Chief Administrative Officer – Gitxaala Nation

Gitxaala Nation
Chief Administration Officer

Gitxaała territories stretch from the Nass River to Aristazabal Island, on the north coast of British Columbia. The Gitxaała (also known as Git Lax M’oon, people of the saltwater) are one of the most ancient societies on the coast. The village of Lax Klan (also known as Kitkatla) has been continuously inhabited since time immemorial.

The village of Lax Klan is on Dolphin Island, 60 kilometres south of Prince Rupert, BC and can be reached by boat or float plane. The village has been occupied for over 10 000 years and is currently home to 450 Gitxaała citizens. The Gitxaała Nation government also has offices in Prince Rupert, sharing a building with the Museum of Northern British Columbia.

Gitxaała hereditary leaders from four clans, Gisputwada, Ganhada, Lax’sgiik and Laxgibuu, manage and protect their territories and resources according to their ayaawx, traditional laws. Gitxaała citizens (currently 2094 members), wherever they reside, celebrate their history, practice their traditions, respect their laws, and cherish their lands, waters and resources.

The Gitxaala Nation elected council members spearheaded by the Chief Councillor are now seeking a Chief Administration Officer who shares their vision of building Gitxaała as a self-governing, self-sustaining and inclusive nation for all its citizens.

Located out of the Lax Klan (Kitkatla) reserve with regular visits to office locations in Prince Rupert, the new CAO will embody the values of the Nation in overseeing the strategic direction and operational excellence of the administrative body across 9 departments.
 
Some key responsibilities include:

• Act as liaison and representative of the nation between various levels of government agency or department (particularly Indigenous Services Canada or First Nations Health Authority), private industry and other individuals, groups or agencies in the area.
• Create an environment of respect, trust, and collaboration.
• Work with Council to define strategic direction for Nation’s Administration and develop 5-year operational plan to be approved by Council and delivered by leadership team.
• Act as key advisor to Council, leadership team, overall staff and citizens on all operational matters, knowing when to delegate responsibilities to key members of the team.
• Collaborate with council and staff to ensure the traditional practices of the Gitxaala are respected and embedded into the decisions made and programs introduced.
• In collaboration with CFO,  report to Finance & Audit Committee, respect Financial Administration ByLaw, and oversee the accurate and timely completion of annual budget plus 5-year Capital Plan.
• Approve vendor and supplier contracts for large capital projects and M&A initiatives in support of economic development activities.
• In collaboration with HR Manager and leadership team, create an environment where staff are motivated and working in support of the vision of the nation and the annual plan; ensuring clear definition of responsibilities for each employee with supporting programs and policies.
• Work with the Education and Culture team to create professional development programs and paths to support continuous employment and advancement of nation members within the various departments of the nation.
• Work with the Culture and Language team to ensure the traditions and language of the Gitxaala heritage are honored.
• Create opportunities to engage with citizens and community members in Lax Klan but also in Prince Rupert and beyond.

As the Ideal Candidate:
Council is looking to meet candidates who possess a nice mix of the following:

• Experience in an executive management role, ideally in a First Nation or other level of government, with responsibility in strategic operation management, band council support administration, financial management, and human resource management.
• Comprehensive understanding of the history of First Nations governments, the Indian Act, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Act, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is also essential.
• Strong team leadership and management skills and have the ability to manage relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Indigenous leadership, negotiation and conflict resolution, and financial and administrative certifications are considered an asset (Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator or Certified Indigenous Leadership). Bachelors, MBA or PMP designations would be welcomed.
• Experience in developing and managing annual workplans and budgets.
• Seasoned in implementing workplace policies and procedures in building a strong workforce. Confident in how to navigate through resistance to change.
• Strong technical writing skills and experience in writing policies, procedures, proposals, briefing notes, reports and grants.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from industry, government bodies, professional groups, Gitxaala members and the public.

Compensation
The salary range for this role will commence at $150K a year with full benefits, 4 weeks’ vacation as well as relocation support if required. Accommodation will be provided on reserve (Lax Klan) as well as during trips to Prince Rupert and across BC/Canada as needed.

Interested?
Gitxaała Nation has partnered with KasaHR Consulting to fulfill this important hire. To be considered for this role, please apply by sending your resume and cover letter directly to kataneh@kasahr.com or arthur@kasahr.com or via www.kasahr.com/recruitment.

KasaHR was founded on the basis that all applicants deserve respect and care when they apply for jobs. All applications will be reviewed with care and we look forward to hearing the personal journey and story of those applicants whose backgrounds best match the needs of the Nation. All other applicants will be informed of the status of their application within days of applying. If you have not heard back from us within a week of submission of your application, please don’t hesitate to contact us for an update.