Marine Planning

**Marine Planning & Stewardship Program Manager**:
**Reports to**:Executive Director
**Collaborates with**:Stewardship Directors, Director of Finance & Operations, marine program team members, Nation staff, CCIRA contractors and staff, and partners
**Direct Reports**:Coordinates marine program staff and contractors; provides day-to-day supervision in alignment with Nation direction and CCIRA policies.
**Financial Scope**:Day-to-day program budget oversight within approved workplans and direction from the ED/Stewardship Directors

**Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance**
The Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance (CCIRA) was established by the Central Coast Nations - Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai’xais, Nuxalk, and Wuikinuxv - to provide coordination and technical support in fisheries management, marine spatial planning, and science. CCIRA’s work is grounded in the stewardship values and governance objectives of the Central Coast Nations and is rooted in the **Central Coast Integrated Marine Plan.**

A central pillar of CCIRA’s work has been its involvement in marine planning. The organization began with community-based marine use planning and has since played a key role in the development of the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) for the North Pacific Coast, working alongside other First Nations and provincial governments to build on their comprehensive marine plans. This work is central to CCIRA’s mission of advancing Indigenous governance and stewardship of marine and coastal environments.

**ROLE CONTEXT & GOVERNANCE OVERSIGHT**
This position responds to a clear need identified by the CCIRA Board and Central Coast Nations to increase internal coordination capacity for marine planning and stewardship. It exists to support the implementation of Nation-led marine governance priorities, operating under the strategic direction of the Stewardship Directors and reporting to the Executive Director.

The Program Manager enables integrated program delivery, supports staff and contractors, and helps ensure marine planning work reflects Nation direction. The role also contributes to rebalancing responsibilities across the team following recent staff transitions, helping ensure that all roles are aligned with CCIRA’s evolving structure and strategic mandate. Success in this position will be measured by the ability to foster coordination, build trust, and reinforce existing Nation leadership.

**POSITION OVERVIEW**

As part of CCIRA’s organizational evolution, marine planning responsibilities have shifted across the team to reflect changing capacity and strategic priorities. The Program Manager provides a dedicated leadership function to coordinate key marine planning initiatives, rebalance team workloads, and realign responsibilities across CCIRA’s evolving structure.

This role leads CCIRA’s coordination of Nation-led marine initiatives including: marine use plan updates, the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP), the Marine Protected Area Network (MPAN), Coastal Marine Strategy (CMS), the Hecate Strait MPA, and components of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP). It also supports the implementation of other Nation-led marine priorities and helps ensure integration with stewardship, monitoring, and policy and governance functions.

Working across CCIRA’s programs, the Program Manager helps realign responsibilities previously held on an interim basis, enabling staff and contractors to focus on their core mandates. You will work to strengthen collaboration, reduce duplication, and support effective leadership across teams through strong coordination with other managers and leads. As CCIRA transitions to an employee-based structure, this role plays an important part in supporting the well-being, cohesion, and professional growth of marine program staff, while escalating formal HR decisions to the Executive Director (ED) and Director of Finance & Operations (DoFO). The Manager also provides day-to-day coordination and culturally grounded, supportive leadership, helping staff navigate organizational change in a good way.

The role prioritizes relational leadership, Nation-aligned delivery, and integrated support across the marine program. The Program Manager also contributes to the strategic development of marine planning content and ensures technical deliverables are grounded in both Indigenous knowledge traditions and scientific approaches. Flexibility and adaptability will be essential as CCIRA’s internal structures, staffing, and Nation priorities continue to evolve.

**KEY FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES**
The Marine Planning & Stewardship Program Manager position is responsible for the following four (4) key functions.

**Coordination of Nation-led Marine Planning & Stewardship (40%)**
- Provide dedicated coordination and delivery support for Nation-led marine planning initiatives, including marine use plan updates (MaPP), MPAN, Hecate Strait MPA, and elements of the PFP
- Ensure delivery timelines, workplans, and intergover