Director, Indigenous Relations Jobs

Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.
At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.
Reporting to the Vice President, Indigenous Relations, this role provides service to portfolio group of Indigenous Nations by establishing strong awareness of their cultural nuances and preferences to the organization. It also provides leadership to the organization in manages emerging issues and supporting the successful delivery of implementation of Indigenous Relations Plans.
What will I be doing?

• Directly manages an operating or functional unit with multiple departments through subordinate supervisors
• Directs the preparation of reports and delivers, or supports the delivery, of presentations to the Board and/or at public meetings.
• Identifies opportunities, risks and applies political acuity and relationship management skills relating to indigenous relations
• Establishes and actively builds effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, identifies risks, implications, and opportunities to enhance Metrolinx’ public profile and image with indigenous communities
• Sets customer service standards and develops frameworks to understand, meet and exceed customer expectations
• Provides creative thought leadership with input from others to develop and deploy a strategic vision.
• Cultivates and manages critical relationships with First Nations leaders to ensure their requirements and concerns are addressed
• Provides senior leadership oversight and direction to teams; delivers timely feedback to ensure cohesion and the optimum use of team skills; monitors the achievement of performance objectives; develops/implements action plans to address performance gaps.
• Ensures communication channels are effective and well-used to keep staff informed and engaged with the business
• Oversees the procurement of services including defining requirements, evaluation of submissions and management of contractors.
• Leads, plans and executes of Indigenous Relations Plans. Monitors/oversees implementation of Indigenous Framework Agreements. Develops and sets the strategy for the plan for the specific nation. Acts as the primary contact in relation to Indigenous relations
• Provides subject matter expertise to Metrolinx project teams or technical working groups in relation to indigenous affairs.
• Builds and manages productive relationships with indigenous nations to facilitate community relations program development.
• Develops and manages annual/long-term budgets and staffing plans that adhere to corporate standards and legislated restrictions
• Monitors project and program progress to deliver program objectives on time and within budget, and achieve anticipated results
• Fosters the development of innovative ideas for improvement and implements new leading practices into the organization.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• Strategic planning and project execution to manage multiple and changing priorities with competing deadlines
• Extensive experience building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities, businesses, and organizations
• Oral/written/presentation communication skills to write speeches and briefs at the executive level
• Knowledge of and expertise in the techniques, strategies and methods of strategic communications, communications planning and issues management to direct and oversee a critical community and stakeholder relations program.
• Strong knowledge of Indigenous issues, perspectives, and knowledge systems
• Experience managing and directing a business unit through subordinate managers and senior leadership skills
• Experience managing vendors offering professional services
• Demonstrated and progressively senior experience developing, planning and executing, strategic indigenous relations programs and activities, including issues management.
• Strong innovative thinking, creative problem solving and effective organizational skills to establish effective networks and creative and innovative approaches to community relations strategy solutions
• Completion of a degree in Communications, Community Engagement, Business Administration or a related discipline or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent
• Strategic acumen and aptitude to work closely with the executive team, internal business leaders and community stakeholders
• Awareness of evolving technologies such as social media and how these can be effectively leveraged to innovate
• Negotiating, influencing and political acuity skills to identify, analyze, and determine the impact of emerging and potentially contentious issues, and proactively develop and execute strategic issues management plans to address issues.
• Relationship & stakeholder management skills to engage, cultivate, and manage relationships with a broad range of stakeholders

Don’t Meet Every Requirement?
If you’re excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.
Accommodation
We value the unique skills and experiences each person brings to Metrolinx and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment. We are committed to the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act so if you require accommodation during the hiring process, please let our Recruitment team know by contacting us at: 416-202-5601 or email [email protected].
Application Process
All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Metrolinx will be using email to communicate with you for all job competitions. It is your responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time-sensitive correspondence, we recommend that you check your email regularly. If no response is received, we will assume you are no longer interested in pursuing the opportunity. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any background information provided is misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.