Director, Mawlugutinej Mental Wellness Team 

Employment Opportunity
Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation
Competition # 2024-MW-02

Position: Director, Mawlugutinej Mental Wellness Team
Term: Two-year fixed term with possibility of extension
Salary: $95,000 - $110,000 dependant on education and experience

Position Summary

The Director of the Mawlugutinej Mental Wellness Team provides critical leadership in maintaining the team as a leading Indigenous mental wellness entity that blends Indigenous and Western best practices to deliver quality, trauma informed and culturally safe mental health services utilizing Etuaptmumk. The Director is responsible for overseeing the administration, service delivery and strategic plan of the organization as well as maintaining programs and partnerships in a way that maximizes access to mental health services of our partner communities. Other key duties include fundraising, community advocacy, community outreach and program development.

About the Team

Formed in 2020, the Mawlugutinej Mental Wellness Team is an Indigenous-led, community-based team that provides mental health and addictions support and services to five partner Mi'kmaq communities: Natoaganeg (Eel Ground), Metepenagiag (Red Bank), Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church), Pabineau and Ugpi'ganjig (Eel River Bar). Mawlugutinej operates as a program of Natoaganeg First Nation. The program direction is governed by an Executive Committee that is represented by the five Mi'kmaq partner communities, and an Advisory Board consisting of representatives from Horizon Health Network, VitaliteNB, Indigenous Services Canada and the Rising Sun Treatment Centre to ensure a culturally safe approach to service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Works effectively with the Executive Committee and staff to ensure that the mission is fulfilled through implementation of programs and services, strategic plan commitments and community outreach; maintaining positive and equitable relationships with partner communities that meets their unique needs.
• Manages the Mawlugutinej Mental Wellness Team in a manner that supports and guides the organization's mandate, policies, and procedures and upholds the credibility of the agency.
• Builds strong communications channels between various programs and service providers and the Executive Committee.
• Performs financial functions such as securing funding and resources through proposal submissions, preparing quarterly budget updates and the annual operational budget, meeting all financial reporting requirements, and ensuring optimal resource utilization.
• Engages in strategic planning to ensure that the agency's objectives and success indicators are met.
• Enhances the agency's image and reputation by being active and visible in the community and by collaborating closely with communities served, collaborating with key stakeholders including local, provincial, and national teams who are potential partners.
• Builds a strong team by recruiting culturally safe and competent staff, providing supervision and mentorship, completing annual performance appraisals and providing professional development opportunities, as well as ensuring staff adherence to agency policies, administrative procedures, and standards of practice from professional associations.
• Develops staff schedules, plans regular staff meetings/debriefing sessions, and ensures staff are equipped with the of tools necessary to adequately provide services to communities.
• Maintains responsibility to endorse all notes, agreements, and other instruments made and entered into and on behalf of the organization.
• Supports capacity building in community crisis response in five partner communities.
• Leads the development and implementation of culturally responsive mental wellness services in collaboration with communities' unique needs.
• Ensures optimal service integration within the communities serviced, adding, or restructuring as necessary to meet the needs of the communities.
• Engages in agency public relations and a communication strategy (ie: attending community events, partnering with outside agencies)
• Upholds regular communication with each partner community health team through the implementation of monthly or bi-monthly 'Healing Team' meetings held in conjunction with each community health director - provision of agenda and minutes required.
• Utilizes principles of risk management to ensure that the agency is evolving, meeting the community needs and is sustainable.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree related to mental health (Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Nursing) with 5 years of relevant management experience. (A master's degree would be considered an asset.)
• Espouses Indigenous cultural safety with a demonstrated understanding of Indigenous worldviews as well as Indigenous ways of knowing and being
• Experience working with First Nation communities in a health or wellness related capacity. (Experience working for an Indigenous Organization considered an asset.)
• Prior experience administering land-based program and other forms of Indigenous healing practices considered an asset.
• Experience in mental health and addiction services.
• Experience providing clinical supervision.
• Experience with a Board of Directors or other governance-related structures.
• Prior business or public administration training is considered an asset.

Required Competencies

• Strong work ethic with a high degree of energy.
• Action-oriented, innovative, and self-directed.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with diverse groups of people.
• Solid organizational abilities, including planning, delegating, program development and task facilitation.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting.
• Demonstrated capacity and experience in strategic thinking and planning.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and direct a team.
• Effective written and spoken communication skills, including comfort and experience with public speaking and meeting facilitation.
• Demonstrated ability to raise revenue and to maintain positive relationships with funders.

Additional Requirements

• Driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Must successfully pass criminal record check and vulnerable sector screening.
• Must be a member in good standing of regulated professional association.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours to meet the operational needs of the program.

Those interested in applying are asked to submit a cover letter and resume demonstrating the required qualifications and competencies for the position. Three references will be required. Please clearly reference Competition # 2024-MW-02 and forward to [email protected] on or before November 27th, 2024, at 4:00 pm.

While we thank all who have applied, only those selected for interview will be contacted.