Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Join Our Team
Batchewana First Nation (BFN) is seeking passionate individuals to support the diverse needs of our evolving Nation. With over 250 employees and growing we welcome applicants from both sides of the Treaty, including band members and the general public to join our growing team. BFN values diverse perspectives that align with our priorities and seeks like-minded individuals committed to serving our membership and Nation with integrity and respect. Batchewana First Nation (BFN) is an ambitious, entrepreneurial community committed to developing strong partnerships while honoring Indigenous culture and its long-standing responsibilities. Guided by the 7 Grandfather Teachings, BFN seeks driven individuals who support the self-determination of the Anishinaabe Peoples. With respect for our Elders' wisdom and our youth’s future, we encourage employees to help build a strong, healthy Nation rooted in respect for all creation.

Position Summary
Reporting to Chief and Council, the Chief Executive Officer is the most senior position in the Batchewana First Nation organization. The incumbent sets the tone for all employees and leads alignment of the organization with the vision and mission of BFN, the current and future needs of the membership as well as with the cultural and spiritual heart of the First Nation. The role serves as strategic advisor to Chief and Council, is responsible for implementing strategic priorities and for driving the goals and objectives of BFN administration. The CEO must be a “big picture” thinker with strategic insight in order to provide organization-wide direction and leadership. The incumbent is accountable for the successful delivery of administrative services, operations, programs and services to BFN citizens.

Key Duties & Responsibilities
• Serves as a strategic advisor to Council, which includes providing opinions and information, attending meetings, engaging with legal and other advisors, providing briefings and developing recommendations in order to guide decision-making.
• Ensures strategic plans are implemented by performing duties such as identifying long-term and short-term goals, developing operational objectives, ensuring completion of departmental work-plans and creating systems that enable reporting and performance measurement.
• Directs and oversees a varied leadership team in order to promote teamwork, collaboration, accountability and high performance. This includes efforts such as ensuring regular individual and group communication, keeping abreast of projects and progress toward objectives and aligning efforts between functions with the overall strategy.
• Ensures fiscal, legal and other organizational responsibilities are met which includes identification and mitigation of potential risks, ensuring legal and ethical compliance through all departments, overseeing fiscal reporting and responsibility and ensuring government reporting is completed to ensure future access to funding.
• Ensures adequate resources, including human, financial and capital are in place to support the operational requirements, strategies and future growth of BFN. Accomplishes this through duties that include ensuring processes are in place to bring awareness and action to access funding opportunities, aligning the organization structure with strategic direction, assessing project viability and working with functional areas to ensure assets are maintained and future capital requirements identified and obtained.
• Oversees, guides and participates in current and potential revenue generating opportunities/projects in collaboration with operational leadership. Duties include ensuring potential projects are vetted operationally, are in keeping with BFN strategic direction and objectives, ensuring resources are allocated responsibly and that reporting is in place. Performs such duties in order to promote self-sustainability, realize assertions and enhance BFN’s financial resources.
• Identifies, drives and leads organization change initiatives by performing duties that include, translating Chief and Council priorities in to action plans, keeping track of external factors that could impact BFN, understanding trends, identifying gaps and improvements in current practices and energizing staff members to move in new directions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
• Bachelors degree in a field such as Business, Public Administration, Indigenous Studies or related discipline is required
 Masters level degree is preferred
• Minimum of 10 years experience at a senior management/executive level - 5 of the 10 years experience in a First Nations environment
• Experience within a First Nation or other political environment involving a direct governing body such as Chief and Council is required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
• Knowledge of the characteristics, culture and social factors of Batchewana First Nation
• Knowledge of the First Nation, its lands, policies, processes, communities and public services
• Familiar with relevant legislation such as The National building Code of Canada, Electrical Safety Code, Ontario First Nations Illustrated Housing Code
• Demonstrated skill in all aspects of project management
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and juggle competing priorities
• Excellent analytical ability including root cause analysis and problem solving
• Strong ability to prioritize and organize work to meet deadlines and time driven requirements
• Demonstrated supervisory skills, collaborative leadership skills, tact and diplomacy
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Demonstrated ability to foster productive relationships internally and externally – team player
• Demonstrates the values of the seven grandfather teachings
• Good working understanding of budgeting, finance, and ability to navigate within a funding-based environment
• Task focused with dedication to accuracy, and diligence in following procedures in completing work assignments

What We Offer
• 4 Day Work Week and support for work/life balance
• Group benefits and generous pension plan
• Extensive leave provisions
• Unique opportunity to contribute to advancing the rights of our Nation

Who We Are
The Ojibways of Batchewana First Nation (BFN) are a dynamic Indigenous community on the northeastern shore of Lake Superior, near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Comprising four land bases—Rankin, Goulais Bay, Obadjiwon, and Whitefish Island—BFN blends community charm with urban accessibility. As signatories of the Robinson Huron Treaty and members of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians, BFN asserts its sovereignty and nationhood through daily governance and cultural expression.

How to Apply & Deadline: Please forward your cover letter and resume to email:

humanresources@batchewana.ca Subject Line: CEO

The position will remain open till filled