Project Lead, Indigenous Relations

at  BC Ferries

Job Description :

THE OPPORTUNITY

BC Ferries provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal communities along the west coast of BC. Starting with just two ferries providing service on a single route, we have grown to a fleet of 39 ferries moving over 22 million passengers and 8 million vehicles every year across 25 routes. We are also an asset-owner responsible for operating, maintaining, and replacing significant marine and shore-based infrastructure at our 47 terminals, many of which pre-date modern consultation with First Nations.
Today, the Terminal Construction team has a large portfolio of capital construction projects, all of which are in First Nations territories. The Indigenous Relations team is looking for a Project Lead to join our team and support Terminal Construction in engagement and consultation activities.

As a Project Lead, you work closely with our Terminal Construction team to support engagement and consultation activities and provide strategic advice. Your goal is to support and streamline engagement and consultation and to reach agreement with First Nations on project plans and activity. You also support senior leadership in negotiation and implementation of business-to-business and relational agreements that contribute to effective and durable relationships with First Nations.

Reporting to the Indigenous Relations Manager, you add value and are energized by key areas of oversight such as:

• Acting as a key advisor to the Indigenous Relations Manager and Terminal Construction
• Acting as first point of contact for First Nations for project engagement and consultation, and representing the organization in a culturally sensitive manner
• Leading and facilitating project engagement and consultation with First Nations, in person and virtually, to support meaningful engagement and construction project timelines
• Corresponding regularly by email and telephone with First Nations to establish contacts and relationships and identifying interests, opportunities and concerns, particularly as they relate to current or future projects, and liaising with and advising Terminal Construction in efforts to simplify engagement and reach agreement
• Sharing knowledge and providing advice and guidance to other departments within BC Ferries to support engagement activities or policy development
• Supporting the development of cultural awareness and capacity building within the organization by developing workshop materials and presenting at workshops or lunch & learns, including speaking to areas of expertise
• Coordinating with the Indigenous Relations Manager, Relationship Leads and Terminal Construction to support a common understanding of status of projects and relationships with Nations, including a landscape view of project activities, impacts and benefits, and to provide strategic advice and proposed next steps
• Drafting, researching and engaging with First Nations to support the Indigenous Relationship Manager in developing engagement and consultation plans, corporate policies, and other Indigenous relations strategies