CNA - nłeʔképmx Land Guardian (Valley)

Open Postings - Citxw Nlaka'pamux AssemblyFull TimeMerritt, BC$50,000 - $58,000 CAD per year

Citxw Nlaka'pamux Assembly

nłeʔképmx Land Guardian (Valley)

Job Title: nłeʔképmx Land Guardian
Reports To: nłeʔképmx Land Guardian Crew Lead
Term: Full-time, Permanent
Compensation: $50,000.00 - $58,000.00 annually
Start Date: As soon as a suitable candidate is found
Closing Date: May 1st, 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 plays a key role in supporting community wellbeing during times of emergency and crisis. This includes responding to land and climate-related emergencies such as wildfire, flooding, and drought, as well as providing grounded, respectful support during periods of multiple losses or heightened community need. The Guardian acts as a visible, trusted presence on the land and within communities, responding to changing priorities with care, flexibility, and accountability.

Primary Duties

  • Monitor and demonstrate a presence on lands and waters,
  • Work with land users on Guardians policies, procedures, and safety protocols, while ensuring they are understood and followed,
  • Monitor and track project activities; ensure accountability of all policies, procedures, and safety and cultural protocols,
  • Integrate local and nłeʔképmx knowledge to aid in land and water stewardship, 
  • Build relationships with and educate other resource users about key stewardship and management issues,
  • Participate in emergency and community crisis response as needed, including land-based emergencies (fire, flood, drought), multiple-loss events, and other urgent community situations, providing on-the-ground support, coordination, and monitoring,
  • Act as a land-based support presence during emergencies and community crises, including fire, flood, drought, and other urgent events impacting nłeʔképmx communities, responding flexibly to evolving priorities and community needs, and
  • Other ad hoc duties as assigned by the nłeʔképmx Land Guardian Crew Lead.

Mandatory Requirements

  • 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,
  • Certifications:
    • S100,
    • S185,
    • First Aid, and
    • Chainsaw Safety,
  • Ability to work in a team setting, accept responsibility, and work to deadlines,
  • Willingness to complete a background check,
  • 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:
    • ATV/UTV
    • Bear Aware
    • Snowmobile
    • COS Land Guardian 101
    • Wilderness/Remote First Aid

Work Environment

  • Schedule: Weekly schedule is posted due to fluctuating office-work and field-work hours, with some weekend work required 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,
  • Vacation: 2 weeks paid vacation (10 working days), accrued at 0.84 per month,
  • Winter Break: up to 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.