Grant Writer

Classification: Band 5 — Analyst / Officer / Specialist

Reports To: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

Location: Hitacu, BC (hybrid eligible)

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent (37.5 hours/week)

Salary Band: Band 5 ($61,800 – $92,700 )

POSITION PURPOSE

The Grant Writer is a central services role within the Executive & Administration department, providing government-wide grant development, writing, and stewardship support to all departments of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), this role identifies funding opportunities aligned with Nation priorities, prepares high-quality proposals, manages submission timelines, and supports Directors in tracking funder commitments and reporting obligations. The Grant Writer works in partnership with program leaders to translate community-driven priorities — language and culture revitalization, lands and resources stewardship, housing and infrastructure, health and social wellness, education, economic development, and treaty implementation — into compelling, accurate funding applications that respect Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ self-government, the Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement, and the Nation's long-term vision.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Funding Opportunity Identification

• Continuously scan federal, provincial, philanthropic, and Indigenous-specific funding sources (ISC, CIRNAC, Crown-Indigenous Relations, FNHA, New Relationship Trust, First Peoples' Cultural Council, NRCan, ECCC, CMHC, Heritage Canada, and major foundations).


• Maintain a living pipeline of opportunities aligned to Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ strategic priorities and treaty implementation.


• Advise Directors and the CAO on fit, eligibility, match requirements, and strategic value of each opportunity.

Proposal Development & Writing

• Draft, edit, and submit grant applications, letters of intent, and concept notes on behalf of all YG departments.


• Translate technical, programmatic, and cultural content into clear, persuasive narratives that honour Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ voice and worldview.


• Ensure proposals reflect the Nation's status as a self-governing, modern-treaty Indigenous government and respect protocols around traditional knowledge and Nuu-chah-nulth language.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Partner with Directors and program staff across Lands & Resources, Health & Social Services, Education & Youth, Culture/Language/Heritage, Capital Infrastructure, Finance, and Intergovernmental Affairs to gather inputs, budgets, logic models, and supporting evidence.


• Facilitate proposal-development meetings and align contributions to shared timelines.

Grant Process & Pipeline Management

• Maintain a centralized grant tracker covering opportunities, deadlines, submissions, decisions, contribution agreements, reporting milestones, and outcomes.


• Provide regular pipeline reporting to the CAO and Senior Leadership Team.


• Establish and continuously improve standardized templates, intake workflows, and proposal-review checkpoints.

Funder Reporting & Stewardship

• Coordinate with Finance and program leads to prepare interim and final narrative reports, ensuring alignment with approved budgets, deliverables, and contribution-agreement terms.


• Maintain strong, respectful relationships with funder program officers and represent YG professionally in funder communications.

Compliance & Risk Awareness

• Track contribution-agreement obligations, reporting deadlines, and audit/evaluation requirements.


• Flag risks early to Directors, the CAO, and the CFO (e.g., scope drift, unspent funds, ineligible expenditures).


• Support audit and evaluation readiness for granted programs.

Capacity Building & Director Support

• Coach Directors and managers on opportunity spotting, proposal development, and funder engagement.


• Deliver internal training and reference materials so departments can describe their work in funder-ready language.


• Promote a Nation-wide culture of grant readiness and shared learning.

Strategic Alignment

• Ensure all proposals reflect Council direction, the Nation's strategic plan, treaty implementation priorities, and community input.


• Work closely with the CAO and Intergovernmental Affairs to align grant strategy with government-to-government relationships with Canada and British Columbia.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in English, Communications, Public Administration, Indigenous Studies, Public Policy, or a related field (equivalent combination of education and experience considered).


• Minimum 3–5 years of demonstrated grant writing experience with a proven track record of successful awards.


• Demonstrated experience writing for or with First Nations, Indigenous organizations, or public-sector entities.


• Strong understanding of Indigenous funding ecosystems including ISC, CIRNAC, FNHA, provincial ministries, and major Indigenous-focused foundations.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt voice for diverse funders and audiences.


• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent submissions and deadlines.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, collaborative document tools, and grant management or CRM software.


• Satisfactory criminal record check.

Preferred:

• Experience working with or for a self-governing or modern-treaty First Nation.


• Familiarity with the Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement and treaty implementation funding streams.


• Knowledge of Nuu-chah-nulth language, culture, and protocols, or willingness to learn.


• Experience preparing capital, infrastructure, language, health, or lands & resources proposals.


• Experience with logic models, theories of change, and outcomes-based reporting frameworks.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Persuasive, plain-language writing tailored to funder requirements


• Strategic thinking and opportunity assessment


• Collaboration and facilitation across departments


• Project and deadline management


• Attention to detail and accuracy


• Discretion and confidentiality with sensitive program and community information


• Cultural humility and respectful engagement with Indigenous knowledge


• Continuous learning and funder-landscape awareness

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Hybrid arrangement with regular presence in Hitacu, BC; occasional travel within the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ traditional territory and to funder meetings.


• Periodic deadline-driven workload peaks tied to grant submission cycles and funder reporting periods.


• Primarily office-based work with extended computer use; occasional evening or weekend hours during proposal deadlines.

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS

• Genuine respect for Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ traditions, culture, and protocols.


• Commitment to representing the Nation's voice, vision, and self-determination in all funder communications.


• Respect for the spirit and intent of the Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement and the government-to-government relationships it establishes.


• Care and discretion when working with traditional knowledge, community stories, and culturally sensitive content.


• In accordance with the CHRC Aboriginal Employment Preference Policy and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government hiring policies, preference will be given to citizens of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ or individuals of other Indigenous Ancestry.