Program Manager, Partnerships & Intergovernmental Relations

FNFC is a unique, progressive, and dynamic organization passionate about advocating for First Nations interests as they pertain to fisheries and aquatic ecosystems in BC. Guided by the BC First Nations Fisheries Action Plan, working in partnership with First Nations in B.C., FNFC’s mission is to support, protect, and advance the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) as it pertains to fisheries and related Aboriginal Title, Treaty, and fisheries rights. We do this by developing the appropriate governance structures, forming collaborative relationships among regional First Nations organizations, and work together to build structures to support a coherent voice on fisheries and aquatic resources matters.

About the Trilateral Salmon Accord

The Trilateral Salmon Accord is a collaborative agreement between First Nations, Canada, and British Columbia focused on advancing wild Pacific salmon recovery in BC. The Accord is intended to support a more coordinated approach to salmon governance by bringing together First Nations, federal, and provincial governments through structured governance and implementation tables.

FNFC supports the Accord as secretariat, including supporting the Wild Salmon Steering Committee and First Nations delegates, and helping advance the development of shared salmon recovery priorities and a Joint Action Plan.

About the Coastal Marine Strategy

The Coastal Marine Strategy (CMS) is a Province of British Columbia initiative to develop a long-term, integrated strategy for managing British Columbia’s coastal and marine environments. The strategy seeks to address cumulative impacts, establish clearer governance frameworks, and advance conservation and sustainable use of coastal ecosystems. FNFC’s engagement on the CMS includes advocating for robust First Nations participation in governance structures, ensuring alignment with UNDRIP and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), raising concerns about cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems advancing policy positions that centre First Nations stewardship and decision-making authority over coastal and marine territories.

Position Summary

FNFC is seeking a full-time Program Manager to support the Partnerships and Intergovernmental Relations department across two priority files: the Trilateral Salmon Accord and the Coastal Marine Strategy. This is a full-time role suited to a highly organized and politically astute professional with experience managing intergovernmental or First Nations governance processes. The Program Manager will support both files by coordinating workplans, meetings, materials, timelines, decision records, and follow-up actions across First Nations, federal, and provincial partners, while also advancing FNFC’s policy and advocacy work on coastal and marine issues.

Key Responsibilities

Trilateral Salmon Accord

• Developing and maintaining an implementation workplan for the Trilateral Salmon Accord.

• Tracking deliverables, timelines, decisions, risks, and follow-up actions.

• Supporting the planning and coordination of Tier 1 First Nations meetings, trilateral meetings, and Collaborative Salmon Table discussions.

• Preparing agendas, briefing materials, meeting summaries, decision records, and implementation updates.

• Supporting First Nations delegates and the Wild Salmon Steering Committee to participate effectively in Accord processes.

• Coordinating communication and information flow between FNFC, First Nations representatives, federal officials, and provincial officials.

• Helping advance work related to the Joint Action Plan for salmon recovery.

• Identifying implementation issues, unresolved questions, or risks that require escalation.

• Ensuring Accord-related meetings are organized, purposeful, and connected to clear implementation outcomes.

• Supporting alignment between the Accord and related salmon recovery initiatives, funding programs, and First Nations-led priorities.

Coastal Marine Strategy

• Tracking CMS process milestones, provincial government engagements, and First Nations participation opportunities.

• Coordinating FNFC’s engagement in CMS-related meetings, working groups, and intergovernmental tables.

• Preparing briefing notes, policy analysis, position papers, and correspondence related to the CMS.

• Supporting the development and refinement of FNFC’s policy positions on coastal and marine governance, including cumulative impacts, species at risk, and marine protected areas.

• Maintaining relationships with provincial CMS leads, federal partners, and coastal First Nations organizations to ensure coordinated advocacy.

• Monitoring and analyzing CMS-related policy and regulatory developments and reporting on implications for First Nations rights and interests.

• Supporting alignment between the CMS file and FNFC’s broader work on aquatic ecosystems, marine species, and First Nations stewardship.

This role will require careful attention to the distinction between collaborative intergovernmental processes and formal Crown obligations to consult and engage directly with First Nations rights holders.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience managing complex projects, governance processes, or multi-party initiatives.

• Experience working with First Nations governments, organizations, or communities.

• Strong understanding of Indigenous-Crown relations, First Nations rights and title, and reconciliation-related policy frameworks, including DRIPA and UNDRIP.

• Experience working with federal and/or provincial governments.

• Knowledge of fisheries, salmon recovery, coastal and marine ecosystems, or natural resource management.

• Familiarity with BC’s coastal and marine governance landscape, including the Coastal Marine Strategy process, an asset.

• Strong writing skills, including experience preparing briefing notes, policy papers, meeting records, reports, and workplans.

• Excellent coordination, relationship management, and communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent files with competing timelines.

• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.

Terms and Compensation

This is a full-time (37.5 hrs/week), hybrid-remote position, based in Vancouver, BC. The FNFC operates on a four-day work week, with a minimum of two days a week in the office required.

The salary range for this role is $77,000–$88,000 commensurate with experience.

Application Deadline

Applicants are asked to email a cover letter and resume, providing details of work experience and two references before July 15th, to ***email_hidden***. Please apply via the email provided. Preference will be given to qualified candidates of Indigenous ancestry.

Thank-you for your interest in working with FNFC.