Senior Territory Management Coordinator

Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) is a modern Treaty First Nation with significant local government authorities and responsibilities in the Lower Mainland; it has been self-governing since 2009. Our vision is to build a strong community through self-government, the development of a sustainable economy, significant infrastructure investment, and the implementation of positive, effective community programming.  Using the opportunities and jurisdiction provided under its Treaty, TFN has been working towards that vision through an effective governance framework based on laws, regulations, policies, and sound management.  TFN’s governance framework supports effective decision-making, and creates an exciting, dynamic, and fast-paced environment. 

TFN is seeking a team player to join one of the most dynamic local governments in Canada.  TFN is in a major growth phase as it builds a progressive economic and governance foundation to support a bright future for our Members, residents and partners. We are seeking a leader with natural skills in relationship-building who can provide the Tsawwassen Government with sound management and stewardship of critical strategic initiatives through ongoing Treaty implementation and analysis and effective coordination of TFN’s intergovernmental relationships.

The Senior Territory Management Coordinator will work collaboratively with their manager and team members, along with other Tsawwassen Government departments, to advance TFN’s strategic interests. The Senior Territory Management Coordinator will be expected to use their effective communication and interpersonal skills to build mutually beneficial working relationships with a view to achieving Tsawwassen Government goals and objectives, including the long-term goals in TFN’s five-year strategic plan. The Senior Territory Management Coordinator will represent TFN in various capacities and lead or provide support for negotiations with other governments and external partners.  The Senior Territory Management Coordinator will provide strategic Territory Management advice to other departments, senior managers, and elected officials, and will oversee the advancement of Treaty Stewardship aspirations, including the policy basis for new laws and regulations.

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily indoors in an office environment.  Off-site travel is occasionally required to attend meetings, committees, conferences, and training events.  Work often involves managing confidential information of a sensitive nature, occasionally with intergovernmental or business confidentiality requirements.  Work will involve some evening or weekend work based on operational needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with provincial and federal agencies such as environmental assessment office and impact assessment agency regarding major projects that may have to go through the environmental assessment or the impact assessment process

• Work with provincial and federal organizations regarding impact assessment act and determine their respective conditions, timelines, and engagement plans

• Environmental assessment transitioning from the old Federal acts to the new acts relating to Indigenous lead assessments on newer major projects 

• With support from the Manager of Territory Management and team members and legal counsel, assess impacts of potential projects to TFN and convey how it's going to impact TFN

• Work with external environmental consultants who provide support at various stages of each project (e.g. when the project description comes out and projected timelines for when the work will happen and engagement plans, communication plans)

• Build collaborative relationships with the proponents

• Collaborate with Stewardship and Natural Resources staff on multiple projects (e.g. TMX) and natural resources committees and getting input back from the associated committee regarding issues on work in and around the Fraser River (e.g. harvesting and Roberts bank) 

• Keep up to date on environmental management agreement committee proceedings (e.g. process put into place regarding environmental monitoring at Roberts bank when works start to happen). Keep them informed of the different environmental studies and major projects that TFN are working on

• Create and submit information in TFN’s ‘Community Notice’ newsletter including requests for TFN vessels to do the work or prospective Members to be technicians to work alongside the external environmental technicians that are doing the work 

• Attend all major contract meetings with the Manager of Territory Management

• Check-ins with the environmental assessment office or impact assessment agency and sometimes tripartite meetings, including first meetings with the proponent and then check in and inform the agencies to let each other know how things are going from in preparation for relationship agreement committee meetings 

• Work with internal staff on territory management related referrals including reviewing inbox and draft responses to ensure it corresponds with TFN’s jurisdictional scope and priorities (e.g. Fraser River projects or neighbouring municipalities and port authorities)

• Through a combination of virtual and in person meetings (e.g. with Vancouver Fraser Port Authority) to build a relationship by having meetings in person initially followed by back-and-forth meetings at TFN and then at the other associated office

• Collaborate with people from many TFN departments to provide an update on some of the major projects and whether any major milestone has been met. These departments could end up overlapping in different ways so to just kind of keep everybody up to date

• Educating and advocating for TFN’s treaty rights (e.g. harvest), practice cultural protocols

• Work with internal GIS mapping staff to incorporate up-to-date and historical data relating to territory management

• Take complex information and put it into documents that are accessible to less technically oriented audiences

• Work with TFN’s Referrals Analyst on referral intake, information review, size and scope consideration and whether the project triggers an environmental assessment (e.g. Surrey Langley SkyTrain and environmental screening reviews) 

• Provide the Manager of Territory Management with Executive Council report data and draft content

• Attend marine shipping subcommittee meetings which is connected to the TMX pipeline it's the subcommittee of the indigenous advisory monitoring committee 

• Ensure in-house staff (e.g. biologists) review information for accuracy and alignment with TFN priorities

• Take notes in meetings to create a task list (e.g. work with the policy department or lands department on a Burns Bogg ecological consultancy project

• Work with Archeology team on some of the major projects within traditional territories

• Draft reports (e.g. participation funding) 

• Provide comments on external draft reports to finalize content provided by proponents (e.g. a study and that an environmental consultant provided 

Requirements 

• Understanding of different processes such as terms of reference or engagement

• Willingness and aptitude for learning (e.g. taking an Indigenous Stewardship Program, courses in Ecology and other areas of study to enhance understanding of TFN’s lands and waters) 

• Understanding of certain species and keystone species on TFN’s traditional territories 

• Understanding of impact assessments or environmental assessments and how First Nations need to be engaged 

• Understanding that TFN is a treaty nation and that other nations may be consulted as well depending on their territory. 

• Understanding the tripartite agreement among BC government, Canadian government and treaty Nations 

• A strong connection and understanding of TFN’s history, culture, vision and community moving forward 

• Basic knowledge or interest in taking GIS and Indigenous mapping workshops 

• Assertive but always professional approach to bring up my concerns. Noto being afraid to bring up your concerns because you don't think they might not think they're valid or something

Qualifications

• University degree or college diploma in political science, public administration or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• A minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience working in policy-based or advocacy related roles, or a senior position within government or similar field

• Knowledge of Canada’s federal and provincial political systems and local governments in British Columbia 

• Experience presenting complex issues and opportunities to high-level officials and third-party stakeholders 

• Ability to develop positive working relationships with government officials, elected representatives and staff 

• Ability to synthesize information and provide a balanced perspective of complex issues 

• Superior written and verbal communication skills with the ability to write, evaluate and edit a variety of documents such as reports, policy papers and position statements 

• Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently, set priorities and meet multiple deadlines 

• Ability to develop strategic direction and program implementation collaboratively with various stakeholder/community groups

• Must complete a satisfactory Criminal Records Check

• A high attention to detail and strong levels of organization in a busy environment with shifting priorities 

• Experience with First Nation communities and cultures; knowledge of Tsawwassen First Nation preferred

Wages/Benefits

Pay scale for this position is $40.02 - $44.73 per hour with excellent benefits including enrolment in the BC Municipal Pension Plan. Placement within the pay scale is based on a review of skills, experience & internal equity.

Pursuant to the Tsawwassen First Nation Government Employees Act, first priority in hiring among qualified applicants will be given to Tsawwassen Members, second priority to spouses (as defined in s. 3 (1) of the BC Family Law Act) of Tsawwassen Members, and third priority to members of other First Nations. If you fall within one of these categories and you wish to have this voluntary information considered as part of your application, please indicate the applicable category in your cover letter.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.