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Build a Strong, Self-Sustaining Future for Our Nation

The First Nation is seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Community Development to provide strategic leadership for Housing, Infrastructure/Public Works, Lands, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Development, and other community development initiatives.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, this senior leadership role is responsible for advancing sustainable community development that reflects the Nation's inherent rights, self-determination, governance traditions, cultural values, and long-term vision. The Director will lead efforts that strengthen community resilience, economic independence, environmental stewardship, housing security, infrastructure sustainability, and community well-being for current and future generations.

This position offers the opportunity to help shape the future of the Nation while ensuring development respects the sacred relationship between the people, the land, waters, natural resources, and traditional territory.

Position Summary

The Director of Community Development provides strategic and operational leadership for the Community Development portfolio and supervises staff involved in:

• Housing
• Infrastructure and Public Works
• Lands Management
• Environmental Stewardship
• Economic Development
• Community Development initiatives

Working closely with Chief and Council, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community members, staff, funding partners, government agencies, businesses, consultants, and contractors, the Director ensures community development initiatives are coordinated, accountable, culturally appropriate, community-driven, and sustainable.

The Director plays a critical role in advancing self-sufficiency and economic independence while protecting the Nation's lands, waters, culture, traditional knowledge, and environmental resources.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership, Administration and Nation Building

• Provide leadership and oversight for all Community Development functions.
• Develop departmental priorities, annual work plans, service standards, and performance measures.
• Strengthen internal organizational capacity and workforce development.
• Supervise and mentor managers, coordinators, and staff.
• Promote collaboration and integrated decision-making across departments.
• Develop policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, and strategic briefings for senior leadership and Chief and Council.
• Identify long-term opportunities, risks, and solutions that support community growth and self-determination.

Inherent Rights, Self-Determination and Community Governance

• Ensure community development initiatives uphold the Nation's inherent rights and authority over lands, waters, resources, culture, and future development.
• Support development models that strengthen self-determination and community control.
• Ensure meaningful, transparent, and culturally appropriate engagement processes.
• Support free, prior, and informed consent practices consistent with Nation-specific governance protocols.
• Advocate for community participation, ownership, and decision-making in projects affecting the territory.

Housing Development and Sustainability

• Provide strategic oversight of housing programs, services, and assets.
• Lead long-term housing planning based on current and future community needs.
• Oversee housing construction, renovation, maintenance, and capital projects.
• Promote culturally appropriate, energy-efficient, and sustainable housing solutions.
• Support asset management and long-term housing sustainability.
• Identify funding opportunities and strategies that increase community ownership and control of housing resources.

Infrastructure and Capital Development

• Lead infrastructure, public works, and capital development initiatives.
• Support planning and development of roads, water systems, wastewater systems, utilities, buildings, and community facilities.
• Ensure infrastructure investments support community resilience and self-sufficiency.
• Coordinate engineering, feasibility studies, design, construction, and implementation activities.
• Support preventative maintenance programs and asset management planning.
• Explore innovative and sustainable infrastructure and energy solutions.

Lands and Environmental Stewardship

• Provide leadership for the protection, planning, and administration of First Nation lands and traditional territory.
• Support land use planning that reflects Indigenous values, traditional knowledge, and community priorities.
• Ensure development decisions consider impacts on:
  • Lands and waters
  • Air quality
  • Wildlife and habitat
  • Plants and medicines
  • Natural resources
  • Cultural and ceremonial sites
  • Ecological systems
  • Traditional land-use practices
• Support environmental monitoring, restoration, and protection initiatives.
• Promote stewardship approaches that maintain the health and balance of the territory.

Culture, Ceremony and Traditional Knowledge

• Ensure development initiatives honor and reflect the Nation's culture, teachings, and relationship with the land.
• Work with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members to incorporate traditional knowledge into planning and development.
• Support traditional practices, including:
  • Ceremony
  • Traditional medicines
  • Land-based learning
  • Hunting, fishing, and harvesting
  • Gathering and use of traditional plants
  • Cultural and spiritual practices
• Protect culturally sensitive information according to community protocols.

Economic Development and Self-Sufficiency

• Lead initiatives that support economic independence and community wealth creation.
• Develop sustainable revenue-generating opportunities and community-owned enterprises.
• Evaluate and advance opportunities involving:
  • Community-owned businesses
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Procurement initiatives
  • Sustainable resource opportunities
  • Commercial development
  • Employment and workforce development
• Ensure economic development aligns with cultural values and environmental responsibilities.
• Promote community ownership and long-term benefit from economic opportunities.

Major Projects and Community Benefits

• Provide leadership for major projects affecting the Nation and its territory.
• Coordinate environmental, technical, archaeological, and cultural assessments.
• Support negotiations that generate meaningful community benefits, including:
  • Employment
  • Training
  • Procurement opportunities
  • Business development
  • Revenue sharing
  • Infrastructure improvements
  • Environmental protection initiatives
  • Cultural programs
  • Capacity-building opportunities
• Monitor project commitments and ensure obligations are achieved.

Qualifications

Education

A degree, diploma, or equivalent combination of education, training, lived experience, and First Nation leadership experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Indigenous Governance
• Public Administration
• Community Development
• Lands or Environmental Management
• Planning
• Infrastructure Management
• Economic Development
• Business Administration
• Project Management
• Related disciplines

Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership or management experience.
• Experience working within a First Nation, Indigenous organization, government, or community-based environment.
• Experience managing housing, lands, infrastructure, environmental, capital, or economic development projects.
• Experience working with Chief and Council, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members.
• Experience managing budgets, funding agreements, contracts, and partnerships.
• Experience facilitating community engagement and consultation processes is considered an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Understanding of Indigenous rights and self-determination.
• Knowledge of free, prior, and informed consent principles.
• Respect for Indigenous governance systems and decision-making processes.
• Knowledge of land stewardship, traditional territory management, and environmental responsibility.
• Respect for traditional knowledge, ceremony, medicines, and cultural practices.
• Ability to balance economic development with environmental and cultural protection.
• Strong leadership, communication, relationship-building, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Strategic thinking and long-term planning abilities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Financial management and budget oversight experience.
• Sound analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Commitment to professionalism, accountability, confidentiality, and service to the community.

Cultural Expectations

The Director of Community Development must demonstrate a deep respect for the Nation's culture, traditions, governance systems, history, and relationship with its traditional territory.

The successful candidate must be willing to learn from and work collaboratively with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, traditional land users, and community members while supporting traditional practices, ceremony, land-based responsibilities, and cultural revitalization efforts.

Why Join Our Team?

This is an opportunity to play a key leadership role in building a healthy, prosperous, self-determined, and sustainable future for the Nation. The Director of Community Development will contribute directly to strengthening community capacity, protecting the territory, advancing economic independence, supporting housing and infrastructure development, and ensuring future generations continue to thrive on their lands.

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job, and you just might be the right candidate!

Qualified Serpent River First Nation members or Indigenous applicants will be given priority consideration.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. We appreciate your interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Interested applicants MUST submit a cover letter, resume, and three references from a direct supervisor/manager.

Attn: Human Resources

195 Village Road, Cutler Ontario, P0P 1B0 Email: hr.jobs@serpentriverfn.com

By: September 25, 2026 by 4:00 pm