CNA - nłeʔkepmx Land Guardian (Valley)

Citxw Nlaka'pamux Assembly

nłeʔkepmx Land Guardian (Valley)

Job Title: nłeʔkepmx Land Guardian (Valley)
Reports To: nłeʔkepmx Land Guardian - Field Crew Lead
Term: Full-time, Permanent
Compensation: $50,000 - $55,000 annually
Start Date: As soon as a suitable candidate is found
Closing Date: July 3rd, 2026

Position Purpose
Citxw Nlaka'pamux Assembly (CNA) was created in 2013 as a powerful and unifying voice for eight Nlaka’pamux Bands regarding the Teck Highland Valley Copper Mine. It is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the eight Participating Bands. Headquartered in Merritt, BC, with a workforce of over 40, CNA provides training and job readiness along with cultural, social, and technical programming to the over 3035 members of the eight Participating Bands.

The nłeʔképmx Land Guardian will take an active role in the participating Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly (CNA) bands by working between the broader nłeʔképmx Guardians department and the communities. This role will require someone with strong interpersonal communication skills and a vision of land stewardship. The job will also require demonstrating an active role on the land, therefore, being mentally and physically fit is a requirement. The Guardians program incorporates nłeʔképmx traditional knowledge systems, customs, and practices.

Primary Duties

The nłeʔképmx Land Guardian supports the stewardship, monitoring, protection, and restoration of nłeʔképmx lands and waters. Guardians may be assigned to a primary area of focus; however, all Guardians are expected to support the broader program and may be reassigned based on operational needs, seasonal priorities, emergency response requirements, staffing levels, and project demands.

• Patrol and monitor lands, waters, cultural sites, and resource-use activities throughout nłeʔképmx territory,
• Build positive relationships with community members, land users, government agencies, industry representatives, and partner organizations,
• Educate land users on stewardship practices, cultural protocols, safety requirements, and environmental responsibilities,
• Support environmental monitoring activities including wildlife surveys, bird surveys, vegetation assessments, habitat monitoring, data collection, and field research,
• Participate in habitat restoration and stewardship initiatives including trail maintenance, invasive species management, post-wildfire recovery projects, revegetation efforts, and watershed restoration activities,
• Assist with emergency management and community response activities, including wildfire preparedness and response, FireSmart initiatives, natural disaster recovery, and other community support efforts,
• Operate and maintain vehicles, equipment, tools, and field gear in a safe and responsible manner,
• Complete field reports, monitoring records, incident documentation, and other administrative requirements accurately and on time,
• Support project delivery and field operations in collaboration with internal departments, Participating Bands, contractors, and external partners,
• Assist with logistics, resource coordination, equipment management, inventory tracking, and operational readiness activities as required,
• Integrate nłeʔképmx knowledge, values, customs, and stewardship practices into daily work activities,
• Work safely and in compliance with all organizational policies, procedures, occupational health and safety requirements, and cultural protocols,
• Provide support to other teams and operational areas as required, and
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Mandatory Requirements

• Willingness to complete a background check,
• Physically fit, able to work long hours outdoors and in all weather conditions, and lift up to 50lbs,
• Excellent understanding of habitats of plants and animals,
• A valid Class 5 Driver’s License,
• High school diploma or equivalent,
• 1-2 years of similar work experience,
• Ability to work in a team setting, accept responsibility, and work to deadlines,
• Willing to work evenings and weekends as needed, and
• Willingness to travel for up to five days at a time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Considered Assets

Based on the qualifications, experience and assets of the successful applicant, we will assign a level (1-4), some of the assets that will be considered are:

• Degree, diploma, or certificate in Natural Resources or Guardianship,
• Good understanding of Indigenous Guardian programs,
• Technical experience in sampling, monitoring, and research,
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software,
• Wilderness safety and survival skills,
• Knowledge of the nłeʔképmx territory,
• Self-motivated and can work on their own without supervision,
• Sound understanding of safety and compliance monitoring,
• Strong level of written and verbal communication skills,
• Recognize and respect cultural diversity, have experience working with local Indigenous people and have knowledge of culture and traditions,
• Knowledge of nłeʔképmx protocols for hunting, fishing, and gathering,
• Respect for Indigenous and Western knowledge systems,
• Familiar with environmental issues, and
• Certifications such as:

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• ATV/UTV
• Chainsaw
• S100-S185
• First Aid
• Bear Aware
• Snowmobile
• COS Land Guardian 101
• Wilderness/ Remote First Aid

Work Environment

• Schedule: Weekly schedules are posted due to the fluctuating nature of office-based and field-based work. Evening, overnight, and weekend work may be required depending on operational needs, project requirements, emergency response activities, and seasonal priorities. On average, 40 hours per week,
• Overtime: All daily overtime over 8 hours will be banked at 1.5x, all hours over 12 will be banked at 2x,
• Reporting Office Location: Office work will be conducted from the CNA office at 2025 Granite Ave, Merritt BC, with the expectation of field work as needed,
• Vacation: 2 weeks paid vacation (10 working days), accrued at 0.84 per month,
• Winter Break: 2 weeks paid (max 10 working days),
• Benefits: 50% benefit premiums paid by employer,
• Pension: Pension matching (percentage increasing with years of service), and
• Personal and Professional Development: As part of total compensation, we supply full-time permanent employees with the means to advance their skills and education.

We will provide training and professional development to support the right candidate. We believe in growth and curiosity. If you have some of these qualities and believe you would be of value to our organization, then we want to hear from you!

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The Citxw Nlaka'pamux Assembly is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and are committed to building a respectful and inclusive workplace that reflects the community we serve. This position is open to all candidates who meet the qualifications. A hiring preference will apply for qualified candidates of Canadian Indigenous ancestry, with a priority for qualified nłeʔkepmx candidates.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Your application to this posting is deemed to be your consent to the collection, use and necessary disclosure of personal information for the purposes of recruitment. Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly respects the privacy of all applicants and the confidentiality of personal information.