Indigenous Liaison Coordinator – Northern Canada

Are you looking to channel your skills into meaningful, energizing work that will directly contribute to protecting our natural world? Do you want to work with an exceptional group of passionate and caring colleagues?

Birds Canada is the country’s premier national organization dedicated to bird conservation. Every day, our thousands of caring donors, 80+ dedicated staff, and 70,000+ outstanding volunteers are taking action to help us better understand, appreciate, and conserve birds and their habitats. Together, we are Canada’s Voice for Birds – will you join us?

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Indigenous Liaison Coordinator plays an important role in leading communications, engagement, and support of Indigenous groups for Birds Canada’s “Growing Science Capacity for Conservation in the North” project. Reporting to the Senior Director, Northern Canada, the Indigenous Liaison Coordinator will initiate and maintain communications with Northern Indigenous groups on behalf of the Science in the North project. The Liaison will travel to and between Northern communities for in-person meetings and relationship building. This position will play an important role in establishing and/or supporting necessary connections between Indigenous interests and Birds Canada (and other groups) to accomplish those interests. The successful candidate will be involved in communications, presentations, capacity building, collaboration and more depending on the skills of the successful applicant.

We particularly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples. We are willing to look at ways to hire candidates through Indigenous organizations/communities.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

This full-time role reports to the Senior Director, Northern Canada, and is flexible remote/hybrid remote/in-person. This position is expected to have occasional travel for northern meetings (Labrador, Québec, Ontario) and project support discussions.  Anticipated start date for this role is late June/early July 2024.

TOTAL COMPENSATION

Birds Canada is proud to offer an exceptional Total Compensation Package, including a competitive starting salary and 5% RRSP matching after 12 months of service.  In addition, staff enjoy a primarily employer-paid extended benefits package including health and dental coverage, Basic Group Life Insurance, Group out-of-province travel insurance, Vision, ADD&D and short- and long-term disability coverage.  We offer all staff 4 weeks’ vacation per year to start along with 12 personal health days and additional paid vacation days between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

STARTING SALARY: The starting salary for this role is $68,846 annually, commensurate with your previous experience.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Play a leading role in Birds Canada’s communications and relationship building with Northern Indigenous groups, including furthering and supporting existing relationships by:

• Building relationships and collaborations based on a shared interest in bird conservation and land protection and maintaining relationships with Indigenous groups relating to the project.
• Coordinating northern meetings, supporting Indigenous capacity to attend meetings, and ensuring Indigenous voices are represented at meetings

Bring together Indigenous and external groups to support Indigenous interests by:

• Acting as the liaison between these groups when required to further Indigenous interests and alignment with the Science in the North project goals.
• Communicating with Indigenous groups about their priorities and interests.

Provide training and capacity development support to Northern communities by delivering in-person and virtual training to Northern community members on topics ranging from bird identification to conservation tools.

Support the Manager and Senior Director, Northern Canada, with budgeting and project tracking by providing updates to tracking documents, with an emphasis on ensuring the Science in the North and other Birds Canada programs are collaborating strategically with Indigenous groups and Nations.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Strong understanding of Indigenous perspectives, history, and environmental context
• Prior experience working with Indigenous Peoples
• Experience working or living in northern regions
• Strong inter-personal skills in meetings, presentations, and large gatherings
• Able to work closely with team, mostly virtually, and manage multiple deadlines
• Knowledge of Northern Canada’s bird fauna, including relevant biology and conservation needs a strong asset
• English essential, French or Indigenous language fluency are strong assets

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Significant experience working with Indigenous Peoples, Nations, and groups, especially relating to conservation topics.
• Experience leading meetings and maintaining positive communications with diverse audiences.
• B.Sc. or higher OR Parallel experience (e.g., through work)
• Background knowledge of conservation, environmental issues, birds, and Indigenous history

TO APPLY

Please submit your resume along with a covering letter outlining how your past experience makes you the perfect candidate for this role via the Birds Canada Online Job Portal by June 10, 2024, 12:00 ET. Birds Canada will provide accommodation throughout the recruitment, selection, and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

Birds Canada is committed to improving levels of diversity among its volunteers, membership, staff, and board that reflects the diversity of communities across the country. In an effort to do so, we are actively seeking to improve our ability to reach all candidates with our job postings. Applicants belonging to racialized groups, who identify as Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, or who have differing abilities are therefore welcome to self-identify in their cover letter, if they feel comfortable, although this is not a requirement.