Cranbrook

Overview

The Ktunaxa Nation Council Society (KNCS) is seeking an accomplished senior executive to translate established and emerging Leadership direction into coordinated, accountable, and timely organizational action. This role provides the right individual with a significant opportunity to contribute to the Ktunaxa Governments’ progression to self-determination, implementing culturally legitimate approaches to service transformation, while maintaining operational stability. This individual will work as a member of a team alongside a Chief Financial Officer and a Senior Governance Lead. These 3 executives hold each other accountable for the implementation of their respective mandates associated with broad-based strategic objectives in governance, operations and finances. The CAO will work with the senior management of the Ktunaxa Governments to keep current the KNCS operational mandate, organizational functions and accountability model. The successful candidate will report to the Ktunaxa Governments collectively and independently, with broader reporting refined as KNC’s governance and service models are updated. This highly relational role calls for cultural legitimacy, sound judgment, humility, courage, resilience, approachability, and confidence grounded in competence. The leader must be respectful without being passive, decisive without being dismissive, and able to maintain high expectations through coaching, mediation, appreciative inquiry, and clear accountability.

Responsibilities

- Relationships and communication: Maintain close, respectful, and productive relationships with the Ktunaxa Leadership, Ktunaxa senior management, directors and staff, other governments and industry. Provide regular, timely, and transparent communications and reporting that align with strategic priorities and support discussion, feedback, and informed decision making.
- Direction and alignment: Translate strategic direction into clear operational mandates, priorities, performance expectations, and coordinated action across KNCS operations.
- Transformation and continuity: Implement approved strategies following sound change management theory, maintaining quality service standards, practical timelines, transition planning, implementation analysis, risk management,



and accountability for outcomes.
- Operational accountability: Establish and maintain clear expectations and operational safeguards; maintain accountability and transparency while strengthening policy and evidence-based decision making processes.
- People leadership: Set and maintain a high standard for operational excellence and employment expectations by coaching and supporting senior management, clarifying roles, addressing performance and relationship concerns early, and building safeguards.
- Strategic judgment and execution: Assess complex situations and comprehensive information, identifying relational impacts, risks and policy gaps, distinguishing legitimate concerns from unverified information, prioritizing the most important issues, delegating appropriately, and moving practical solutions forward with urgency and care.
- Cultural and contextual leadership: Ensure technical expertise and organizational practices are applied through a Ktunaxa worldview and support community-driven, Nation-based priorities.

Qualifications

We recognize cultural, academic, skilled, community, and lived experience as valuable forms of learning. We encourage candidates whose combined experience closely reflects the following to apply:

- Significant senior executive and senior management experience in government, public administration, or similarly accountable environment with experience working in a First Nations or Indigenous organization at a regional, provincial or national level.
- Masters’ level post-secondary education in public administration, business administration, governance, organizational leadership, or a related field. An equivalent combination of cultural knowledge, lived experience, education, and senior leadership experience will be considered.
- Demonstrated ability to translate governance or board direction into accountable operations with measurable outcomes and timely implementation.




- Proven successful experience in change management and leading organizational change.
- Familarity with a variety of corporate governance models and accountability systems.
- Experience coaching senior leaders, resolving conflict, mediating difficult relationships, and addressing performance concerns with clarity and respect.
- Demonstrated cultural humility and respect for Indigenous culture, protocols, values, community knowledge, relationships, and ways of working; direct experience with Ktunaxa or another Indigenous Nation is a significant asset.
- Exceptional relationship-building, written and oral communication, reporting, facilitation, and issue-management skills.
- Ability to travel within Ktunaxa ʔamakʔis and within Canada and, when required, meet cross-border travel or work requirements for engagement with United States Ktunaxa/Kootenai Tribes.

Employment Level

Full-time

Work Conditions

This is an in-person position working primarily from the Cranbrook office.

Eligibility Statement

The Ktunaxa Nation Council is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for all Employees and the People, Communities, and Bands that we serve.

Equity Statement

The KNC values diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applications will be considered, however, qualified persons of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit ancestry will be given preference. If you require accommodation to participate in the interview process, please let us know. Only those applicants who meet the qualifications will be contacted for an interview.

Please Note:

When you click on "Submit", you will be redirected to our Talent website where you will need to confirm your application.

Some web browsers do not allow pop-ups which can prevent you from viewing our Talent website.

You can remove the pop-up blocker or open the page as an “Incognito” or "in private window" tab from the 3 dots found at the top right corner of your webpage.

- First Name

- Last Name

- Email

- Mobile Number

- Resume

Attach File

- Cover Letter

Attach File

- Can you reliably commute/relocate to Cranbrook BC?
- Do you require sponsorship to work in Canada?

Submit

📌 Senior Executive Leader (CAO/COO) (Cranbrook)
🏢 Ktunaxa Nation Council
📍 Cranbrook