Director, Indigenous Relations

Determined imaginative curiousif these are some of the ways you describe yourself we want to learn more about you!

At TC Energy we are proud to connect the world to the energy it needs. Guided by our values of safety in every step personal accountability one team and active learning we deliver the critical energy that North America and the world rely on while balancing reliability affordability and sustainability.

The Opportunity

The Director Indigenous Relations is responsible and accountable for providing leadership and setting strategy to grow and sustain support from Indigenous groups for TC Energys projects and operations. Reporting to the Vice President External Relations Canada the Director Indigenous Relations is a key owner of one of TC Energys most material business opportunities in Canada and is critical to enabling project execution regulatory approvals and ongoing operations.

This role oversees a team of approximately 20 professionals including 4 direct reports who manage relationships consult on projects maximize Indigenous hiring and business opportunities contribute to regulatory filings and maintain early honest and continuous communications. The Director also leads Indigenous Relations governance across North America participates in the Indigenous Advisory Committee to the Executive Leadership Team and collaborates closely with Canadian business units and executives on public relations and cultural awareness initiatives.

Reporting to the Vice President External Relations Canada the Director Indigenous Relations is responsible and accountable for providing leadership and setting strategy to grow and sustain support from Indigenous groups for TC Energys projects and operations. This role is a key owner of one of TC Energys most material business opportunities in Canada and is critical to enabling project execution regulatory approvals and ongoing operations.

The Director will lead and motivate a team of field-based engagement professionals from British Columbia to Quebec and build mutually beneficial relationships partnerships and agreements with Indigenous communities and groups.

The Director will have four (4) direct reports that lead a team of approximately 20 Indigenous Relations professionals who:

• Manage relationships with Indigenous communities.
• Consult on projects.
• Maximize hiring and business opportunities for local Indigenous communities.
• Contribute to regulatory filings for projects and operations.
• Maintain early honest and continuous communications.

The Director is responsible for Indigenous Relations governance across North America; however teams in the United States and Mexico report through their respective Vice addition the Director is responsible for the Indigenous Advisory Committee which directly advises the Executive Leadership Team.

The Director works closely with the Canada Gas and Power & Energy Solutions Business Units particularly Environment Land and Regulatory Operations Projects and Commercial.

The leader will also be responsible for supporting TC executives with public relations and internal cultural awareness programs.

What Youll Do

• Provide strategic leadership for Indigenous Relations in Canada ensuring that Indigenous-related risks are understood proactively managed and integrated into TC Energys enterprise risk framework and business planning.
• Translate TC Energys corporate and business unit strategies into clear Indigenous engagement consultation and partnership plans that enable regulatory approvals land access and safe reliable operations.
• Lead mentor and continue to build a high-performing team of field-based engagement professionals technical experts and business analysts across Canada to provide timely coordinated and commercially minded support to Business Units and functional groups.
• Directly lead complex high-value negotiations with Indigenous communities and organizations in both unceded and treaty areas delivering durable agreements that balance Indigenous interests with TC Energys long-term business objectives.
• Oversee the Indigenous components of project development and operations including consultation accommodation and related regulatory filings and documentation; hold overall accountability for the completion of substantive accurate and defensible regulatory records.
• Act as a senior policy and issues-management advisor on Indigenous matters to executives and senior leaders regularly briefing them on emerging trends court decisions policy changes and political developments that could materially affect TC Energys projects and operations.
• Provide governance and oversight for Indigenous Relations frameworks and standards across North America working closely with Indigenous Relations teams in the United States and Mexico through their respective Vice Presidents.
• Serve as the key internal liaison to the Indigenous Advisory Committee ensuring its advice is integrated into executive decision-making and that feedback is looped back to Indigenous communities.
• Seek out and build mutually beneficial long-term relationships between Indigenous Peoples and TC Energy including partnerships that support Indigenous employment business participation training and economic ownership where appropriate.
• Ensure TC Energy follows through on commitments and plans including those contained in agreements with Indigenous communities and in the companys Reconciliation Action Plan in a way that is aligned with business priorities and schedules.
• Mitigate risk by proactively planning for potential issues leading early engagement and providing crisis and issues management support to the company and to Indigenous communities as required.
• Oversee tracking and reporting of commitments agreements and performance metrics; develop regular reports on progress toward Indigenous Relations objectives and obligations for senior leadership and where appropriate Boards and regulators.
• Provide guidance and direction to internal and external legal counsel supporting Indigenous Relations including agreement development implementation dispute resolution and related regulatory processes.
• Act as a visible TC Energy representative in industry Indigenous and government forums to share and adopt best practices shape policy discussions and enhance TC Energys reputation as a trusted partner.
• Develop and manage budgets and resource allocations for Indigenous Relations; prepare briefing notes and recommendations to senior management regarding resourcing investments and trade-offs.
• Support TC Energy executives with public relations internal cultural awareness and training programs related to Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Relations.
• Other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in business law public policy Indigenous studies or a related discipline; a combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum 10 years progressive experience in a complex regulated business environment (e.g. energy infrastructure natural resources) with substantial time spent in Indigenous Relations stakeholder engagement land legal or commercial roles.
• Significant direct experience working with Indigenous communities governments and organizations in Canada including negotiating and implementing complex agreements and managing long-term relationships.
• Strong knowledge of federal and provincial regulatory processes and consultation guidelines in Canada with familiarity with equivalent frameworks in the United States and Mexico.
• Deep understanding of Indigenous rights and interests in Canada including Section 35 of the Constitution Act the Duty to Consult and Accommodate UNDRIP TRC Calls to Action and evolving Aboriginal law/jurisprudence.
• Demonstrated ability to assess and manage Indigenous-related risks that materially affect project schedules capital allocation regulatory approvals and ongoing operations.
• Proven people-leadership skills including leading geographically dispersed high-performing teams fostering accountability for results and supporting professional growth and succession.
• Track record of working effectively with senior executives and Boards on complex high-profile issues; able to distill complexity into clear options and recommendations.
• Strong negotiation facilitation and diplomacy skills with the ability to find practical solutions in situations of high ambiguity competing interests and public scrutiny.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills including the ability to prepare compelling briefing materials and present confidently to Indigenous leadership community members executives regulators and public forums.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across functions (Environment Land Regulatory Legal Projects Operations Commercial Communications) to align Indigenous strategies with business needs and timelines.
• High level of business acumen; results-oriented with a record of developing strategies and being accountable for delivering on commitments.
• Ability to manage emerging and unpredictable events in a time-sensitive and constructive manner exercising sound judgment on when to decide and when to escalate.
• High energy resilience and the ability to work in a dynamic and diverse team environment

Additional Requirements

• The role is based in Canada under a hybrid work policy with an expected three (3) days a week in the TC Energy headquarters in Calgary Alberta.
• There is frequent travel to Indigenous communities and TC Energy offices across Canada and occasional travel to the United States and Mexico.
• The successful candidate must have the ability to work irregular hours at times including evenings and weekends to attend community meetings ceremonies and urgent engagements as required.
• The successful candidate must possess a valid drivers license and ability to meet site facility and community access requirements (including safety and security clearances where applicable).

Salary Range: $250-275K

For more details or questions please contact:

Laurie Sterritt Managing Partner

1.778.838.4569

Terra MacPhail Senior Consultant

1.416.712.7407

About our business

We are a leader in North American energy infrastructure spanning Canada the U.S. and Mexico. Every day our dedicated team proudly connects the world to the energy it needsmoving over 30 per cent of the cleaner-burning natural gas used across the continent. Complemented by strategic ownership and low-risk investments in power generation our infrastructure fuels industries and generates affordable reliable and sustainable power across North America while enabling LNG exports to global markets.

TC Energy is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the US government. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race religion age sex color national origin sexual orientation gender identity veteran status or disability. We are also committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process. Applicants requiring accommodations or accessible formats are encouraged to contact us at for support.

All applicants must have legal authorization to work in the country where the position is based without restrictions. Background screening is required for all positions which may include criminal and/or credit checks. Offers may be extended at a different level or job title that best aligns with the successful candidates qualifications.

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Thank you for considering TC Energy in your career journey.