Indigenous Youth Opportunities Coordinator
Position: Indigenous Youth Opportunities Coordinator
Supervisor: Sr. Manager, Indigenous and Youth Relations
Location: Flexible within Canada
Status: Temporary (through March 31, 2021), Full-time, Non-Exempt from Overtime
SFI® Inc. is a sustainability leader that stands for future forests. We are an independent, non-profit organization that
provides supply chain assurances, produces conservation outcomes, and supports education and community engagement.
SFI works with the forest sector, brand owners, conservation groups, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local
communities, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and universities. SFI Inc. is governed by an independent three-chamber
board of directors representing environmental, social, and economic sectors equally. Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT
Canada), an initiative of SFI, is dedicated to advancing environmental literacy, stewardship, and career pathways using
trees and forests as windows on the world.
As the Indigenous Youth Opportunities Coordinator, you will contribute to SFI’s growing array of community engagement
and environmental education initiatives. Working collaboratively with other members of SFI’s diverse and multidisciplinary
team, you will play an integral role in the development and implementation of programs, resources and initiatives with a
specific aim to enhance the number, relevancy and accessibility of opportunities for Indigenous youth in the forest and
conservation sectors. You will also support SFI’s Sr. Manager of Indigenous and Youth Relations in fostering positive,
respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples and other SFI Network partners, to ensure that SFI’s programs and
initiatives respond to real needs and are delivered in an appropriate and effective manner.
Some of the projects and initiatives you will be working on include:
• Launching the PLT Canada Ambassadors Program
• Helping Indigenous communities access Green Jobs funding to employ local youth
• Supporting Indigenous communities in designing and delivering forest-focused skills training for youth
• Connecting PLT Canada’s Guide to Green Jobs in Canada: Voices of Indigenous Professionals to new audiences
• Facilitating mentorships between Indigenous youth and professionals through the My Green Mentor Program
• Growing SFI & PLT Canada’s National Partnership with the Outland Youth Employment Program
• Celebrating the successes of Indigenous Green Jobs alumni
SFI has a proud history of forest-focused collaboration with Indigenous Peoples across what is now North America. SFI
recognizes and respects the rights of Indigenous Peoples and believes our shared quality of life improves when forests are
sustainably managed for current and future generations. We take a flexible, respectful approach to relationship building,
that helps us to effectively address the issues that matter most to each of our community partners. Every day, we strive to
co-create meaningful change, while also listening, learning, and growing as an organization to become the best possible
partner we can be. Supporting opportunities for Indigenous youth is an important part of this work.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
1. Support the development and implementation of programs, resources and initiatives with a specific aim to enhance the
number, relevancy and accessibility of employment opportunities for Indigenous youth within the forest sector.
2. Advocate for high-quality Indigenous youth employment opportunities within the forest sector and support innovative
education and employment initiatives, such as the Outland Youth Employment Program.
3. Elevate and support Indigenous Green Jobs recipients, to promote their continued career growth and encourage more
Indigenous youth to get excited about opportunities in the forest sector.
4. Identify and establish mentorship opportunities for Indigenous youth and young professionals in the full spectrum of
forest-focused career pathways utilizing both the SFI and PLT Canada networks.
5. Lead the implementation of a Green Jobs Ambassadors Program, designed to promote giving back to one’s own
community using the transferrable skills developed through a Green Jobs employment experience.
6. Guide the respectful, culturally-informed integration of Indigenous teachings, perspectives, traditional
knowledge and lived realities into PLT Canada’s programming and education materials.
7. Foster Indigenous Relations leadership throughout the SFI Network by developing resources and tools that
support meaningful relationship building with Indigenous Peoples at the local and regional levels, and by
providing individualized support to SFI Certified Organizations and PLT Canada Green Jobs employers.
8. Support community-based partnerships, projects and initiatives that enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in
the sustainable forest economy, such as youth education and employment initiatives.
9. Be creative! If you can think of ways to meaningfully grow our relationships with Indigenous Peoples, bring them to
the table. This may include the development of programming or access to funding sources to deliver on Indigenous
youth employment and education initiatives in partnership with local communities.
10. Support the SFI team in the delivery of other objectives as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS/PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The ideal candidate will bring:
• Lived experience in distinctions-based relationship building with Indigenous Peoples (First Nation, Inuit, Métis);
• A proven ability to work in an engaging and respectful manner with young people, age 15 to 30;
• A demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team to design and implement community-focused
programming, including youth-focused education and employment initiatives;
• The ability to work with a diverse range of partners to develop solutions-focused outcomes using strong
interpersonal and communications skills;
• An understanding of Aboriginal and treaty rights as they pertain to forest-based development;
• A drive to generate solutions and proven experience in solving complex problems;
• Strong presentation and language skills, and proven ability to develop written, oral and online
communications that are compelling and linked to organizational objectives;
• A positive attitude and high energy;
• Active curiosity and engagement in ongoing learning;
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced environment, handling tasks with diplomacy,
tenacity, patience, attention to detail and a drive for results;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• Ability to travel up to 10% of time.
Preference will be given to qualified Indigenous (First Nation, Inuit, Métis) candidates.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Community Development, Indigenous Studies, Education, Forestry, Natural
Resources Management or related fields;
• At least three years of experience working with Indigenous communities or organizations in a professional or
volunteer capacity;
• Direct experience with forest-based community development is an asset.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this position, email a resume and cover letter to the attention of Paul Robitaille, Sr. Manager of
Indigenous and Youth Relations, at jobs@sfiprogram.org. Subject line should say “Application: Indigenous Youth
Opportunities Coordinator”. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
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SFI Inc. is proud to provide our employees with a collaborative, dynamic, and rewarding professional experience,
with a competitive compensation and benefits package and growth opportunities. We are committed to creating a
diverse environment and being an equal opportunity employer. Our team represents a broad range of cultures,
education, disciplines, and work and life experiences, and we strive to leverage these differences in our daily work.
We will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age,
gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We
believe in creating an empowered and supportive team that is committed to advancing sustainability through
forest-focused collaborations.
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