Governance Officer

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, with functional accountability to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors, the Governance Officer provides senior leadership and statutory oversight across MNBC governance, Board operations, and assembly functions. The role ensures MNBC governance systems are transparent, compliant, and consistently applied across ministries and governing bodies, upholding accountability to Métis Citizens.

The position shapes and modernizes MNBC governance, Board operations, and assembly support. It carries three complementary accountabilities, Executive Director, Governance, Corporate Secretary, and MNGA and AGM Clerk, each requiring professionalism, discretion, and independent judgment.

As Governance Officer, the role leads the design, modernization, and continuous improvement of governance frameworks, policies, and systems, ensuring alignment with the MNBC Constitution, bylaws, and legislation. It advises the COO, CEO, and Board on governance strategy, risk, and compliance, and ensures Métis values and Nation building principles are reflected in all governance practices.

As Corporate Secretary, the role acts as MNBC statutory corporate officer, providing independent, impartial advice to the Board and Committees on procedural integrity, ethical conduct, and compliance with legislation and policy. The Corporate Secretary is the conduit between Board and Committees, management, and Métis Citizens, and ensures that meetings, resolutions, and records are accurate, confidential, and transparent.

As Clerk to the Métis Nation Governing Assembly (MNGA) and Annual General Meeting (AGM), the role supports the Speaker or Chair and delegates to ensure fair, transparent, and procedurally sound proceedings. When acting in this capacity, the Clerk is responsible to the Assembly, not to the Board, maintaining neutrality and safeguarding the democratic integrity of MNBC decision making.

The department includes Board operations, governance modernization, MNGA coordination, and community governance support. Together, these areas form MNBC corporate governance system, led and overseen by this position.

Overall, this role serves as a trusted advisor and governance professional, ensuring MNBC governance systems are transparent, culturally grounded, and credible, anchored in Métis self government, the rule of law, and the principles of good corporate citizenship.

LOCATION

• Provincial Head Office, Surrey, BC

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Governance Leadership

• Lead development and continuous improvement of governance frameworks, policies, and systems aligned to the MNBC Constitution, bylaws, and legislation.

• Develop and oversee the Delegation of Authority Framework, clarifying roles and decision making across the Board, Committees, and administration.

• Provide executive level advice to the CEO, COO, and Board on governance strategy, compliance, and organizational accountability.

• Monitor governance trends and risks and recommend reforms that strengthen integrity, transparency, efficiency, and citizen centred decision making.

• Champion the integration of Métis values, culture, and self government principles in all governance systems.

Board and Committee Oversight

• Serve as Corporate Secretary and statutory officer, ensuring the procedural integrity of all Board and Committee meetings and decisions.

• Provide impartial advice on governance, conflict of interest, fiduciary duties, and procedural fairness.

• Oversee Board and Committee planning, including calendars, agendas, and document flow, ensuring timely, informed, and compliant decision making.

• Lead the Board Operations team in delivering Secretariat services, minutes, resolutions, and action tracking to a professional standard.

• Coordinate onboarding, training, and evaluation for Board and Committee members and ensure consistent documentation standards and records across MNBC governance bodies and ministries.

MNGA and AGM Clerk Responsibilities

• Serve as Clerk to the MNGA and AGM, ensuring proceedings are fair, transparent, inclusive, and procedurally sound.

• Report directly to the Assembly, through the Speaker or Chair, when acting as Clerk and maintain neutrality and procedural integrity.

• Ensure resolutions, votes, and minutes are accurately recorded, certified, and preserved as part of MNBC official record.

• Coordinate logistics, delegate registration, and procedural protocols and support the Speaker or Chair in managing proceedings consistent with the Constitution, bylaws, and Métis cultural protocols, using Robert's Rules of Order as a reference tool.

Governance Capacity Building

• Lead governance training and development for Chartered Communities, Regional and Provincial Governance Councils, and MNGA Committees.

• Oversee governance toolkits, templates, and resources that support bylaws, elections, reporting, and accountability at the community level.

• Coach leaders and staff on governance obligations, policy interpretation, and ethical decision making and partner with Knowledge Keepers and cultural advisors to embed Métis languages, traditions, and protocols in governance practices.

Elections Oversight

• Lead MNBC elections compliance, ensuring processes are transparent, fair, and consistent with MNBC legislation and policy.

• Coordinate the Request for Proposals and oversight of the Chief Electoral Officer with the responsible department.

• Serve as internal contact for election appeals or disputes, maintaining impartiality and procedural integrity.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Identify, assess, and mitigate governance related risks and ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory, and policy obligations.

• Oversee corporate filings, records management, and legal documentation required for MNBC good standing.

• Develop governance risk and compliance tools, including trackers, monitoring, and evaluation frameworks, and lead governance reporting related to transparency and accountability.

Team and Department Leadership

• Provide executive leadership to Governance and Board Operations teams, including strategic direction, budgets, and performance standards.

• Mentor managers and staff, promoting professional development, cultural humility, ethical conduct, continuous improvement, and service to Métis Citizens.

Stakeholder and External Relations

• Act as MNBC senior representative on governance matters with regulators, funding agencies, and government partners.

• Build trusted relationships with Métis Citizens, Chartered Communities, and partner organizations and support respectful relationships between the Board, administration, communities, and Citizens.

Direct Reports

• Board Operations Manager

• Manager of Governance

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Graduate degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Law, Business Administration, Indigenous Governance, or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and senior level experience.

• Minimum ten years of progressive experience in governance, legal, policy, or executive advisory roles, including at least five years at a senior management or executive level providing advice to Boards, Councils, or elected leadership.

• Proven experience leading or modernizing governance systems, including bylaws or constitutional reform, delegation of authority frameworks, board policy manuals, and governance evaluation processes.

• Extensive experience leading multi disciplinary teams with accountability for strategy, budgets, and performance in complex or multi stakeholder environments.

• Experience serving as or supporting a Corporate Secretary or Clerk role and responsibility for meeting integrity, records, and corporate filings.

• Experience fostering culturally grounded governance practices that integrate Indigenous values, protocols, and traditions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep knowledge of governance frameworks, corporate and administrative law, bylaws, and compliance obligations relevant to Indigenous governments and the public or not for profit sector.

• Strong understanding of Métis self government, MNBC legislative framework, and the relationships between the Constitution, bylaws, policies, and governing bodies.

• Advanced knowledge of parliamentary procedure and meeting management, applied flexibly and respectfully in a Métis context.

• Strong analytical, problem solving, communication, facilitation, and consensus building skills.

• High political acuity, emotional intelligence, discretion, and demonstrated ability to provide independent and confidential advice on complex or sensitive matters.

• Demonstrated ability to build governance literacy and capability and to mentor, inspire, and hold teams accountable to professional standards.

• Proficiency with digital governance tools and systems such as board management platforms, secure document management, and electronic record keeping.

• Commitment to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and public service.

Other Requirements

• Eligible or willing to become eligible as a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits in British Columbia.

• Willingness and ability to travel within BC and nationally, as required.

• Ability to obtain a Class 5 driver's licence may be required.

• Ability to complete a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check, if required.

To apply, please submit your resume directly to:

Please note only qualified individuals will be contacted.