Director of Lands

Job summary

Lead the Lands Department's strategic and operational work, overseeing land governance, community planning, and the transition to a Treaty governance environment. Manage commercial leases, negotiate development agreements, and guide a team of five to support sound land management and environmental protection.

Job details

Be at the forefront of K'ómoks First Nation's transition to Treaty, building the systems and structures that will define its self-governance Join a supportive team in the beautiful Comox Valley, where your leadership will shape the Nation's future for generations to come Earn a competitive annual salary of $96,000 – $123,000, Relocation Assistance, plus a comprehensive cost-shared benefits plan About K'ómoks First Nation K’ómoks First Nation is a growing Indigenous government in the Comox Valley, guided by a strong connection to its lands, culture, community, and future generations. The Nation provides services and programs that support its members and community, while managing lands, natural resources, environmental matters, housing, education, health, and social development. K’ómoks is also in the early stages of implementing its Treaty, bringing new responsibilities, opportunities, and growth across the organization. Its lands work plays an important part in balancing community priorities, environmental stewardship, development, and relationships with governments, contractors, developers, and neighbouring First Nations. For people looking for work with a clear connection to place and community, K’ómoks offers the chance to contribute to meaningful decisions, work alongside people who care deeply about the Nation, and take part in shaping what comes next for K’ómoks and its members. For more information, please visit the website: komoks.ca About the Opportunity K'ómoks First Nation is looking for a full-time Director of Lands based in Courtenay, BC. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, you will lead the Lands Department’s strategic and operational work, overseeing land governance, community planning, environmental management, land registry, and the transition from the K’ómoks Land Code system to a Treaty governance environment while guiding a team of five. In this position, you will be primarily responsible for advancing K’ómoks’ lands priorities while working across internal departments and with governments, developers, contractors, legal and financial advisors, and other First Nations to support sound land management, development, environmental protection, and Treaty implementation. More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to: Leading lands governance, community planning, policy development, and departmental priorities Overseeing land use, environmental protection, and culturally informed environmental management Guiding the transition of the land registry from the Land Code system to the Treaty governance environment Managing commercial leases and assessing real estate acquisition, divestiture, and development opportunities Negotiating development agreements, MOUs, leases, and related contracts alongside legal and financial advisors Coordinating with legal counsel, engineers, planners, funding agencies, governments, and external partners Preparing proposals for government and funding bodies supporting lands, housing, infrastructure, and economic initiatives Leading, mentoring, and developing a growing team while representing K’ómoks with external stakeholders To read the full position description, please click here About You To qualify, you will need a bachelor’s degree in Land Use Planning, Environmental Science, Resource Management, or a related field, along with ideally 5+ years of experience in lands, planning, or environmental roles, including 3 years in leadership, and experience working within an Indigenous government or First Nations governance context. K'ómoks First Nation is open to candidates with less experience where they demonstrate exceptional capability and maturity. The following are required: Availability for local travel as needed, up to roughly 30% of working time, depending on the season Valid driver's licence and access to a vehicle Ability to undergo a criminal background check Additionally, the following skills and background will be highly valued: Strong knowledge of Land Code, land tenure systems, land use policy, and registry processes Background in lands planning, environmental management, and related governance work Familiarity with intergovernmental relations, natural resources, and referral processes within a First Nations setting Track record collaborating with developers, contractors, government agencies, funding bodies, other First Nations, and external interest groups Understanding of environmental data collection, mapping, GIS integration, and reporting Strong communication, negotiation, and team leadership abilities Comfort moving between high-level planning and strategy and practical, ground-level departmental work A history of guiding teams through organizational growth, change, or evolving responsibilities As our ideal candidate, you bring strong self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Cultural sensitivity is essential to succeed in this role. Building trusted relationships, with staff, Council, knowledge keepers, Elders, governments, and external stakeholders, comes naturally to you. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity during an important period of Treaty implementation and organizational growth. K’ómoks is looking for a mature, culturally sensitive lands professional who can lead a close-knit team, build trust, manage competing priorities, and help shape how the Nation’s lands, resources, and governance responsibilities move forward. About the Benefits Compensation based on skills and experience, is a competitive annual salary of $96,000 - $123,000, and a host of excellent benefits including: Comprehensive cost-shared Benefits Plan covering prescription drugs, glasses, paramedical services, and more 7% employer-matched pension plan Two weeks’ annual vacation, all statutory holidays, and two additional weeks of paid time off during the Christmas closure Relocation Assistance for the right candidate Company-provided laptop and work tools Occasional flexibility to work from home, based on operational needs A welcoming, down-to-earth workplace with casual dress and regular catered all-staff gatherings Opportunities to connect with the community and experience K’ómoks culture through public celebrations and activities, including National Indigenous Peoples Day events Upon joining K'ómoks First Nation your work will help shape the Nation's future during a pivotal transition to Treaty, backed by genuine investment in your professional development. Here, cultural understanding matters as much as technical expertise, and you'll be supported every step of the way. If you share our values and have the skills necessary to bring success to the role, then we invite you to apply today!

What you’ll do

Lead the Lands Department's strategic and operational work, overseeing land governance, community planning, and the transition to a Treaty governance environment. Manage commercial leases, negotiate development agreements, and guide a team of five to support sound land management and environmental protection.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor's degree in Land Use Planning, Environmental Science, or a related field, with ideally 5+ years of experience in lands or planning and 3 years in leadership. Candidates must have experience in an Indigenous government context, a valid driver's license, and the ability to undergo a criminal background check.

Benefits

• Comprehensive cost-shared benefits plan
• Prescription drugs coverage
• Vision care
• Paramedical services
• 7% employer-matched pension plan
• Two weeks annual vacation
• Statutory holidays
• Two additional weeks paid time off during Christmas closure
• Relocation assistance
• Company-provided laptop and work tools

Listed skills

• Policy development · Preferred
• Team Leadership · Preferred
• Stakeholder Management · Preferred
• Contract Negotiation · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Land Use Planning
• Environmental Management
• Land Governance
• Treaty Implementation
• Community Planning
• Policy Development
• Real Estate Acquisition
• Contract Negotiation
• Intergovernmental Relations
• GIS Integration
• Team Leadership
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Land Registry Management
• Strategic Planning
• Environmental Stewardship
• Stakeholder Management

Job areas

• Management & Leadership
• Government & Public Sector
• Environmental & Sustainability
• Science & Research
• Legal

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