Director Of People, Culture, & Operations - Remote Eligible

Director Of People, Culture, & Operations

People, Culture, & Operations Department

(Indigenous applicants preferred)

Job term: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract Start: December 2025

Location: Canada remote, with occasional in-person obligations and travel (must reside within Canada to be eligible for consideration)

Founded in 2008, Indigenous Youth Roots (IYR), formerly CRE, is a national Indigenous youth-led organization. We envision a future where Indigenous youth are empowered and connected as dynamic leaders in vibrant and thriving communities. We collaborate with communities to provide programs, grants and opportunities that are grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and being and designed to strengthen and amplify the voices of Indigenous youth. Centering Indigenous youth perspectives, we have seven deeply held principles that guide us in our work and the way in which we relate to each other:

• Reciprocity
• Innovation
• Accountability
• Reclamation
• Advocacy
• Resurgence
• Solidarity

IYR is a workplace that puts its employees and community first. We are a living wage employer and believe in prioritizing a healthy work-life balance. We provide opportunities for flexible working hours, time off for ceremony and other life responsibilities, and we actively respond to the accessibility needs of those who work with us. We are a results-oriented working environment, choosing to focus on achieving objectives, rather than promoting the status quo.

Your Impact

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of People, Culture & Operations is responsible for building a values-driven, people-first organization grounded in Indigenous leadership and relational accountability. This role co-leads the organizational cultural transformation with this role focused on organizational systems, staff culture, and operational infrastructure that support strategic change and internal capacity-building. The Director fosters an environment of continuous improvement, empowering staff through culturally grounded change processes, human-centered HR practices, and effective systems that reflect IYR's guiding principles.

Summary of Duties & Responsibilities

Organizational Transformation:

• Work alongside the Director of Relational Accountability and Transformation Hub to strategically design, implement, and operationalize the organizations change management practices and processes.
• Co-lead the design of intentional change management processes across IYR.
• Co-develop and maintain a change management framework adapted to Indigenous cultural contexts and IYR's principles.
• Support departments in building capacity for adaptive leadership, decision-making, and cross-team collaboration.
• Oversee the facilitation of staff engagement in change processes, including readiness assessments, feedback loops, and knowledge sharing.

Human Resources Practices:

• Reduce barriers and bureaucracy in HR policies, employment practices, and staff relations to empower employee decision making and improve accessibility.
• Embed learning, growth, and leadership development opportunities into HR systems and organizational practices.
• Integrate people empowerment into all HR practices to strengthen organizational transformation towards a place of accountability, innovation, motivation, employee engagement, & commitment.
• Lead strategic workforce planning to align roles, capabilities, and structure with the organization's evolving strategy.

Risk Management & Legal Compliance:

• Monitor and report on operational risks, mitigation strategies, and compliance obligations.
• Keep up to date with changing legislation to update organizational practices to maintain compliance in a changing environment.
• Implement proactive risk mitigation strategies when able.
• Support the organization in developing emergency response protocols and business continuity plans relating to operational activities and staff succession planning.

Operations & Systems Management:

• Oversee the Operations and Technology functions of the organization to ensure systems that are accessible, impactful, and financially accountable to achieve the organizations wider pursuits.
• Work with the Operations Manager to identify gaps in tools, SOPs, & workflows and co-lead structured improvements using participatory and iterative approaches.
• Maintain an internal knowledge base for SOPs, staff onboarding, and organizational practices that support change sustainability.
• Maintain accurate records, files, and documentation to support reporting and organizational accountability.
• Manage vendor contracts, insurance coverage, office lease obligations, organizational assets.
• Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration on shared operational needs and projects.

Cultural Stewardship:

• Lead the People, Culture & Operations team with humility, respect, reciprocity, and accountability.
• Apply cultural safety and trauma-informed practices to all policies, procedures, and organizational practices.
• Foster trust-based relationships that support staff wellbeing and organizational culture and belonging.
• Act as a cultural ambassador for the organization, ensuring practices and operations align with our guiding principles and cultural ways of knowing and being.
• Represent IYR with external stakeholders, partners, and community organizations as required.

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Build a culture of shared leadership by mentoring managers and team leads in relational accountability and adaptive change practices.
• Facilitate learning cycles within teams to foster reflection, feedback, and course-correction.
• Participate actively as a member of the IYR Directors Circle, contributing to unified, principled decision-making and modeling values-based leadership in alignment with IYR's guiding principles and leadership commitments.
• Regularly assess and recommend adjustments to the organization's procedures and policies to ensure the organization stays current and relevant in a rapidly changing environment.
• Hold accountability for team performance, goal achievement, and organizational alignment.
• Supervise and support departmental staff, providing direction, training, mentorship, and performance management.

Community Engagement:

• Promote a collaborative, transparent, and accountable organizational culture that reflects IYR's values.
• Participate actively in staff meetings, working groups, and committees to advance organizational goals.
• Uphold and promote the organization's cultural values and guiding principles in all workplace practices.
• Engage with the Indigenous community and support initiatives that strengthen relationships and collaboration.

Health, Safety, and Wellness:

• Carry out your duties in a manner that does not adversely affect your own health and safety or that of others by reporting all potential hazards, all incidents, and injuries.
• Co-operate, support, and engage with any measures introduced in the workplace to improve occupational health & safety.

Other:

• Maintain high ethical standards and demonstrate integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness in all endeavors and communications.
• Support and participate in all IYR staff, department, and team meetings.
• Participate in external and internal committees, working groups, or projects as required.
• Undertake other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 7 or more years' of progressive experience in a management capacity
• 3 or more years' experience in a senior leadership capacity
• 5 or more years' of experience in human resource management leadership
• 3 or more years' of experience in operations or systems management
• 3 or more years' in organizational change / development is an asset
• Certification in Change Management, Organizational Development, or Strategic HR is an asset
• Proven experience leading organizational change, including the use of frameworks such as ADKAR, Kotter, or Indigenous-led models.
• Experience in designing and implementing capacity-building initiatives and staff development strategies.
• Strong understanding of organizational culture, systems thinking, and people-centered change.
• Experience working in values-based, Indigenous-led, or trauma-informed organizations.
• Certification or post-secondary education in related fields an asset
• Experience working with Indigenous youth communities an asset
• Strong administrative experience, with the ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Proven written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with a high attention to detail.