtú Settlement Area is located in the centre of the Northwest Territories and extends from the Nunavut border westward, across the Mackenzie River, to the continental divide that defines the boundary with Yukon. It covers 280,238 square kilometres (approximately 108,200 square miles), including Great Bear Lake, the largest lake wholly within Canada. It is home to approximately 3,000 people.
The Board works closely with the five local Renewable Resource Councils located in Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, Tulita, Délįnę and Colville Lake to enhance local participation and the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge in decision-making.
The Board’s approach is founded in reconciliation, self-determination and an Indigenous worldview.
The Opportunity
The Executive Director oversees and ensures adherence to Board decisions, policies, and the SDMCLCA. Reporting to the Chair of the Board, the Executive Director keeps them informed on current issues and recommends actions. The Executive Director is tasked with leading and inspiring an approach to Sahtú stewardship that is rooted in Indigenous self-determination, self-governance and reconciliation, navigating within complex regional and global contexts, and developing community-based stewardship approaches. The Executive Director will bring visionary leadership and executive expertise to drive strategic initiatives and ensure the successful implementation of the Board’s mandate.
Key Responsibilities
- Human Resource Management: Inspire and guide staff to achieve goals while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Provide direction in planning, work processes, problem solving, and performance management. Leading scientific, technical, and planning staff in advising the Board, the candidate will also develop initiatives to increase Sahtú beneficiary participation through mentoring, training, and development programs.
- Board Operation and Administration: Develop and implement the Board’s five-year strategic plan, including annual workplans and budgets. Ensure legal compliance and fulfills reporting responsibilities. Coordinate Board meetings and maintain accurate records. Promote community conservation planning with partners and other organizations.
- Financial Management: Ensure proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and budgetary control systems. Manage the allocation of human, physical, and financial resources in line with strategic and business plans and Board guidelines, and support negotiations for ten-year implementation funding and supplemental project-specific funding.
- Reporting, Representation and Communication: Serve as the primary liaison between the Board, staff, and key partners, including the Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę (Renewable Resources Councils), Sahtú organizations, governments, and other wildlife management authorities, by facilitating clear communications with the Board, arranging meetings, coordinating policy revisions, and coordinating with other authorities on regional management needs. Some challenges may be informed through collaboration with agencies of other circumpolar nations.
- Strategic Plan Implementation, Assessment and Reporting: The Executive Director (ED) plays a crucial role in implementing the Sahtú Renewable Resources Board’s strategic plan (2020-25), guiding staff actions and methodologies over a five-year period. The ED will also facilitate community-driven protected area processes, engage in environmental assessments, and collaborate with legal counsel as necessary to inform board processes and decisions.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader with strong interpersonal skills, capable of effective collaboration with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Exceptional written and oral communication skills are essential, along with the ability to organize tasks efficiently, both independently and within teams. A solid understanding of environmental and Indigenous issues is crucial. Familiarity with Indigenous planning methodologies, working with Indigenous communities, and modern land claims or co-management organizations is advantageous. Knowledge of best practices in Indigenous ecological stewardship, environmental law, and policy, as well as experience living and working in Northern Canada, are beneficial.
Comprehensive knowledge of natural resource and environmental management, ideally in a co-management context, and familiarity with the role and mandate of the Sahtú Renewable Resources Board as outlined in the SDMCLCA, are essential. Strong leadership, strategic planning, and analytical skills are necessary to manage multiple projects efficiently and provide guidance to the Board. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences and practise equity, diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness in the workplace.
Qualifications
- Minimum of an advanced degree in a field relevant to the position, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Experience with project and human resource management and administration
- Experience working with community organizations in cross-cultural contexts
To apply to this role, submit your application to Phelps by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3M3AWFR
Application deadline: September 12, 2024
401 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, ON M5H 2Y4
Phone: 416 364 6229
