BAND 6 – Associate Indigenous Child Welfare Director

The Team
The Office of the Indigenous Child Welfare Director (ICWD) is a new division in the Ministry of Children and Family Development set up to shift and improve BC’s child welfare system and create changes that align with Indigenous rights, laws, and priorities as part of a joint jurisdiction model of service delivery. The division will provide leadership and advice for services to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit families delivered under the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA) and directly support the implementation of Indigenous jurisdiction.

For more information about the Office of the Indigenous Child Welfare Director, please see the attached Divisional Overview.

The Role
The Associate Indigenous Child Welfare Director (AICWD) reports to the Assistant Deputy Minister/Indigenous Child Welfare Director. The Indigenous Child Welfare Director is the central position of legal authority and accountability for child welfare services in BC. They are designated by the Minister under the CFCSA to be legally accountable for all Indigenous child welfare services under that legislation.

The AICWD supports this work by providing strategic advice to the ADM/ICWD, Ministry Designated Directors, Executive Leaders of Indigenous Child and Family Service Agencies (ICFSAs), MCFD’s Minister and Deputy Minister, and other Executive Leaders inside and outside the Public Service. These topics will include policies, practices and issues relating to child welfare practice, delegation of authority, advice/consultation on complex matters involving Indigenous children, youth and families and direction and advice on complex child welfare systemic matters.

Please note, the division is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and Indigenous cultural safety. However, in recognition of the critical importance to this role of a lived understanding of Indigenous communities, history, values, and ways of knowing, this competition is restricted to Indigenous applicants (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Qualifications:
Education and Experience

• In recognition of the critical importance to this role of a lived understanding of Indigenous communities, history, values, and ways of knowing, this competition is restricted to Indigenous applicants (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Social Work, Child and Youth Care, Counselling, Clinical Psychology, or another human services field like Sociology, Criminology, Anthropology, Early Childhood Education, Indigenous Studies, Theology, or Nursing.
• Experience in progressively senior leadership roles in an organization that provides family and child welfare services.
• Experience managing projects, programs and initiatives with successful outcomes.
• Experience representing government, major Crown agencies/corporations, or private sector companies, consulting with stakeholders, interest groups, and First Nations governments and communities.
• Experience working in a highly politicized environment with senior leaders and statutory decision makers on complex and contentious public issues.
• Experience conducting multi-party negotiations, preferably in a cross-cultural setting, dispute resolution and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience leading large teams, developing staffing complements into a highly effective and engaged workforce.

Preference may be given to those with:

• In addition to self-identifying as Indigenous, preference may be given to applicants who self-identify as LGBTQ2S+ and/or people with disabilities with the required combination of education and experience.
• Have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Social Work, Child and Youth Care, Educational Counselling, Counselling Psychology.
• Experience working in or with the Ministry of Children and Family Development or an Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency.
• Experience working in or with BC’s child welfare system.
• Experience with Indigenous jurisdiction in BC’s child welfare system.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Amanda.Venkaya@gov.bc.ca

About this Position:
This position is excluded from union membership
Flexible work options are available; this position may be able to work a hybrid schedule as per the Telework Agreement upon discussion with supervisor.
An eligibility list may be established to fill future permanent and/or temporary vacancies.
A Criminal Record Check (CRC) and Criminal Record Review Act Check (CRRA) will be required.
Employees of the BC Public Service must be located in BC at the time of employment.

Working for the BC Public Service:
The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

We are committed to ensuring that reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process, including the assessment and selection stages. Please email the individual or contact listed on the posting if you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process.

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to Canadian Indigenous (First Nations [status or non-status], Métis, or Inuit) applicants. Indigenous applicants can contact this service for personalized guidance on the BC Public Service hiring process including job applications and interviews.

How to Apply:
Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the job requirements listed above. Applicants who are selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on their knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies and other position related requirements as outlined in the Job Profile at the bottom of the posting.

Cover Letter:   YES.  Please submit a cover letter in the same file as your resume.  In your cover letter, please explain how your background fulfills each of the education and experience ‘requirements’ and ‘preferences’ listed in the posting. Include all relevant information about your educational accomplishments and employment history including job titles, start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and how you obtained your relevant experience.

Resume: YES – Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.

Questionnaire: YES – You will need to complete a basic questionnaire to demonstrate how you meet the job requirements.

Find more information on the recruitment process, including helpful tips and videos about the application process, visit the Your Job Application page of MyHR. Gain insights into the hiring journey by joining a Career Conversation.

Applications will be accepted until 11:00 pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying, visit the Technical Assistance page of MyHR.