Director of Naawi-Oodena Workforce Initiative

POSITION TYPE  FULL-TIME

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Naawi-Oodena Workforce Initiative (NOWI) provides strategic leadership for Treaty One Nations Inc.'s workforce development, training, and employment initiatives. The position is responsible for advancing workforce strategies, employment pathways, and partnerships that support the long-term economic growth, workforce participation, and self-determination of the seven Treaty One First Nations.

Working collaboratively with First Nation leadership, industry, government, educational institutions, employers, and community partners, the Director oversees the implementation of the Treaty One Nations Workforce Development Strategy and ensures workforce initiatives align with current and future economic development opportunities, including Naawi-Oodena and other Treaty One-led projects. The Director provides leadership in program development, partnership management, funding oversight, contractor relations, and performance measurement while ensuring programs remain culturally grounded, accountable, and responsive to community needs and labour market demands.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of NOWI provides strategic leadership for Treaty One Nations' workforce development, training, and employment initiatives. The position is responsible for implementing the Treaty One Nations Workforce Development Strategy, overseeing departmental operations, supervising staff, and ensuring workforce programs align with organizational priorities, community needs, labour market demands, and economic development opportunities. The Director provides strategic advice to senior leadership and ensures all initiatives are culturally grounded, community-driven, and focused on improving long-term employment outcomes for Treaty One members.

The Director leads the development and delivery of workforce programs, employment pathways, training initiatives, and labour force partnerships that support participation in current and future economic opportunities. Working closely with First Nation leadership, Training and Employment Coordinators, governments, educational institutions, employers, contractors, and industry partners, the Director strengthens workforce capacity, advances Indigenous employment and procurement opportunities, supports contractor compliance with Indigenous participation commitments, and oversees barrier reduction strategies that help members access and sustain meaningful employment.

The Director is responsible for securing and managing funding, overseeing departmental budgets and agreements, ensuring compliance with organizational and funding requirements, and monitoring program performance. Through data analysis, reporting, and evaluation, the Director measures outcomes, identifies opportunities for continuous improvement, and provides recommendations to leadership, Governing Council, funding partners, and stakeholders. Overall, the position serves as the senior lead for advancing workforce development, employment growth, and economic participation across the Treaty One Nations

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Human Resources, Business Administration, Indigenous Studies, Education, Community Development, Public Administration, Social Services, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Additional training or certification in workforce development, project management, leadership, labour market development, economic development, or program administration is considered an asset.
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License and ability to travel as required.

Cultural Knowledge

• Strong understanding of Treaty One Nations, including First Nations governance structures, culture, history, inherent rights, community priorities, and Indigenous workforce development approaches.
• Knowledge of the social, economic, and historical factors impacting Indigenous employment, education, workforce participation, and community development.
• Understanding of Indigenous cultures, traditions, protocols, community engagement practices, and culturally grounded approaches to program and service delivery.
• Awareness of Truth and Reconciliation principles and a demonstrated commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination, capacity building, and long-term community economic growth.

Experience

Required Experience

• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in workforce development, employment services, economic development, program management, training coordination, or a related field.
• Experience leading and supervising staff, programs, projects, budgets, and operational initiatives.
• Proven experience developing and implementing workforce strategies, employment initiatives, or labour force development programs.
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective partnerships with First Nations leadership, governments, industry partners, educational institutions, and community organizations.
• Experience managing contribution agreements, grants, program budgets, reporting requirements, and funding deliverables.

Considered an Asset

• Experience analyzing workforce trends, labour market data, and program outcomes to support strategic planning and organizational decision-making.
• Experience preparing reports, presentations, briefing materials, and recommendations for senior leadership, Boards, funding agencies, and external stakeholders.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Strong leadership, supervisory, and team development skills with the ability to mentor, motivate, and support staff.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to align workforce initiatives with organizational and community priorities.
• Strong knowledge of workforce development, labour market trends, employment services, and economic development practices.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to establish and maintain collaborative partnerships across First Nations, government, industry, and educational sectors.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to effectively convey information to senior leadership, partners, and community stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Financial and administrative management skills, including experience managing budgets, funding agreements, reporting requirements, and program deliverables.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret workforce data, evaluate program outcomes, and support evidence-based decision-making.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, professionalism, confidentiality, and diplomacy in sensitive or complex situations.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience using data management, reporting, and virtual communication platforms.
• Commitment to culturally safe, community-driven, and participant-centred approaches to workforce development and service delivery.
• Knowledge of Manitoba’s apprenticeship system, including compulsory and non-compulsory trades, apprentice-to-journeyperson ratios, Red Seal certification pathways, and resources available to support Indigenous apprenticeship progression would be considered an asset.
• Experience with workforce data platforms and candidate management systems; ability to oversee platform improvements, ensure data quality and integration across partner organizations, and use workforce data to track outcomes and drive continuous improvement would be considered an asset.

Please send a cover letter and a resume to employerrep@abcentre.org.

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