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Director of Wellbriety, Transitional Housing and Protective Care Services

Full Time Position – Thompson, MB

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Wellbriety, Transitional Housing and Protective Care Services provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and program development for Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak's (MKO) continuum of housing, wellness, and protective care services.

The Director is responsible for the overall management and performance of the MKO Wellbriety Centre, Transitional Housing Program, and Protective Care Unit operating under Manitoba's Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act. The Director ensures that services are delivered in a safe, culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and person-centered manner while supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use, acute intoxication, mental health challenges, and housing instability.

As a senior leader, the Director provides strategic direction, financial stewardship, human resource leadership, program development, and community engagement while ensuring compliance with legislation, accreditation standards, funding agreements, and organizational policies.

The Director champions Indigenous-led approaches to healing and wellness by integrating traditional knowledge, cultural teachings, harm reduction, and Housing First principles to support individuals on their journey toward recovery, housing stability, and self-determination.

Role and Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership and operational oversight for the Wellbriety Centre, Transitional Housing Program, and Protective Care Unit.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement strategic, operational, and business plans aligned with MKO's Strategic Plan and the priorities established by the MKO Chiefs in Assembly.
• Foster innovation and continuous quality improvement across all services.
• Establish measurable goals, objectives, and performance indicators.
• Lead the development of new programs and service enhancements that address the evolving needs of Northern First Nations.
• Promote collaboration across MKO departments to ensure integrated, client-centred service delivery.

Program Operations

• Ensure safe, effective, and efficient twenty-four-hour operations.
• Develop and implement operational policies and procedures.
• Monitor occupancy, admissions, referrals, and program utilization.
• Ensure facilities are safe, secure, and well maintained.
• Manage emergency preparedness and business continuity planning.
• Oversee quality assurance and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure all services reflect Indigenous values, cultural safety, and trauma-informed care.

Protective Care Services

• Ensure compliance with Manitoba's Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act and associated regulations.
• Develop admission, monitoring, observation, discharge, transportation, and documentation protocols.
• Ensure clients receive safe, respectful, and compassionate care while under protective detention.
• Collaborate with police services, paramedics, hospitals, physicians, emergency responders, and community agencies.
• Ensure appropriate medical referrals and transitions to detoxification, addictions treatment, mental health services, or housing supports.
• Monitor incident reporting, quality assurance, and legislative compliance.
• Promote the dignity, safety, and human rights of all individuals receiving services.

Wellbriety and Housing Services

• Provide leadership for emergency shelter and transitional housing services.
• Promote Housing First and harm reduction approaches.
• Ensure comprehensive intake, assessment, case planning, and discharge processes.
• Support the development of individualized wellness and housing plans.
• Build partnerships that improve access to permanent housing and wraparound supports.
• Monitor client outcomes and service effectiveness.
• Support culturally grounded programming that incorporates Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Traditional Healers, ceremonies, and land-based healing opportunities.

Financial Management

• Develop and administer annual operating and capital budgets.
• Monitor expenditures and ensure fiscal accountability.
• Prepare financial forecasts, variance analyses, and funding reports.
• Ensure compliance with funding agreements and organizational financial policies.
• Identify funding opportunities and participate in proposal development.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational resources.

Human Resources

• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate managers, supervisors, and frontline staff.
• Promote a healthy, respectful, and culturally safe workplace.
• Ensure appropriate staffing for twenty-four-hour operations.
• Support employee development, succession planning, and leadership growth.
• Address employee relations issues in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Promote workplace safety and employee wellness.

Community Engagement and Partnerships

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with a variety of stake holders including First Nations represented by MKO, community and public health organizations and intergovernmental funders.
• Represent MKO at local, regional, provincial, and national meetings related to homelessness, housing, wellness, addictions, and Indigenous health.

Governance, Reporting and Accountability

• Prepare reports for the Executive Director, Executive Council, Board Committees, Chiefs in Assembly, and funding agencies.
• Monitor program outcomes and key performance indicators.
• Ensure legislative compliance and organizational accountability.
• Lead policy development and program evaluation.
• Support accreditation, audits, and quality assurance initiatives.
• Ensure effective risk management practices across all services.

MKO is a political advocacy organization that works to represent the leadership and member First Nations.  All staff at MKO may be given other duties as assigned that enable MKO to fulfill the mandate and responsibility to its member communities.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Indigenous Studies, Nursing, Health Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• A master's degree in a related field is considered an asset.
• An equivalent combination of education, leadership experience, and demonstrated competencies may be considered.
• Minimum of seven years of progressive leadership experience in housing, homelessness, addictions, health care, social services, or community services.
• Minimum of five years of senior management experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing twenty-four-hour operations.
• Experience overseeing multiple programs and complex budgets.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities and organizations.
• Experience in strategic planning, policy development, and organizational leadership.
• Experience working in a unionized environment is considered an asset.

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• Indigenous cultures, histories, traditions, and contemporary issues.
• Housing First principles.
• Harm reduction philosophy.
• Trauma-informed and healing-centred practices.
• Mental health and addictions.
• Homelessness systems and housing supports.
• Crisis intervention and de-escalation.
• Case management and integrated service delivery.
• Program evaluation and quality improvement.
• Risk management and emergency response.

Working knowledge of:

• The Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act (Manitoba).
• The Residential Tenancies Act.
• Personal Health Information Act (PHIA).
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
• Workplace Safety and Health legislation.
• Manitoba Human Rights Code.
• Employments Standards Code.

• The Director works in office, shelter, protective care, and community environments.
• The position requires regular interaction with individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, mental illness, acute intoxication, trauma, and other complex social and health challenges.
• The position also requires: 
  • Availability for executive on-call responsibilities.
  • Occasional evening and weekend work.
  • Travel throughout Manitoba.
  • Attendance at community meetings, ceremonies, conferences, and organizational events
  • Valid Manitoba Class 5 Driver's Licence.
  • Access to reliable transportation.
  • CPR and First Aid certification (or ability to obtain).
  • Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) or equivalent certification (or ability to obtain).
  • Must be able to provide a satisfactory and current Criminal Record Check (including vulnerable sector check), Child Abuse Registry Check, and Adult Abuse Registry Check.
• The traditional practices of the MKO Nations, from time to time can be exposed to wood smoke and burning of sacred medicines, including tobacco, sweet grass, sage, or cedar may occur within the work setting.

Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience

Interested applicants are invited to submit their cover letter identifying the position applying for and resume, along with 3 professional reference listings (include a most recent employer reference) by 4:00 p.m. on August 27, 2026.

We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. Preference will be given to qualified First Nations applicants; applicants are encouraged to self-declare in their resume or cover letter.  No phone calls will be accepted.

Incorporated in 1981 as the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO). MKO is a non-profit, political advocacy organization that provides a collective voice on issues of inherent, Treaty, Indigenous, and human rights for citizens of the 26 sovereign First Nations we represent. The MKO First Nations are signatory to Treaties 4, 5, 6, and 10.

Please visit our website at mkonation.com