Chief of Staff

About the Role: 

The Métis Nation of Ontario (“MNO”) is looking for a dynamic, innovative individual to serve as the Chief of Staff for the recently appointed MNO Provincial Secretaries. Section 15 of the MNO Bylaws provides for the appointment of Provincial Secretaries and read as follows:

Provisional secretaries may be appointed from the PCMNO and for each appointment the term of office, responsibilities and removal shall be determined by the president and ratified by the PCMNO. Provincial secretaries shall report to the president. Provincial secretaries shall support the management of the MNO by providing leadership in the area of their portfolio responsibility and shall advocate, advise and represent their respective portfolios to MNO management, MNO citizens and outside agencies.

The Chief of Staff position will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Provincial Secretaries office with the MNO administration and senior leadership team. In this capacity, the Chief of Staff will work closely with MNO C-Suite and Directors to ensure that the Provincial Secretaries receive information, are kept apprised of developments, and are able to provide political direction and effective advocacy and advice in their respective portfolios.

The Chief of Staff will report directly to the President of the MNO and will work to coordinate all aspects of the Provincial Secretaries interactions with the office of the President, including establishing effective reporting and information sharing practice that respect their respective roles and responsibilities. In this role the Chief of Staff will be expected to navigate complex issues, support MNO priorities and initiatives, and work to streamline operations with MNO’s overall political and government goals.

In addition to the above internal support and coordination roles, the Chief of Staff will also play a critical role in external relations including liaising with external stakeholders, other Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments and representatives. The Chief of Staff will coordinate meetings between political representatives and regularly engage with external political office staff in order to build relationship and advance the MNO’s overall self-government, rights, and operational goals and objectives.

MNO intends to hire an assistant to the Chief of Staff, to provide support for the day-to-day administration and coordination of activities.

What you will be doing: 

• Oversees the activities and manages the day-to-day needs of the Provincial Secretaries to build an effective and accountable team that achieves results for MNO citizens.
• Oversees all operations and activities of the Provincial Secretaries to ensure they produce the desired results, based on advancing the MNO’s overall strategy, objectives, and goals in light of performance metrics.
• Works closely with the President, Provincial Secretaries, and PCMNO, etc. to serve as a liaison between the Provincial Secretaries and staff, including developing avenues for effective communication, information sharing, and reporting.
• Collaborates with the Provincial Secretaries and the President to build relationships with other governments (Indigenous and non-Indigenous), stakeholders, and others.
• Attend meetings with MNO Provincial Secretaries, Directors, MNO staff and external stakeholders or other government leadership and staff on various topics related to MNO’s overall strategic goals and direction.
• Provides visionary leadership to drive collaboration, support the achievement of the MNO’s objectives, including by leveraging best practices and lessons learned from other governments, institutions, and broader (Ontario and Canada) civil society and advocates.
• Leads the development and implementation of strategic plans, in collaboration with the President, Provincial Secretaries, and PCMNO, in light of challenges and opportunities presented by other governments, communities, and stakeholders.
• Builds trust and good relations with key partners and stakeholders (e.g., government agencies, Metis Nation governments, industry stakeholders, and other relevant entities, etc.) and acts as a point of contact for others with respect to the Provincial Secretaries office within the MNO.
• Other reasonable duties as may be assigned

Qualifications: 

• 3+ years of Chief of Staff or Leadership experience in an Indigenous or non-Indigenous government setting
• Bachelor’s degree or higher certification a field such as Public Service/Government Operations/Political Science, etc.
• Recent experience interacting with boards or councils at a senior leadership level, including demonstrated ability to build relationships among stakeholders, partners, industry, and workforce
• Advanced communications skills, both written and verbal
• High degree of detail-orientation
• Exceptional project coordination, time management and organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and a high degree of self awareness
• Demonstrated ability to solve conflicts and to manage challenging situations
• Demonstrated ability to quickly acquire and expand knowledge and to be flexible in a demanding and dynamic environment
• Outstanding leadership skills with a focus on relationship-building and ability to promote unity across differing views
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills, including effective interpersonal skills and political acumen
• A strong understanding of Metis governance structures and decision-making processes, as well as federal and provincial governments, and other governance processes and priorities
• Demonstrated strategic thinking skills and capability to set and achieve short and long-term goals, develop strategies, and make informed decisions based on a variety of cultural, operational, and governance inputs
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced multi-issue environment, serving a wide range of varied internal and external interests
• Strong desire to act in the service of Métis Citizens, to advance and uphold rights and culture (preference will be given to applicants who meet the requirements for MNO Citizenship as per the MNO Bylaws)
• Significant knowledge of Métis rights, governance, and policy issues and principles at a local, provincial, and national / international level
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Métis history, culture, rights, and contemporary legal, governance, and political issues affecting Metis citizens and Metis governments in Ontario and Canada
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills, a high degree of self-awareness, and political acuity
• Ability to work extended hours or on weekends as required
• Willing and able to travel with overnight stays in other provinces (at times)

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Knowledge of Métis-specific and broader indigenous key challenges, and programs and services
• Preference will be given to Métis applicants (pursuant to S.14(1)) of the Ontario Human Rights Code
• Bilingualism (considered an asset)