Please note: The application deadline for this position is August 13 at 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time (MST).

The Northwest Territories is home to 33 communities, 11 official languages, and a depth of Indigenous culture and history found nowhere else in Canada. It is also a place where government operates in close connection to the people it serves; where decisions made at the senior table are felt directly in communities, in courtrooms, and in how safety, fairness and the rule of law are experienced day to day.

As Deputy Minister of Justice, you lead the department responsible for the administration of justice across the territory —the policing relationship, corrections, the courts, and the full range of legal services — and help uphold the rule of law in a jurisdiction where self-government and reconciliation are actively reshaping how justice is delivered. For a leader motivated by public impact, partnership, and system-wide change, this role offers a rare opportunity to influence both policy and lived experience across an entire jurisdiction.

About the Role

Reporting to the Premier through the Secretary to Cabinet and accountable to the Minister of Justice and serving as a key member of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ senior leadership team, the Deputy Minister is responsible for the overall strategic direction, performance, and delivery of the Department’s policies, programs, and services.

The Deputy Minister provides leadership to staff across the territory and advises the Minister and Cabinet on complex justice, public safety and social priorities. The role requires close collaboration with Indigenous governments, community governments, the RCMP, the judiciary, and federal and non-government partners. This is a public-service executive role; the department’s legal and Attorney General functions are led by the Assistant Deputy Minister (Attorney General), and the Deputy Minister is not required to be a lawyer.

Operating within a consensus government model, the Deputy Minister must balance strategic vision with strong political acumen, working in a highly relationship-driven environment where progress depends on trust, partnership, and alignment across diverse perspectives.

About the Department

The Department of Justice touches the daily lives of Northerners. Its mandate spans policing and community justice; corrections and rehabilitation, with facilities in Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Smith; the courts; legal services to government; legislation; and legal registries, alongside public-facing programs including Legal Aid, the Coroner Service, the Public Trustee, and the Rental Office.

Together, these interconnected responsibilities contribute to a single, ambitious goal: a territory where communities are safe, and justice is delivered in a way that reflects the values of the people it serves.

Key Responsibilities

This is a significant and results-oriented leadership agenda. Key priorities include: Advancing reconciliation by working in partnership with Indigenous governments to support community-led justice and to assess legislative initiatives for consistency with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Preventing and addressing the effects of trauma through corrections programming that supports rehabilitation and reintegration into home communities, and community-led men’s healing as a preventative approach to family, intimate-partner and gender-based violence through the Men’s Healing Fund; Promoting community safety by supporting crime-reduction efforts with the RCMP, developing legislation to address illegal activity, and directing funding to community-based prevention and interventions targeting youth; Continuing the courts modernization project to streamline processes for the public and Court Services; Working with Health and Social Services to develop options for integrating health and social-services professionals in frontline policing responses for individuals in crisis.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an accomplished senior executive who understands that justice, public safety, corrections and community well-being are deeply interconnected. They are comfortable leading across multiple operational and policy domains, corrections and policing, courts and legal services, bringing together diverse partners, and finding practical solutions to complex challenges that span government, communities, and sectors. They demonstrate a strong track record of working collaboratively with Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, to advance shared priorities and support reconciliation through practical, sustained partnership.

They are a skilled communicator and relationship-builder, comfortable operating at the most senior levels of government and representing the Department in high-stakes environments. They bring the political judgment required to succeed in a consensus government context, along with the ability to navigate complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities.

Experience in northern, rural, or similarly decentralized environments, and an appreciation for the realities of delivering programs across diverse and remote communities, will be considered a strong asset.

Above all, they are motivated by the opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact in a jurisdiction where leadership decisions translate quickly into outcomes for people and communities.

Qualifications

Typically, the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position are attained through the completion of a graduate degree in Public Administration, Law, the Social Sciences, or a related field, combined with progressively senior management experience in a large, complex public-sector organization. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $261,474 - $326,842 plus a Northern Allowance of $3,700 annually.

The Government of the Northwest Territories offers a comprehensive executive compensation package including a defined benefit pension plan, generous leave provisions, health and dental benefits, and relocation assistance.

Living in the North

This position is based in Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, located on the shores of Great Slave Lake. Yellowknife offers a unique combination of professional opportunity and northern lifestyle, with access to outdoor recreation, vibrant cultural experiences, and a strong sense of community.

Relocating to the North is a significant decision. The GNWT provides relocation assistance and a comprehensive compensation package designed to reflect the realities of northern living. Candidates should be prepared for a highly visible leadership role and the opportunity to become part of a close-knit and engaged community.