Fish & Wildlife Technician

Job Title: Fish & Wildlife Technician

Location: Moberly Lake, BC

Salary: $75,000-95,000/annually

Discover the vibrant West Moberly First Nations (WMFN) community, nestled 32 km northwest of Chetwynd, BC, at the serene west end of Moberly Lake. Surrounded by pristine lakes, flowing rivers, lush forests, and majestic mountains, our community embodies natural beauty and strong values. We are dedicated to upholding our mission of fostering respect, honesty, fairness, integrity, and self-motivation. By promoting open communication among Members, Council, and staff, we strive to enhance our cherished traditions and ethics. Join us in celebrating a legacy of unity and growth!

About the Role

The Fish & Wildlife Technician will focus on identifying, assessing, and evaluating proposed project developments which could affect fish and wildlife within West Moberly First Nations lands. The Technician will recommend courses of action with respect to planning and natural resource management within the boundaries of Treaty 8 to ensure fish, wildlife and its environment is protected on behalf of the West Moberly First Nations.

This is a full-time in-person position requiring the successful candidate to be located at the lake, in Chetwynd or Hudson Hope areas. This position is scheduled for 35 hours per week and has an annual wage between $75,000-$95,000. In addition, there is a robust RRSP program, a comprehensive benefits package, and, if needed, a relocation package. Enjoy our flexible work schedule with every other Friday off, plus two weeks of paid time off during Christmas and other cultural holidays. Immerse yourself in the vibrant West Moberly community and culture while advancing your career with us.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise Technicians and other related staff working in fish and wildlife sector in the delivery of Fish and Wildlife Programs

• Draft correspondence on behalf of WMFN setting out WMFN’s legal positions with respect to proposed forestry activities and prepare consultation chronologies and other documentation to support WMFN litigation and negotiation strategies

• Make use of the cultural knowledge of WMFN members and Elders when responding to proponents and government

• Liaise with licensees, Ministry of Forest, Land and Natural Resources Operations, and other relevant regulatory agencies to obtain further detailed information

• Provide leadership and assistance in the organization and establishment of strategies in the protection of aboriginal and treaty rights, fish and wildlife and provide assistance with other departments on air and water quality, land use, habitat, wildlife, environment, resource conservation, and all matters of issue specific social and economic objectives when possible

• Act as the WMFN point of contact for companies and various regulatory and governmental agencies at the local, regional, provincial, and national levels with respect to forestry related activities, including acting as the coordination point for various departmental and WMFN functions

• Engage with and build relationships with industry, government, and other third-party personnel conducting business activities within WMFN cultural areas

• Recommend legal and legislative research needs of proposed projects with the Federal and provincial governments concerning oil and gas activities

• Arrange meetings when needed to discuss land use planning and project specifics and coordinate the scheduling of meetings when the attendance of other WMFN personnel (e.g., Land Use Manager, Chief and Council, or Elders) as required

• Ensure all obligations set out in the MOUs/ LOUs/LOIs and other cooperation agreements are fulfilled by all parties as they relate to forestry activities

• Review, report, mitigate pesticide and invasive species files in conjunction with other staff as directed by the Land Use Manager

• Receive, catalogue, organize, track, and respond to written and telephone requests for comments on forestry development plans, forest stewardship plans, harvesting permits, pest management plans and permit applications, and other applicable forest related requests

• Arrange meetings and coordinate the scheduling of meetings when the attendance of other WMFN staff

• Maintain professionalism when listening to and addressing the concerns of proponents and government and while articulating the concerns of WMFN

• Develop, negotiate, and administer capacity funding agreements with forest licensees and government agencies to enable WMFN to retain technical/consultant assistance as required

• Participate in and contribute to discussions/negotiations with forest licensees and government agencies to address project and relationship issues

• Access the WMFN Geographic Information System outputs to support WMFN analysis of project proposals as needed

• Research and analyze proposed forestry, water displacement and building activities and recommend options that best protect WMFN rights and interests

• Provide reports, when requested by the Land Use Manager, on issues arising from the forestry, fish and wildlife industries

• Identify WMFN issues and make recommendations for conflict resolution and provide advice to Land Use Manager

• Provide analytical and technical support to treaty discussions and other negotiations

• Perform related work as assigned 

Your Toolkit Includes:

• At least three to five (3-5) years’ previous experience within a First Nations Fish and Wildlife department

• Post-secondary and/or Masters’ Degree in Administration, Natural Resources or First Nations Land Management, Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife will be considered, or a combination of education and related experience

• Understanding of First Nations Governance

• Understanding of traditional fish & wildlife management within the Nations

• Demonstrated organizational skills to effectively prioritize workload deadlines

• Effective interpersonal and organizational skills and the ability to maintain effective working relationships

• Ability to handle confidential information with tact and discretion

• Knowledge of basic record keeping and bookkeeping/accounting procedures

• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, GIS & related databases

• Possess valid driver’s license and clean driver’s abstract

• Strong verbal and written communications skills and ability to comfortably deal with people from a range of backgrounds in a culturally diverse environment

• Able to work efficiently as part of a team as well as independently

• Clear Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check

How to

If this exciting opportunity to work with a dedicated and progressive community feels like the right fit for you, please apply with a resume and cover letter. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions about the process.

To see a full list of the responsibilities and qualifications for the role, please see the complete job description.

At West Moberly First Nations, we believe diversity is the key to our success, reflecting the vibrant community we serve. We proudly welcome candidates of all genders, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and abilities to join our team. West Moberly First Nations is dedicated to providing an accessible recruitment process, ensuring a seamless and inclusive experience for all applicants. Join us in celebrating and championing diversity!

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only individuals selected to move forward will be contacted.