BC First Nations, Land & Resource Management

Position: Referrals Manager
Organization: Katzie First Nation
Location: Pitt Meadows BC (Hybrid – min 2 days per week in office)

Katzie First Nation is looking for a dynamic and strategic Referrals Manager to lead a team at the forefront of land and resource consultation.

About the Territorial Guardianship & Referrals Department

The Territorial Guardianship & Referrals Department is responsible for protecting, caring for, and upholding Katzie First Nation’s lands, waters, and rights within Katzie’s traditional territory. The department brings together two distinct but closely aligned functions—Territorial Guardianship and Referrals—that work collaboratively to support Katzie’s role as caretakers for the territory.

Together, the department integrates Katzie knowledge, teachings, and customary law with Western science and regulatory processes through a two‑eyed seeing approach. This structure ensures that Katzie’s responsibilities to the land, waters, ancestors, and future generations are honoured both on the land and within planning, consultation, and decision‑making processes.

About the Role in Practice

The Referrals function coordinates consultation, engagement, and review processes for projects and activities proposed within Katzie territory that may impact Katzie’s rights, title, or interests. This work ensures that Katzie’s laws, knowledge, priorities, and technical considerations are meaningfully reflected in regulatory and decision‑making processes.

The Referrals Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight, setting priorities, supporting staff capacity, and ensuring consultation work is paced realistically and aligned with Katzie governance objectives. The Manager works through a team‑based structure, delegating operational coordination to the Referrals Coordinator and administrative delivery to the Referrals Administrator, while retaining accountability for decision‑making, external positioning, and high‑risk files.

Katzie First Nation is committed to supporting long‑term professional growth. This role offers opportunities to deepen expertise in Indigenous‑led land governance, cumulative effects assessment, and cross‑government engagement, with exposure to strategic planning, funding development, and senior‑level decision‑making.

This role will appeal to professionals who are comfortable navigating complexity, competing timelines, and high‑stakes decisions—and who are equally committed to teamwork, transparency, and sustainable ways of working.

What you will do

• Provide strategic oversight of referrals intake, prioritization, and workflow, ensuring alignment with departmental and Nation priorities and sustainable workload management.
• Set Referrals priorities and expectations, adjusting direction in response to risks, capacity constraints, or emerging issues.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and performance support to the Referrals Coordinator and Referrals Administrator.
• Hold accountability for the quality, timeliness, and appropriateness of referral responses, reports, and correspondence.

• Lead on high‑impact, complex, or escalated files, including liaison with senior leadership, proponents, and government agencies.
• Ensure a two‑eyed seeing approach is applied across referrals work, weaving Katzie knowledge, teachings, and customary law with Western science and Crown legal frameworks.
• Work collaboratively with the Guardian Manager to integrate on‑the‑ground Guardianship knowledge into referrals and consultation processes.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of referrals tracking systems and data management tools.
• Provide oversight of project milestones, deliverables, budgets, and funding reporting, in collaboration with finance and coordination staff.
• Oversee the establishment and management of contracts and technical support agreements for referrals‑related work.
• Support the Director in implementing departmental strategies, work plans, and funding agreements.
• Operate as part of a team and be flexible about the boundaries and functions of the job.

What We’re Looking For

• Post‑secondary degree in Indigenous Studies, Land and Resource Management, Environmental Science, Archaeology, or a related field.
• Five to seven years of progressive experience in Indigenous consultation, land and resource management, or a related field.
• Equivalent combinations of education, professional experience, and relevant lived experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated experience supervising or leading teams, including providing direction, mentorship, and performance support.
• A leadership approach grounded in respect, relationship‑building, and awareness of the emotional and cultural dimensions of consultation work.
• Knowledge of Katzie territory, or a demonstrated commitment to learning Katzie community context, customary laws, protocols, and teachings.
• Strong understanding of Indigenous rights, title, and consultation processes across municipal, regional, provincial, and federal jurisdictions, including relevant legislation, policy frameworks, and legal precedents.
• Experience with, or strong knowledge of, major project reviews and Indigenous‑led cumulative effects or impact assessment processes.
• Broad familiarity with land and resource management policy areas (e.g., water, cultural heritage, wildlife, energy, transportation, forestry, land‑use planning) sufficient to oversee technical review and support informed decision‑making.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate respectfully, build relationships, and navigate conflict across diverse perspectives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office/365 and project management or tracking tools.

What We Offer:

In addition to standard employment benefits like paid vacation, and extended health coverage, we offer a total rewards package that reflects our commitment to wellness, culture, family, and community:

• Health Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• On‑site medical services
• Pension plan with employer contributions
• Paid Indigenous, Federal, and Provincial holidays
• Paid winter office closure
• Paid sick leave
• Family responsibility days,
• Opportunities to participate in community events and activities
• Cultural learning and engagement opportunities

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Annual Wage: $80,000-$95,000 Annually

How to Apply:

• Apply online at katzie.ca and navigate to Career Opportunities.
• You may also email your resume to careers@katzie.ca, referencing Job # 20253 in the subject line
• In‑person applications are welcome at the Katzie Administration Building.

Cover Letter:
We encourage you to include a brief cover letter sharing your experience and interest in this role. We’re particularly interested in learning how your background, knowledge, or lived experience aligns with Indigenous consultation, land stewardship, or governance‑related work.

Every application is reviewed by a member of our HR team — your experience and story matter to us.

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