Chief of Staff

MNO’s culture is at our core. The Métis Nation of Ontario workplace culture is full of potential ready to be unlocked. As our Self-Governance agreement materializes, we are building a workplace culture of action, responsibility, and most importantly a desire to serve the Métis community. We recognize people are different, and that is our source of strength. We bring opinions together, welcome healthy conflict, and look to always find answers, not problems.

What We Can Offer You:

• Comprehensive employer-paid health benefits and pension plan
• Generous vacation allotment starting at 15 days for regular employees and 20 days for management
• Annual paid two-week holiday closure in December
• 16 paid public and employer holidays
• 15 paid health & wellness days
• Challenging, multi-disciplinary work environment that fosters learning and professional development
• Substantial educational incentive to promote personal and professional growth
• An opportunity to make a direct or indirect impact on the lives of the Métis Peoples across the Province
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Telemedicine plan
• Health care spending account
• Goodlife corporate membership discount
• Bell Mobility's exclusive partner program
• Staple's corporate discount
• Dell member purchase program
• Mark's corporate discount

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.

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. 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.

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

• 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.

• 3+ years of Chief of Staff or Leadership experience in an Indigenous or non-Indigenous government setting
• Bachelor’s degree or higher certification in 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 Métis citizens and Métis 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)

• 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)

AODA Statement: The Métis Nation of Ontario commits to providing accommodation as required by the Ontario Human Rights Act, unless to do so would cause undue hardship. Accommodations will be provided in accordance with the principles of dignity, individualization, and inclusion. The Métis Nation of Ontario will work cooperatively and in the spirit of respect with all partners in the accommodation process. These accommodations will extend to all aspects of the employment relationship including recruitment and selection.

Please email human resources if you require an accommodation during the hiring process.

Special Services Organization: The Métis Nation of Ontario is a special services organization. All applicants are encouraged to apply. Preference may be given to qualified applicants who meet the requirements for MNO Citizenship as per the MNO Bylaws and who are in good standing.

Please note, all employees, regardless of role or location, are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless the employee has a valid medical exemption. This condition of employment is effective for all employees, full or part-time, permanent or contract, whether working remotely or not, as of November 1, 2021.

The Métis Nation of Ontario uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help in the screening and assessing of applicants within our Applicant Tracking System (ATS).