Director of Natural Resources

• An opportunity to utilize your Natural Resource Management skills in a passionate community
• Receive an $80,000-110,000 annual salary, based on skills and experience plus full benefits!
• Help us achieve our vision and goals while preserving our culture

Welcome to Lake Babine Nation (LBN), the thriving and vibrant third-largest Aboriginal Band in beautiful British Columbia! Our rich history, formed by the amalgamation of the Old Fort Band and the Fort Babine Band in 1957, is steeped in tradition and unity. Today, our Nation flourishes with 27 reserve lands and three bustling communities, embracing over 2,486 registered members (as of 2023) as part of our extended family. 

At Lake Babine Nation, we cherish our roots and are committed to preserving our cultural identity. We speak our Nad’uten language, follow our traditional and contemporary laws, and uphold our cherished customs with unwavering pride. Our community values health and well-being, fostering a positive lifestyle and sustainable environmental stewardship. We are dedicated to education, empowering all members to contribute significantly to our Nation's growth and prosperity. 

Lake Babine Nation is more than a place; it's a welcoming embrace for all generations, valuing the voices of our young members and empowering them to make a difference in our shared future.

To learn more about Lake Babine Nation, please visit our website.

Lake Babine Nation is currently looking for a Director of Natural Resources in Burns Lake, BC. In this role, you will report directly to the Nation's Chief Operations Officer and Chief & Council. You will be responsible for overseeing and being the point of contact between Forestry, Mining, Fisheries - businesses, entities, societies, companies - and Lake Babine Nation. 

The Director of Natural Resources shall be responsible for organizing, collecting, and presenting data pertaining to past, present and future use of Lake Babine Nation's traditional territories and the effects of potential Forestry, Mining, and Fisheries projects on the traditional territories and its environment.

Responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

• Identifying territories, land use, activities, and prioritizing the plan of action by meeting with traditional landowners
• Providing report(s) to Chief & Council, members, and all affiliated with Forestry, Lands, Lakes for an update on the past, present, and future use of the land
• Making recommendations to mitigate potential project impacts on land, environment, or culture
• Ensuring that obligations are fulfilled by Provincial / Territorial, Federal governments, and all those affiliated with Forestry, Mining, Fisheries 
• Developing a budget with the Chief Operations Officer through funding agent liaising
• Monitoring and maintaining financial control of the budgets by meeting periodically with the Chief Operations Officer and the Nation’s Chief Finance Officer
• Incorporating traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices into natural resource management strategies
• Aligning decisions and developments with cultural values and long-standing practices by working closely with elders, knowledge-keepers, and community members
• Providing leadership and oversight for Referrals and liaison officers in the Natural Resources building
• Performing other related duties as requested by the Lake Babine Nation Chief Operations Officer and Chief & Council
• Meeting with community members and leaders by travelling within the Lake Babine Nation territories
• Representing the Lake Babine interests in discussions and negotiations with local, regional, and national government and industry representatives
• Ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and agreements

To qualify, you must have a Bachelor of Natural Resource Management or Environmental Science, considerations will be made for equivalencies or related studies. You will also need a minimum of 2 years of experience with First Nations Natural Resources.

The following attributes will be critical to successfully performing this role:

• Demonstrated familiarity with Nedut’en Traditional Territories & Culture
• A clear and empathetic understanding of the needs of the Lake Babine Nation community and its resources
• Proven ability to actively participate in, support, and successfully execute significant projects with full representation and follow-through from the outset
• Possesses exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, enabling effective conveyance of project goals, tasks, and risks in clear, culturally sensitive language
• Excellent program Management skills enabling efficient coordination and implementation of field programs to meet project schedules and budgets
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in diverse working environments
• A valid B.C. Driver’s License and access to a vehicle
• Successfully passing a Criminal Records Check
• Experience in Land Use Planning (asset)
• Strong connections and prior work experience with the Land Advisory Board (asset)

With strength, knowledge, and experience, you embody a genuine spokesperson for Lake Babine Nation, advocating our cultural, traditional, and environmental interests. You adeptly handle ongoing changes and development, representing the community's beliefs and needs with prosperity as a top priority.

As a valued member of our team, you will be awarded an $80,000-110,000 salary range evaluated on knowledge, skills, and experience, plus:

• Comprehensive Benefits Plan: life insurance, long-term disability, dental, extended health coverage, vision coverage, etc.
  • Available after 3 months (negotiable)
  • Fully covered by Lake Babine Nation, no monthly premiums
• Competitive Industrial Alliance Pension Plan with incremental yearly increases
  • Available after 3 months (negotiable)
  • LBN offers 3%, 5%, 8%; dollar-for-dollar match
• Earned Day Off for Executives: 1 day off per month
• Special Leave (traditional/cultural practices; immediate emergency not relating to immediate family): 5 days
• Two weeks' office closure during Christmas Holidays
• Vacation after 1 year (negotiable)
• Paid days for sick and personal leave
• Social events and activities
• A chance to contribute to an organization at the forefront of Canada's most exciting Natural Resource projects!

Don't miss this unique opportunity to take on a pivotal senior leadership role within a community that cares!

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