Director, Indigenous Relations, Pacific Link (Calgary or Vancouver)

Trans Mountain Corporation operates Canada’s only pipeline system transporting oil products to the West Coast. We deliver approximately 890,000 barrels of petroleum products each day through a dual pipeline system of more than 1,150 kilometres of pipeline in Alberta, British Columbia and Washington state.

Trans Mountain also operates a state-of-the-art loading facility, Westridge Marine Terminal, with three berths providing tidewater access to global markets.  

As a federal Crown corporation, Trans Mountain continues to build on more than 70 years of experience delivering operational and safety excellence through our crude oil pipeline system. 

With our expanded pipeline system now in place, Trans Mountain provides enhanced direct access for Canadian crude oil to world markets. The expansion realizes a world-class system for oil transport, developed to Canada’s high standards within one of the most stringent regulatory regimes in the world, creating long-term economic benefits, enhanced marine protection, enhanced safety and emergency management capabilities, and enhanced skilled-worker capacity building in communities and Indigenous groups.

Our Core Values

Trans Mountain’s core values – Safety, Integrity, Respect and Excellence – guide our every step. Each obstacle we’ve overcome or success we’ve experienced has been the result of a shared commitment to living these values every day. Together, we’re focused on doing the right thing for each other and our communities. If you are looking for an opportunity to apply your strengths in an environment that encourages Safety, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence, we invite you to explore this opportunity with us!

Location: Calgary or Vancouver

Department: Indigenous Relations, Pacific Link

Reports to: Vice President, External Relations and Indigenous Relations, Pacific Link                   

Worker Type: Employee    

Schedule Type: Full-time  

Trans Mountain is seeking a collaborative, motivated, and values driven individual to join our dynamic team as a Director, Indigenous Relations, Pacific Link. Reporting to the Vice President, External Relations and Indigenous Relations, Pacific Link, the Director is responsible for establishing and maintaining trusted relationships with at least 134 communities impacted by the Project.

In this position, you will play a key role in providing leadership and delivery of Pacific Link’s Indigenous Relations program, including support for and implementation of an engagement program, a framework for Indigenous economic participation, and a framework for Indigenous partnership opportunities on the project including Impact Benefit Agreements. The successful candidate will inform executive and governance decisions on material projects, regulatory, commercial and reputational matters and drives assurance, risk management, commitment fulfilment and measurable partnership outcomes. This position offers the opportunity to build and steward enduring Indigenous relationships and strategic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Engagement Strategy and Business Alignment

• Lead the team in an engagement strategy that recognizes the distinct rights, interests and relationships of all Indigenous communities impacted by the Project.
• Develop the Indigenous Relations engagement strategy and roadmap in a complex and highly regulated environment, lead implementation and adjust priorities based on project milestones and objectives and external conditions.
• Collaborate with Pacific Link Directors and functional leaders across Project Delivery, Regulatory and Environment, Legal, Commercial, Supply Chain, Human Resources, External and Government Relations, Finance, Risk and Operations to integrate Indigenous rights, interests, commitments and participation objectives into project and business decisions.
• Advise senior leaders on Indigenous Relations engagement options, risks and implications, translating approved direction into clear functional priorities and accountabilities.
• Build trusted partnerships that support meaningful participation and mutually beneficial outcomes while respecting each Nation's rights, governance, culture and priorities.
• Monitor external trends and emerging regional issues, represent Pacific Link in relevant industry and Indigenous forums, and inform coordinated advocacy and response strategies.

Indigenous Partnerships

• Supports the development of and implements programs for Indigenous communities to meaningfully participate in the Project, inclusive of Indigenous procurement, employment, skills training, Indigenous monitoring and environmental and cultural input;
• Supports the development of opportunities for Indigenous communities to acquire a meaningful equity interest in the Project at a minimum of 10 per cent;
• Develop structures to address equity eligibility and allocation, valuation, financing and governance.
• Develops and implements an Impact Benefit Agreement framework for Indigenous communities who may be impacted by the Project.
• Develop negotiation strategies in a complex environment with communities with different interests;
• Lead or oversee complex negotiations, establishing objectives, parameters and escalation points with Legal, Commercial and project leadership;
• Collaborate with commercial and legal teams on partnership objectives and to ensure programs are commercially robust, legally sound, sustainable and capable of being implemented at scale.

Consultation, Negotiation and Agreement Stewardship

• Govern Indigenous agreements and commitments by assigning obligations, integrating them into plans and budgets, monitoring delivery and addressing material gaps.
• Maintain complete, defensible engagement, consultation and commitment records to support regulatory proceedings, assurance and legal readiness.

Partner Governance and Decision Support

• Represent Indigenous Relations in partner and executive governance forums, providing clear recommendations, decision requirements and accountabilities.
• Align owners, partners and Trans Mountain counterparts on engagement protocols, negotiation mandates, commitments, decision rights and escalation pathways.
• Provide concise decision materials and portfolio reporting that clarify options, consequences, residual risks and accountable owners.

Risk, Assurance and Issue Management

• Maintain an integrated view of Indigenous Relations risks and lead coordinated mitigation and resolution strategies across project functions.
• Lead responses to significant disputes and emerging issues, escalating matters with material legal, commercial, regulatory, partner or reputational implications.
• Provide functional assurance at key project and regulatory milestones and align Indigenous-related external communications with approved strategy and relationship objectives.

Portfolio Performance and Assurance

• Monitor portfolio performance through clear measures covering relationships, consultation, agreements, participation, risk and functional capacity.
• Oversee Indigenous Relations policies, systems and reporting, including cultural awareness initiatives and the transition of relationships, agreements and commitments into operations.

Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness

• Build and lead a high-performing Indigenous Relations function, defining the organizational structure, roles, accountabilities, performance expectations and delegated decision rights required to deliver portfolio priorities.
• Develop team capability and oversee external advisors, resources and budgets to ensure the function has the capacity and expertise required for effective delivery.
• Establish governance and ways of working that strengthen coordination, accountability and execution across the Indigenous Relations function and broader Pacific Link project teams.

Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Post-secondary education in Indigenous Studies, Business, Public Administration, Law, Political Science, Communications or a related discipline; a graduate degree in Public Policy, Indigenous Governance, Business or Law is an asset or related discipline.
• Minimum of 20 years of progressive experience in Indigenous Relations, consultation, major project development, regulatory affairs, community relations or strategic partnerships.
• Minimum of 8 years of senior leadership experience with accountability for a material portfolio, function or region.
• Demonstrated experience and proven ability in developing an Indigenous Relations strategy for endorsement and leading its implementation and performance in a major infrastructure, energy, natural resources or other highly regulated environment.
• Experience building respectful, durable relationships with Indigenous Nations, leadership, communities, governing bodies, organizations and businesses, preferably in British Columbia and Alberta.
• Proven ability of leading complex negotiations and agreements, advising executives and governance bodies, and operating within established decision mandates in partnership or multi-owner environments.
• Strong understanding of Indigenous rights, title, treaties, governance and consultation requirements in Canada, including Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and applicable federal and provincial legal and policy frameworks.
• Strong understanding of business, financial, commercial and governance acumen, including budgets, resource deployment, partner obligations, decision rights, commitments and performance reporting.
• Proficiency in advanced negotiation, facilitation, conflict-resolution, executive communication and public representation capabilities, with the cultural awareness and judgment to lead multidisciplinary teams and external advisors in complex environments.
• A track record of delivering high‑quality work, managing competing priorities, and supporting key business processes or operational functions.

Working Conditions

• Ability to travel regularly across the Pacific Link project area, including travel to remote communities.
• May need to provide support outside of regular business hours and/or on the weekend.

At Trans Mountain, we believe in an inclusive, accessible, and barrier free recruitment and selection process for all applicants. If you require an accommodation at any point in the process, please contact us at: Talent@transmountain.com or the designated Talent Acquisition Advisor. Accommodation requests will not affect the assessment of your application or candidacy or the designated Talent Acquisition Advisor. Accommodation requests will not affect the assessment of your application or candidacy.

We Build Careers and Pipelines That Last

Our story is about determination, resourcefulness and resilience. It’s about charting our own course, finding innovative solutions to challenging problems and doing the right thing. It was true when Trans Mountain became a company in 1951 and it’s just as true today. We welcome new members to our team that embrace the qualities in our story, that thrive on the new path and directions we take.  Our culture is one of care and taking our responsibilities seriously. If you would like to contribute to our culture, then join our journey.

A Rewarding Opportunity

We offer:

• Valuable experience providing opportunity for professional development and career advancement;
• An opportunity to engage with and learn from some of the most talented and experienced people in the business;
• Competitive compensation;
• Comprehensive benefits programs including flexible benefits, pension and savings plans;
• A place to share a sense of purpose and build relationships;
• Meaningful work that makes a difference;
• An opportunity within the Canadian energy industry.

We value:

• The health, safety and wellness of everyone working in our company;
• Meaningful participation from Indigenous and local communities;
• The commitment and resilience of our people;
• Collaboration and achieving success together. 

In keeping with Trans Mountain’s commitment to maximize benefits for communities, priority will be given to qualified candidates from Indigenous, local and regional communities along the Trans Mountain pipeline corridor.

In Alberta, the pipeline system spans the traditional territories of Treaty 6, 7 and 8, and the Métis Nation of Alberta (Zone 4).

In British Columbia, the system crosses the traditional territories of numerous First Nations that are affiliated with the Secwepemc, Dakelh (Carrier), Nlaka'pamux, Syilx/Okanagan, Interior and Coast Salish, Stó:lo, as well as the Métis.

Trans Mountain also operates through 15 First Nation Reserves located within the region spanning the BC interior through Fraser Valley.

Our Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)

Trans Mountain is committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.  The diverse viewpoints and cultural knowledge that our employees bring to work enrich our organization’s collective cultural understanding, which is reflected in the work we do every day.  We strive to create an environment that is free of barriers to promote full participation in the workplace. Trans Mountain welcomes new team members from traditionally underrepresented groups, including but not limited to women, Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.