Watershed Authorizations Officer

**Leq’á:mel First Nation**

41320 Lougheed Hwy Tel: 236-437-2366
Deroche, BC V0M 1G0

**POSITION: Watershed Authorizations Officer**

**REPORTS TO**: Director of Lands and Natural Resources
Governance or their designate

**POSITION TYPE**: Full-Time, Temporary (position funded until March 31, 2026, with the possibility of extension)

ABOUT LEQ’Á:MEL FIRST NATION
Leq’a:mel First Nation (LFN) is a small, self-governing Indigenous community located in the Fraser Valley. We assert our rights as Stó:lō and Coast Salish people over our reserve lands and our Territory. We have a small but dedicated team of professionals who assist our community and leadership in achieving their goals and objectives. We offer a safe and positive work environment. We expect that all employees respect, are familiar with, or are willing to learn about Stó:lō and Leq’a:mel culture, traditions, and language.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Leq’a:mel Watershed Authorizations Officer plays a lead role in implementing Leq’a:mel Watershed Resilience planning and related project authorizations within three sub-watersheds in Leq’a:mel Territory: Nicomen Island, Hatzic Prairie and Sumas Prairie. The Officer will ensure a consistent, Indigenous-led approach to watershed authorizations across the three sub-watersheds that is founded in a collaborative and holistic approach, and Leq’á:mel Law. This role will play a lead role in building the capacity of the LNRD to authorize or give consent to land development or other activities that have an impact on our watershed, including soil and sediment removal, relocation and deposits, as well as supporting or commenting on Provincial (Water Sustainability Act) and Federal (Fisheries Act) authorizations that may be necessary pursuant to our watershed resilience activities in the three watersheds. The position is intended to bring technical capacity to the LNRD for advancing land development authorizations processes on-reserve under the Leq’a:mel Land Code. The position will work together with other LNRD staff and project partners in ensuring that LLNRD meets the deliverables of the EMCR Watershed Recovery Initiative.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Leading creek sediment removal projects, ensuring where appropriatecompliance with LFN Law, and facilitating and supporting project-related WaterSustainability Act (WSA) and Fisheries Act Authorization (FAA) requests on andoff reserve.Coordinating and leading the authorization process for Soil removals,transport and deposits on-reserve under the LFN Soil Transport, Deposit andRemoval Law, in relation to Deroche Creek and other watershed-relate projectsoccurring on Leq’a:mel Reserve Lands.Supporting the Director in implementing the authorizations process forLeq’á:mel-led economic initiatives on-reserve, in partnership with the Leq’á:melDevelopment Corporation, Leq’á:mel members and other proponents.Supporting resolution of unsanctioned wetland filling in the Agricultural LandReserve.Supporting and directing the Leq’a:mel Guardians in the conduct ofenvironmental and cultural monitoring related to watershed resilience projects.Supporting and leading environmental and cultural assessments, other studiesand research needed in project authorizations.Conducting compliance monitoring and reporting on all authorizations.
- Watershed Recovery Administration:

- Project budgeting and cost tracking, invoicing, coding.Contract management-Liaising with applicants, contractors, professionals, knowledge holders and otherstakeholders and experts as needed-Work Planning and Project Implementation-Drafting, revising and Issuing LFN Permits for works occurring on-reserve incollaboration with the Director and other LNRD staff.
- Grant Reporting and compliance monitoring
- Intergovernmental Relations: engaging with all levels of government, identifying authorization processes, information requirements, and developing positive technical relationships to support sound decision-making by leadership.
- Community engagement support, including supporting community events, outreach and education efforts designed at raising awareness and mobilizing knowledge of watershed health, climate resilience, and promoting Leq’á:mel’s authority as it relates to watershed governance, and assisting in building consensus from diverse stakeholders and rights holders on watershed recovery and resilience projects and planning.
- Support long-term policy, planning and strategic recommendations on watershed health and resilience.KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND OTHER COMPETENCIES
- Bachelors Degree or Masters Degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Management, Watershed Engineering, or other training or certification that may be relevant for watershed governance as described above, or an acceptable combination of experience and training.
- Knowledge and familiarity with watershed health and watershed impacts associated with the November 2021 Atmospheric River Event.
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