Director, Governance and Strategic Engagement

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Northern Peoples’ Wellness

Together, we will work with First Nations to transform health and wellness services and improve health outcomes for First Nations people in the north.

Position profile

Position Title: Director, Governance and Strategic Engagement
Reports to: Chief Strategic Officer (CSO)
Organization: Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc. (KIM)
Location: Winnipeg
Full time/Part time – Flexible
Start date: ASAP

Compensation and Benefits
  • Extensive room for career growth
  • Competitive compensation
  • Comprehensive Health, Vision and Dental Care
  • 4-6 weeks vacation
  • On-site parking
Additional Perks
  • Extended Health Benefits
  • Collaborative and supportive team environment
  • Potential relocation assistance for the right candidate
  • Stable and healthy organization

APPLY HERE

About KIM

Northern Peoples’ Wellness: Together, we will work with First Nations to transform health and wellness services and improve health outcomes for First Nations people in the north.

Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc. (KIM) was established to work towards a new health system that will better respond to the needs of northern First Nations people in Manitoba. KIM supports health and wellness services for 23 First Nation communities in northern Manitoba with a focus on equitable care, addressing racism in the health care system, responsiveness to emerging needs, and filling gaps in the health care system. This is accomplished through advocacy, collaboration, and integration with the First Nation communities, and federal/provincial partners.

This new system will be developed through speaking directly to healthcare experts and communities and negotiating with systems so that services can be tailored to meet the needs of each First Nation and northern First Nations as a collective. The community members of the northern Manitoba First Nations are the foundation of this new and historic health care system. KIM is governed by a three-part structure led by First Nations and is inclusive of 23 political leaders appointed by each of 6 caucuses and a 5 to 11-member board of directors with preference in selection to persons with experience in the health sector.

The Position

Reporting to the Chief Strategic Officer (CSO), the Director, Governance and Strategic Engagement is primarily responsible for liaising with Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin’s (KIM’s) CEO, CSO, and the three-part governance structure (First Nations Caucuses, Keewatinohk Inniniw Okimowin Council of elected First Nations leaders, and the Board of Directors), with respect to KIM priorities and strategic initiatives that support the mission, purpose, and objectives of KIM as an aggregate health transformation entity meant to serve 23 First Nations in Manitoba’s north.

The role will be instrumental in identifying the best mechanisms to sustain the functionality and ensure effectiveness of KIM’s inclusive 3-part governance structure over the years to come. Engagement, proper documentation, and record-keeping are vital to the success of this role, and of KIM.

The Director, Governance and Strategic Engagement work across the organization to provide advice pertaining to intergovernmental negotiations and other strategic engagements such as but not limited to the health transformation and transfer phases (Agreement in Principle, Framework Agreement, and the Implementation Agreements with First Nations and the federal and provincial governments).

An experienced change leader and project manager, the Director, Governance and Strategic Engagement will have governance expertise; experience with meeting planning, group facilitation, and bringing together at times, disparate points of view (mediation); excellent listening skills; experience in policy development; strong analytical and report writing skills; an ability to present information in a clear and concise manner to various audiences, and to deftly and tactfully address concerns and issues that may be raised; supervisory experience; management and budgeting experience; knowledge of First Nations contexts and related federally and provincially funded programs and services; as well as the capacity to take direction while guiding the development relevant governance and engagement processes, protocols and policies.

All work will be carried out in a manner that is consistent with First Nations cultures and values.

Key Responsibilities:

The Director, Governance and Strategic Engagement will:

  • Sustain KIM’s governance structure: 6 Caucuses, 23 KIOC members, and the Board of Directors.
  • Prepare, review, and monitor annual plan and budget, which is to include evaluative components to support necessary/beneficial changes to process.
  • Serve as key contact, coordinator, and support for all governance related activities such as Board and KIOC meetings, the KIM Annual General Meeting, including supporting the voting process.
  • Ensure proper meeting documentation and record keeping of discussion, input, support and/or directions/decisions.
  • Gather caucus level resolutions and documentation of their discussions, input, support and/or directions/decisions.
  • Compile and analyze governance caucus priorities with a view to alignment with Kim’s objectives, strategic initiatives/activities, and system priorities.
  • Facilitate conversations that are respectful and considerate of others’ points of view and be able to offer solutions.
  • Be responsible for building and preserving professional relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders and maintain open lines of communication.
  • Facilitate governance policy development in partnership with senior management and informed by the bylaws and engagement outcomes.
  • Gain a clear understanding of the role differentiation between KIM’s CEO, the Board, the KIOC, and the Caucuses.
  • Serve as the go-to resource at KIM for processes and protocols involving KIM’s governance.
  • Reach out to other KIM management and staff to gain an understanding of KIM’s work and to support overall goals and objectives.
  • Utilize KIM communications staff and tools to ensure that all parties of the governance structure are aware of KIM’s work and what is being done to help First Nations people in the north.
  • Aid Caucuses with KIOC nominations (via resolution), onboarding, and succession planning.
  • Facilitate Board, KIOC, and Caucus (coordinators) training and development.
  • Support KIOC with Board recruitment and selection tools.

Strategic Engagement (Bilateral, Trilateral, Multilateral)

  • The primary focus related to this function will be engaging with northern First Nations with respect to the proposed health transformation and transfer phases (Agreement in Principle, Framework Agreement, and the Implementation Agreements with First Nations and the federal and provincial governments).
  • Identify and lead engagement strategies with First Nation communities via KIM’s governance and report back to the health transformation steering committee.
  • Responsible for identifying a northern First Nation specific ratification process.
  • Coordinate and lead existing engagement resources at KIM.
  • Access for additional resource requirements supported by KIM senior leads (CEO, CSO, VP Finance and VP Operations). These additional resources may include but are not limited to:
    • Policy analyst, Governance
    • Engagement coordinator
    • Strategic communications technician
    • Administrative or other support
    • External consultants and firms, to be identified.
  • This role will work across the organization to provide advice with respect to intergovernmental negotiations and other strategic engagements.
  • Prepare reports and briefing notes and make recommendations.
  • Present on KIM’s governance and strategic engagement to internal and external audiences.
  • Assist KIM senior management in the development of plans to address caucus priorities.
  • Supervise/mentor staff with respect to governance and strategic engagement.
  • Participate in KIM staff meetings.

Qualifications: (Education, Experience and Skills):

  • Degree in Political Science, Indigenous Studies, Law/Indigenous Law, Health/Indigenous Health, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
  • Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in a leadership role.
  • Facilitation, Board management, and project management experience considered an asset.
  • Proficient computer skills including the Microsoft Office Suite, internal and external email.
  • Sensitive to cultures, languages, strengths, issues, and opportunities relevant to northern and remote/isolated First Nations communities in Manitoba.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to advocate, set priorities, balance multiple tasks, work independently and as part of a team.
  • The ability to speak one of the northern First Nations languages is desirable.

Conditions of Employment:

  • Satisfactory criminal record/vulnerable persons/child abuse registry checks will be required.
  • Possess a valid class 5 driver’s license.
  • Ability to travel to the north, including by air.
  • Employee must be eligible to work in Canada.

Working Environment

The employee will work in an office environment, committees, boards, facilities, as well as attend to areas within communities. Employees will work with both desktop and portable computers, presentation peripherals, files, and folders.

Physical Demands:

  • This position requires minimal physical demands
  • Lifting or moving minimal weight may be required
  • Works primarily in a seated office environment
  • Must have ability to use desktop computer and peripherals
  • Travel will be required
  • Occasional standing to present or facilitate meetings, training, etc.

Environmental Conditions:

  • Most duties are performed from a comfortable office with climate-controlled conditions
  • Will occasionally attend business meetings outside of the office, but typically these are in comfortable surroundings as well
  • Occasional weather and driving conditions when traveling to northern communities

Sensory Demands:

  • Cultural differences make it necessary for the employee to use a great deal of tact and diplomacy when dealing with staff, business partners, community organizations, etc.
  • Exposure to various difficult conditions First Nation people’s experience

Mental Demands:

  • Conflict resolution and mediation challenges
  • May experience high-pressure situations that produce stress
  • Exposure to people experiencing adverse living/health conditions
  • Balancing multiple priorities simultaneously
  • Business demands may cause overtime hours
  • Working in a busy office environment with frequent interruptions