Community Engagement and Visitor Experience Manager

Parks Canada

Yellowknife

CAD 150,000 - 200,000

Job description

Parks Canada - Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve
Lutsel K'e (Northwest Territories), Yellowknife (Northwest Territories)
PM-05
Full Time, Term, Acting, Assignment - 1 to 5 years
$96,535 to $104,361 (Plus applicable isolated post allowance)

For further information on the organization, please visit Parks Canada

Closing date: 3 November 2024 - 23:59, Pacific Time

Who can apply: Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.

Apply online

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

Duties

The Community Engagement and Visitor Experience Manager is a diverse and dynamic position.
The successful candidate would work closely with Indigenous shared management partners, Thaıdene Nëné Xá Dá Yałtı (the operational management board), and other government partners.

National parks promote understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in a way that maintains their ecological integrity. In establishing Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve, Parks Canada has also committed to the continuation of Indigenous ways of life. Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve is one part of the larger Thaıdene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area that also includes a national historic site (within the national park reserve), a territorial protected area and territorial wildlife conservation area.

This position will require the successful candidate to perform the following duties:

Oversee the visitor experience program and Indigenous community engagement in the context of the Thaıdene Nëné agreements with Indigenous governments;
Participate as an active member of the Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve management team;
Manage financial and human resources, including supervising staff;
Coordinate the development of training opportunities, mentoring, workshops, and school programs;
Work with Indigenous governments and organizations to share information, seek advice, and deliver community programming;
Develop the visitor orientation program;
Work with the NWT tourism industry, current tourism stakeholders, and aspiring outfitters;
Administer the business licencing and permitting programs, the visitor registration system, and contribution agreements;
Contribute to the park’s integrated visitor safety program by responding to incidents throughout the park as required.

In this role, you work cooperatively with Indigenous governments to build respectful, trusting relationships. You understand that Parks Canada is committed to shared management with Indigenous partners in Thaıdene Nëné. You are committed to working collaboratively.

You recognize the opportunities and challenges of leading a team in a complex, terrestrial and marine-based operating environment. You approach your work with an open heart and mind, looking for creative solutions and opportunities to build connections. While you demonstrate strong management competencies, this is more than an office job. You connect with various communities, meet with Indigenous partners and organizations, attend community events, and work collaboratively to advance shared interests.

Given the diversity of issues you address during any given workday (e.g. the health and safety of team members, programming, working with representatives from other levels of government, responding to queries from the general public, etc.), you are flexible, adaptable, and able to change course. No one day is ever the same.

Clear, respectful communication is fundamental to your success, as is a commitment to achieving results. You listen, seek to understand, recognize when you do not know something, and reach out, in a timely fashion, to ask the right people the right questions.

With more than 14 000km2 of subarctic boreal forest, tundra and freshwater to experience in the national park reserve and a mandate to support cultural continuity for local Indigenous communities, this work is no small task. The position requires someone who is an innovator and self-starter, with experience in tourism planning and development, a solid understanding of Parks Canada programs and operations, and the ability to work collaboratively with others.

Work environment

Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve is a culturally rich area and includes hunting, fishing, gathering and spiritual areas used by Indigenous peoples. For the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation, Thaıdene Nëné is the heart of their homeland. Thaıdene Nëné means ‘Land of the Ancestors’ in Dene Yati. The Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Deninu K’ue First Nation and Yellowknives Dene First Nation also have traditional and cultural ties to the area. Parks Canada works with these four Indigenous partners to manage Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve.

Parks Canada’s operations for Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve are based in the community of Łutsël K’é, a small community of about 300 people. Łutsël K’é has an airport, K-12 school, store, community hall and arena. The community is a 45-minute flight from Yellowknife. Scheduled flights go between Łutsël K'é and Yellowknife at least once per day, every day of the week.

This scenic, Denesǫłine community is accessible only by air, boat or snowmobile. Łutsël K’é is approximately a 15-minute boat ride to the park boundary. The Łutsël K’é Denesǫłine maintain a rich, land-based culture tied to Thaıdene Nëné. There are local guides and outfitters that are happy to showcase the wonders of Thaıdene Nëné and their Indigenous way of life to visitors.

Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve is a fly-in / boat-in park reserve. Staff must be comfortable flying in small aircraft (float planes and helicopters) and experience operating motorized boats is a huge asset. There are limited facilities in the park reserve, so field work will involve overnight camping in remote locations.

In Łutsël K’é, Parks Canada staff share a small temporary office with Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation. There are long-term plans for the development of an administration building and visitor centre. There is also a small, temporary satellite office in Yellowknife. This position may be located in Yellowknife until housing and office space are available in Łutsël K’é.

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 3 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION
Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with a degree or diploma in a field relevant to the duties of the position, or an equivalent combination of education, training, or experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Significant* experience in maintaining collaborative relationships and building consensus with internal and external partners;
Significant* experience providing leadership to a multidisciplinary team, including supervision, management and development of staff;
Experience managing financial resources;
Experience in managing projects, programs and initiatives related to tourism.

Significant is defined as a depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of activities related to this task, which are acquired over a period of at least two (2) years at a management level.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of cooperative or shared management principles and practices;
Knowledge of tourism trends, opportunities, and challenges for the Northwest Territories.

ABILITIES

Ability to analyse issues and opportunities and develop creative solutions;
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to develop, deliver and enhance programs and services consistent with national standards, local realities, and changing needs;
Ability to manage, mentor and develop staff.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY

Connects with others;
Makes things happen;
Exercises sound judgement.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

ASSET EXPERIENCE
Preference may be given to candidates who also have:

Significant* experience working collaboratively with Indigenous governments, communities or organizations to build relationships and achieve common goals;
Experience working with Łustël K’é Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Deninu K’ue First Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation communities or organizations;
Experience managing a visitor experience or engagement program for a protected area;
Experience operating motorized boats. In your response, please indicate if you have your Small Vessel Operator Proficiency certification;
Experience in providing advice and guidance to senior managers and staff;
Experience with remote fieldwork and backcountry travel;
Experience working in the north;
Experience with wilderness first aid. In your response, please indicate if you have Wilderness First Aid certification, the length of hours of the course and expiry date;
Experience with firearms. In your response, please indicate if you have your Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL).

ASSET KNOWLEDGE
Preference may be given to candidates who also have:

Knowledge of Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve;
Knowledge of the Great Slave Lake region and its communities;
Knowledge of one or more of the following:
Łutsël K’é Denesǫłine culture and familiarity with Denesǫłine Yati;
Indigenous Métis culture, language and way of life;
Deninu K’ue Dëne Dédliné culture and familiarity with Dëne Dédliné Yati;
Yellowknives Dene and Tetsǫ́t’iné culture and familiarity with Tetsǫ́t’iné Yati.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Willingness to wear a Parks Canada uniform;
Willingness to work irregular hours, overtime, weekends and/or statutory holidays and provincial/territorial holidays, when required;
Willingness to work shift and stand-by work;
Willingness to work and/or travel in varied terrain, weather conditions, isolated locations and by various means of transportation;
Willingness to obtain Wilderness First Aid and CPR certificate;
Willingness to obtain Small Vessel Operator Proficiency certification;
Willingness to obtain Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL).

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence

Required to undergo and pass pre-placement and periodic medical checks (a pre-employment medical examination of an individual and his/her dependents is required)

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

HOW TO APPLY

You must apply online.

1. ONLINE SCREENING QUESTIONS
All candidates must clearly demonstrate in the online screening questions how they meet the education and experience factors listed in both the essential and asset qualifications listed.

Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that these factors are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Provide concrete examples of WHEN, WHERE & HOW.

Failure to clearly demonstrate how you meet the Education and Experience factors may result in the rejection of your application.

Normally, applicants will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information.

Candidates will be asked to provide proof of their education credentials at a later date.

2. RESUMES
Resumes will be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the screening questions and/ or email - as appropriate.

3. REFERENCES
Three (3) references are required, including one from a recent* supervisor.
Recent* is defined as within the past two years.

4. CURRENT POSITION (FOR Government of Canada Employees) (if applicable)
Please identify clearly your substantive group and level and your employment status on your resume and/or application and/or email.

ASSESSMENT

An interview will be administered;
A written assessment may be administered;
Reference checks will be sought.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Parks Canada Agency considers applications from all individuals who have legal status to work in Canada. Please indicate in your application the reason for which you are entitled to work in Canada: Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or work permit.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PLEASE NOTE: Our intention is to communicate with candidates via e-mail for competition purposes.
Please provide a valid e-mail address. It is the candidate's responsibility to provide any changes to their personal information to the contact indicated on this job advertisement.

The essential qualifications that are listed in the poster are mandatory. A pass mark will be established for each.

Successful candidate(s) must meet and maintain the conditions of Employment throughout their employment.

Persons who have received pay in lieu of unfulfilled surplus period, a Transition Support Measure (TSM) or an Educational Allowance and are re-appointed to the Parks Canada Agency are required to reimburse an amount corresponding to the period from the effective date of such reappointment or hiring, to the end of the original period for which the TSM and education allowance was paid. Please contact Wanda Burdett, A/Human Resources Manager if you are one of these individuals to find out how this applies to your particular situation.

Persons who are in receipt of a Canadian Government Public Service pension and are considering this employment opportunity with the Parks Canada Agency, should contact the PWGSC Public Service Pension Centre (1-800-561-7930) in order to determine the impact of an appointment on their pension benefit entitlements.

The Parks Canada Agency is established as a separate employer in the Federal Public Service under the Financial Administration Act. Persons appointed to the Agency continue to be part of the Public Service. The Parks Canada Agency operates under its own human resources framework outside of the Public Service Employment Act and in line with values of fairness, competence and respect, and its operating principles.

In accordance with paragraph 8(2)(a) of the Privacy Act, information or material, whether provided directly by the candidate or otherwise obtained by the selection board, used during the selection process for the purpose of assessing a candidate may be used as part of the selection review and recourse processes. Such relevant information may be provided to third parties, such as other candidates or their representatives, who have a legitimate reason to be aware of that information.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.