Director, Centre for Indigenous Land Stewardship (CILS)

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Business Development, Level D

Job Title

Director, Centre for Indigenous Land Stewardship (CILS)

Department

Senior Management Team | Dean's Office | Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship

Compensation Range

$9,048.67 - $14,114.17 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

April 9, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

 

 

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) is recognized globally as one of the leading forestry faculties in the world. As the largest Faculty of Forestry in Canada, we offer undergraduate and graduate programs that cover a breadth of disciplines including wood products science, natural resources conservation, forest sciences, urban forestry, and forest resources management and the newly launched Bachelors of Indigenous Land Stewardship under the Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship (CILS).  

The CILS, at FES, aspires to be a global centre of excellence, bringing Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and land ethics together with natural resource science and management. By openly sharing information and ideas, land stewardship systems will be built that are grounded in holistic land stewardship and earth-based community values. 

We acknowledge that UBC FES and CILS at the Vancouver Point Grey campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam.  

The Director provides strategic leadership to advance the Centre’s growth, partnerships, and national profile, positioning it as a leading hub for Indigenous Land Stewardship (ILS). Acting as a key institutional advisor, the Director works closely with Faculty leadership to shape priorities across research, programs, and external engagement, ensuring alignment with community-informed approaches and emerging opportunities. 

In this role, the Director drives the Centre’s impact by building and sustaining strategic relationships with Indigenous communities, government, industry, and academic partners, while leading initiatives that expand CILS’ reach, influence, and collaborative activities. In addition, Director partners with program and academic leaders, including the BILS Program Director, to ensure alignment with Centre priorities, while maintaining an overarching focus on Centre-wide strategy, growth, and external engagement.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Dean, Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship

Work Performed

• Sets the vision and strategic direction of the Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship (CILS) serving as the unifying central home for the Faculty’s Indigenous Land Stewardship education and driving it’s growth, partnerships, and national profile. 

• Leads the development and expansion of Centre initiatives, including research and community partnerships, to increase the impact and reach of the Centre. 

• Provides advice on the integration of indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing perspectives and inclusive practices into research, programs and Faculty initiatives.

• Consults with the Program Director of the Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) to ensure alignment of the program with Centre priorities and community-informed direction. 

• Advises Dean and Faculty Leadership on Indigenous Land Stewardship priorities, including opportunities related to research, programs and partnership. 

• Builds partnerships with indigenous communities, industry, government, and academic organizations to advance the Centre’s influence, funding opportunities, and collaborative initiatives. 

• Participates in institutional committees and advisory bodies to inform strategy and advance Indigenous Land Stewardship initiatives 

• Represents the faculty at major events related to Indigenous education including student events, public forums and networking events.

• Performs other duties as required within the scope of the role.  

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Director makes decisions regarding comprehensive business strategies and long-term planning for the Centre and UBC FES. Decisions in this area have both immediate and long-term impacts on the reputation, development and effectiveness of programs and initiatives of the unit. 

The Director must exercise sound judgement in making decisions and demonstrate discretion, tact, sensitivity and confidentiality in dealing with internal and external stakeholders, including both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and organizations. 

Errors in planning and poor decisions could cause significant loss of credibility and reputation and undermine support from participants, funders, internal and external collaborators and partners.

Supervision Received
Reports to the Dean and works closely with Dept Heads and Associate Deans.

 Works independently, utilizing concepts and exercising considerable independent judgment and initiative in the creation and implementation of strategies and initiatives, and in addressing complex matters.

Supervision Given
Manages Centre’s employees and student workers. 

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of eight years of experience in communications and planning, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own 
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of nine years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred experience in a senior management position involving strategic planning, people management, administration, community relations and financial management. 
 
Experience leading a team of professionals in an Indigenous organization, association, or other related workplace. 
 
Experience working in higher education, preferably in a university and/or unionized environment. 
 
Lived experience of Indigenous worldviews, cultures and values, with superior understanding of diverse Indigenous knowledge systems and epistemologies. Ability to draw upon the values and principles of their own community and history. 
 
In-depth knowledge of the history and culture of Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Knowledge of decolonial processes and practices. Knowledge of Coast Salish culture and protocols is an asset. 
 
Knowledge of current and emerging issues in Indigenous land stewardship. Strong knowledge of Indigenous pedagogies and accessible delivery models. Excellent and demonstrated knowledge of reconciliation and decolonization approaches in the post-secondary environment. 
 
Ability to promote and build cooperative working partnerships and collaborative relationships, particularly with Indigenous communities and organizations. 
 
Demonstrated leadership abilities, with a humble, compassionate and empathetic approach. 
 
Strong administrative, financial and analytical skills. 
 
Ability to travel both locally and nationally and be flexible in hours worked. 
 
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. 
 
Ability to speak in public settings and prepare presentations on complex and sensitive topics to senior academic, executive and public groups. 
 
Excellent interpersonal and networking skills. 
 
Ability to work with ambiguity and make decisions with sound judgement based on broad objectives in a continuously evolving environment.