Cultural Heritage & Language Manager
Job Title: Cultural Heritage & Language (CH&L) Manager
Department: Culture & Language
Location: Doig River First Nation
Reports To: Band Manager
GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION
The Cultural Heritage & Language Manager is a multi-faceted position that collaborates with Council, all DRFN departments, Elders and community members to manage and coordinate the acquisition, maintenance, preservation, and promotion of DRFN’s cultural heritage resources. The Manager will promote and implement programs, projects and activities that facilitate the intergenerational transmission of Beaver language and culture.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Planning, Strategic & Operational
- Collaborates with DRFN Council, Departments Managers and community members to complete the strategic and operational plans for the CH&L Department
- Understands, embraces and implements the culture and language components of DRFN’s Comprehensive Community Plan and Council’s Strategic plan.
- Researches, develops and/or secures strategies and tools to facilitate conservation of cultural heritage resources.
Personnel & Human Resources Management
- Manages the Beaver Language team, it’s workplans, budget, activities and reporting that is consistent with DRFN’s policies, procedures and reporting structures.
- Manages casual cultural workers as per project workplans, budgets, activities and reporting that is consistent with DRFN’s policies, procedures and reporting structures.
- Trains staff and monitors their effective management of bookings, timesheets and payments of elders and cultural persons for external events.
Program Implementation
- Manages and coordinates programs and activities within the Nation that preserves, promotes, and facilitates the intergenerational transmission of DRFN culture and Beaver language from Elders to youth.
- Advocates and encourages the integration of Beaver language and culture into all facets of DRFN’s departments.
- Further develop, coordinate, and manage DRFN’s museum, exhibits, digital platforms and archives.
- Seek ways to acquire a local repository to repatriate DRFN historical artifacts to the Nation.
- Supervises staff that administers the DRFN Fur & Craft Program, ensuring compliance with DRFN cultural protocols and compliance with DRFN financial polices an procedures.
- Supports community based historical research about DRFN and its membership.
- Implements cultural heritage and language projects.
- Provides technical supports to major negotiations, specific claims and agreements as needed.
Budgeting, Grant Writing & Financial Reporting
- Develops proposals for funding and grants to support DRFN’s culture and language initiatives.
- Prepares budgets and works with the Financial Controller to ensure projects and department activities are on budget.
- Submits financial reports in a timely manner to funders as per funding arrangements.
Communication & Collaboration
- Communicates plans, activities and projects to band membership (ie. world café).
- Promotes public awareness of heritage conservation within DRFN and the external community.
- Engages with the Elder’s committee (Dane Che Uu).
- Collaborates with the Health & Well Being department manager and other designated personnel in designing community-based initiatives that promote culture and language for healthy families and lifestyle choices.
- Supports the Lands Department in the planning and review of Traditional Land Use studies.
- Collaborates with external agencies (ie. Indigenous Artists Market), industrial proponents and with DRFN businesses to support traditional crafters by making introductions and sharing resources that promote cultural tourism and crafting/product development.
- Act as a resource on behalf of DRFN to external agencies, government in communicating cultural protocols, Beaver translations and DRFN intellectual property rights.
- Supports cultural awareness promotions internally and external to DRFN.
- Support Tse K’wa Heritage Society.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Post-secondary education in First Nation studies, archaeology, archival and library sciences and/or traditional use studies.
Experience & Knowledge
- Experience working with First Nations and community engagement.
- Experience with archiving and cultural heritage resources preservation and management.
- Experience in promoting best practices in TUS, TK, mapping and Indigenous research.
- Project management is an asset.
- Experience working in a fast paced and evolving environment.
- Experience in the use of software such as Microsoft Suite.
- Supervisor experience is an asset.
- Knowledge of Beaver language an asset.
- Knowledge of research tools, program design and evaluation techniques.
- Knowledge of First Nation cultural protocols.
- Familiarity with traditional DRFN culture, values, interests and history including Treaty 8 and associated rights.
Skills & Abilities
- Caring, compassionate, dependable, ethical and mature.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Ability to conduct decision-making in a non-political manner.
- Ability to develop, implement, manage and track projects and associated budgets.
- Well-developed communication skills including the ability to listen and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to demonstrate initiative and resilience.
- Ability to act in a professional and courteous manner in all circumstances.
- Facilitate resolution of conflict in a professional and effective manner.
Required Certifications
- BC Class 5 driver’s license is required.
WORKING CONDITIONS
This position requires the incumbent to work in the office, meet with community members and occasionally travel both in the field and out of town. A personal vehicle is required and reimbursement for travel will be provided at $0.70/kilometer.
Hours – 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day Monday to Friday (some evening and weekend work as required) Benefits/Pension after 90 days
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please apply by November 15, 2026 to:
Human Resources
Phone: 250.827.3776
Email: employment@doigriverfn.com
