Director, First Nations Consultation

Classification: Management Band B, Excluded

Office Location: Dawson Creek / Fort St John / Kelowna / Prince George / Victoria

Salary: $119,211 – $156,045 – Permanent Full-Time, based on a 35-hour work week. 
An additional 3% Location Allowance will be added to posted salary for northern location

About the Job:                
The Director, First Nations Consultation (Director) is responsible for ensuring the BCER meets the Crown’s legal obligations to consult with First Nations and, where appropriate, accommodate impacts related to decisions on energy resource activities that may adversely impact treaty or Aboriginal rights.

This position provides strategic and operational oversight to a team of diverse and geographically distributed professionals across the province. The Director is responsible for driving adaptive and culturally informed responses to emerging issues and evolving priorities that affect consultation processes with Indigenous communities impacted by energy development in British Columbia. 

Organization Chart: 
Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer
          Executive Vice President, Resource Management & Stewardship
                    Vice President, Responsible Development & Indigenous Relations
                              Executive Director, Indigenous Relations 
                                        Director, First Nations Consultation

Provide strategic direction and leadership on Indigenous consultation processes related to energy resource applications and projects.

Lead and facilitate consultation processes with First Nations and industry proponents that result in meaningful engagement that supports the collaborative development of project terms and conditions, reflecting the interests of Indigenous communities, applicants, and the Crown.

Identify, analyze, and respond to emerging risks, legal developments, and evolving consultation standards.

Brief senior leadership and executive management on key consultation issues, emerging risks, and opportunities for enhanced engagement.

Build and maintain respectful, trust-based working relationships with First Nations and industry representatives to support the identifying and resolving complex and sensitive issues affecting energy and resource development projects.

Lead the development and implementation of tools, procedures, training, and best practices that support consistent, effective, and culturally appropriate consultation with Indigenous Nations.

Brief executive leadership on high-impact consultation issues, challenges, and opportunities. 

Engage with industry applicants to clarify consultation requirements and monitor progress throughout the application and approval process.

Ensure alignment between regional consultation work and broader organizational goals and regulatory frameworks. 

Provide strategic direction and mentorship to a geographically dispersed team, ensuring Indigenous consultation and engagement initiatives align with organizational goals and provincial regulatory frameworks.

Supervise and support staff across the province, fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and consistency in consultation practices.

Education:
Degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a relevant field such as Natural Resource Management or Environmental Science, and seven years of directly related experience.

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.

Experience:
Demonstrated experience leading consultation or negotiations with First Nations communities and groups on complex issues and processes in a natural resource or regulatory context.

Demonstrated experience building and maintaining strong relationships with First Nations communities, governments, and organizations, grounded in respect, cultural awareness, and trust. 

Demonstrated experience in the development and implementation of consultation process improvements, tools, and/or policy frameworks.

Demonstrated experience building productive and collaborative partnerships with industry, First Nations communities, and government agencies to support sustainable energy or natural resource development. 

Demonstrated experience supervising, leading, coaching, and mentoring staff and/or teams.

Demonstrated experience providing expertise in facilitation and conflict resolution, with a demonstrated ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues. 

Key Competencies:
Conflict Management
The ability to effectively identify, address, and work to resolve conflicts within the organization or externally. It involves managing risks, fostering positive working relationships, and promoting a collaborative and productive work environment.

Developing Others
The ability to foster the long-term learning and development of others through coaching, mentoring, managing performance, and providing feedback. Driven by a genuine desire to enhance others’ growth and development, focusing on developmental intent and effect rather than merely transferring skills to complete tasks.

Flexibility and Adaptability
The ability and willingness to adjust to diverse situations and work effectively with a variety of individuals or groups. It involves understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives, adapting one’s approach as situations change, and accepting changes within one’s work. It also encompasses reacting positively to change and cooperating readily with revised methods and priorities in a changing work environment.

Indigenous Collaboration
The ability to utilize collaboration and problem solving when aligning organization objectives with those of Indigenous communities, seeking commonalities, and questioning assumptions. Facilitates collaborative decision making by understanding diverse perspectives, respecting traditional practices, and communicating transparently.

 

If you are interested in applying for this role and meet the minimum selection criteria, please select “Apply Now” and submit your application prior to the closing date. Applicants should review the education and experience listed in the job requisition and clearly articulate how their work experience and skills are aligned with the requirements. Please note, applicants will only be contacted if they are selected to proceed further in the process.

About the BC Energy Regulator: 

The BC Energy Regulator (BCER) is the Province of B.C.’s life-cycle energy resources regulator. The BCER is a Crown agency with a mandate to ensure energy resource activities are undertaken in a manner that: protects public safety and the environment, supports reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and the transition to low-carbon energy, conserves energy resources and fosters a sound economy and social well-being. 

As a cost recoverable, values driven organization, we prioritize safety, stewardship and Indigenous interests throughout the full project lifecycle – from exploration to reclamation – and support the transition to clean energy. The BCER is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, honouring the Provincial commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action. Through fostering respectful and collaborative relationships with Indigenous partners and stakeholders, the BCER delivers on Government’s priorities. 

The BCER has an innovative forward-thinking workplace that demonstrates our core values. Through continuous improvement and development, the BCER is agile and responsive to the rapidly changing environment in which we operate. We are diverse and inclusive, with transparency, innovation, and integrity as foundation of our respectful culture.

What We Offer: 

The BCER operates under a Hybrid Office Model whereby employees work from both a home office and a designated BCER office location in order to support our mandate (eligibility may vary, depending on position). 

The BCER is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on the protected grounds under the Human Rights Code. The BCER is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for the removal of barriers for qualified individuals. If you need assistance or accommodation, please let us know. 

We acknowledge and respect the many First Nations, each with unique cultures, languages, legal traditions and relationships to the land and water, on whose territories the British Columbia Energy Regulator's work spans.

Please contact us at Recruitment@bc-er.ca if you require any assistance or more information.