Executive Director

Fort St. John and Treaty 8 Genealogical Society

Reports to: Board of Directors

Position Overview:The Executive Director (ED) is the operational and strategic leader of the Fort St. John and Treaty 8 Genealogical Society. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED advances the Society’s mission to collect, preserve, and publicize the heritage of Fort St. John and Treaty 8 residents. Through education, research, and community engagement, the ED fosters appreciation of local heritage and equips individuals with the tools, resources, and skills to research, preserve, and share their family histories using both traditional and modern genealogical methods. The role provides overall leadership for programs, operations, fundraising, community partnerships, and organizational sustainability in northeastern British Columbia’s Peace River / Treaty 8 region.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Governance

  • Work closely with the Board to develop, implement, and evaluate strategic plans that fulfill the Society’s mission.
  • Serve as the primary liaison between the Board, members, volunteers, staff, and external partners; prepare reports and attend Board and committee meetings.
  • Ensure organizational policies, procedures, and compliance with nonprofit regulations are maintained.

Program Development & Delivery

  • Design, oversee, and evaluate educational programs, workshops, research support services, and community engagement initiatives that build genealogical skills and foster appreciation of Fort St. John and Treaty 8 heritage.
  • Support collection, preservation, and publicizing of local historical and genealogical materials (including traditional and digital methods).
  • Promote access to tools and resources that help individuals research, preserve, and share family histories.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with Treaty 8 First Nations, local residents, historical societies, libraries, archives, museums, educational institutions, and other community organizations.
  • Act as the public face and spokesperson of the Society; represent it at events, meetings, and in media.
  • Grow membership and volunteer involvement through outreach and inclusive programming.

Fundraising, Finance & Operations

  • Lead fundraising efforts, including grants, donations, memberships, events, and sponsorships, to ensure financial sustainability.
  • Develop and manage the annual budget in collaboration with the Board/Treasurer; oversee financial reporting, bookkeeping, and fiscal integrity.
  • Manage day-to-day operations, including administrative systems, communications (website, social media, newsletters), and any facilities or collections under the Society’s care.
  • Recruit, train, supervise, and support staff and volunteers as resources allow.

Qualifications Required

  • Demonstrated leadership experience in a nonprofit, heritage, museum, library, archival, educational, or community organization (typically 3+ years).
  • Strong understanding of, or willingness to quickly develop expertise in, genealogical research methods (traditional and modern/digital) and local/regional heritage.
  • Proven skills in strategic planning, program development, community engagement, and relationship-building.
  • Experience with budgeting, fundraising, and grant writing.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, including Indigenous communities, and to operate effectively in a small-organization or resource-limited environment.
  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (history, genealogy, museum/archival studies, nonprofit management, education, or related) or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred

  • Knowledge of northeastern British Columbia, Fort St. John, and/or Treaty 8 history and communities.
  • Experience working with or alongside First Nations or in reconciliation/heritage contexts.
  • Familiarity with collections management, digitization, or public history best practices.
  • Prior experience supervising staff or coordinating volunteers.
  • Grant writing success and membership development experience.

 

Additional Notes

This position requires flexibility, including evenings or weekends for events and programs on occasion. Location is in Fort St. John, B.C. This is a part-time position with an hourly wage base of $32.40 an hour. Please submit resumes to admin@fsjgs.com by October 24, 2026