Visitor Experience Manager

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

Duties

This is an exciting opportunity to be the first Visitor Experience (VE) Manager for Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. This position will develop and manage the visitor experience program and products. This will be no small task, requiring someone who is an innovator and self starter, with experience in tourism/visitor experience, a solid understanding of Parks Canada, and the ability to work collaboratively with others.

Visitor experience includes: facilities, programs and services, tourism relations, interpretation programs, pricing, promotion, advertising, product development and marketing. The VE Manager will need to take a client/visitor and market/business centred approach to ensure visitor satisfaction, enjoyment and connection to place. They will assist partners and stakeholders in building their offers to contribute to the learning, enjoyment and appreciation of the national park reserve by visitors.

Visitation in Thaidene Nene is a mix of self-guided visitors (primarily boat based), guided visitors (cultural tours, boat tours, multi-day canoe trips, etc.) and fishing lodge clients. The Visitor Experience Manager will be responsible for developing programs, services and products to support all types of visitation.

The VE Manager will among other duties:
• Provide support to our Indigenous partners (Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Deninu K’ue First Nation and Yellowknives Dene First Nation) about tourism strategies, and visitor products and offers.
• Collaborate with staff from the adjacent Territorial Protected Area.
• Collaborate with Indigenous partners, the NWT tourism industry, current tourism businesses and aspiring outfitters.
• Be responsible for tourism marketing; pricing; the interpretation program; and visitor experience products, plans, standards and tools.
• Be part of the park’s emergency response team that responds to search and rescue and medical incidents as required.

In the long term, the VE Manager will have a small team of staff; the team will build slowly over time. The team will offer programming to school children and community groups, and support outreach programming. In the short term the focus will be on building the overall framework for visitor experience, including drafting the Visitor Experience Strategy, running the visitor registration program and other immediate needs (e.g., visitor orientation).

The VE Manager will succeed in this role by working closely with Indigenous partners, the tourism industry, colleagues and stakeholders. You need to be a leader who personally connects with people, makes things happen, exercises sound judgement, strives for excellence and ensures thoroughness.

Work environment

The boreal forest and Barrenlands converge in a stunning combination of lake, forest, river and plain in Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. The 14,305km2 park includes part of the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, innumerable smaller lakes. The Park Reserve is a culturally rich area. It includes hunting, fishing, gathering and spiritual areas used by Indigenous peoples. For the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation, Thaidene Nëné is the heart of their homeland and a sacred place. Thaidene Nëné means ‘Land of the Ancestors’ in Dënesųłiné Yati. The Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Deninu K’ue First Nation and Yellowknives Dene First Nation also have traditional and cultural ties to the area. Parks Canada works with these four Indigenous partners to manage Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve.

Parks Canada, along with its Indigenous partners are just starting to build operations for this park. The park office is located in Łutsël K’é, Northwest Territories. For the next few years, Parks Canada will have a small number of staff working from a temporary office, shared with Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation. A new multi-purpose office building and visitor centre are being, which will include Parks Canada’s permanent office in the community. With the completion of the new building and better knowledge of what is needed for operations, the Parks Canada staff will start expanding to full capacity.
Łutsël K’é is the nearest community to Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. It is a small community of about 300 people. Łutsël K’é has an airport, K-12 school, store and hotel, community hall and arena. The community owned and operated Frontier Lodge is nearby. This scenic, Denesǫłine community is accessible only by air, boat or snowmobile. The community is a 45-minute flight from Yellowknife. Scheduled flights go between Łutsël K'é and Yellowknife at least once per day, every day of the week.

Łutsël K’é is approximately a 15-minute boat ride to the park boundary. It is an ideal spot to launch sightseeing, fishing, and paddling trips in Christie and McLeod Bays and over Pike's Portage into the muskox and caribou-rich Barrenlands. The Łutsel K’é Denesǫłine maintain a rich, land-based culture tied to Thaidene Nëné. There are local guides and outfitters that are happy to showcase the wonders of Thaidene Nëné and their Indigenous way of life to visitors.

Further west on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, is Fort Resolution. This community is home to Deninu K’ue First Nation and the Fort Resolution Métis Council of the Northwest Territory Métis Nation.

Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve is a fly-in / boat-in park. Staff must be comfortable flying in small aircraft (float planes and helicopters) and experience operating boats is a huge asset. The Visitor Experience Manager position is primarily office based. The Coordinator will work in Łutsël K’é. The Coordinator will spend some time in the National Park Reserve and travel for meetings in Yellowknife and other locations, such as partner communities, as required. The Visitor Experience Manager will be part of the park’s emergency response team that responds to search and rescue and medical incidents as required.

Intent of the process

A qualifying list will be established, and may be used to fill similar positions of various tenures (temporary, full-time, part-time).

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 2,500 words (maximum) "Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their cover letter how they meet the Education and Experience criteria listed in the Statement of Qualifications (see below). Applicants must list both of these factors in their cover letter, and then write one or two paragraphs for each demonstrating how they meet these factors by providing concrete examples. Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that these factors are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Resumes will be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the cover letter. Failure to clearly demonstrate in your cover letter how you meet the Education and Experience factors found on the Statement of Qualifications (see below), may result in the rejection of your application. Normally, applicants will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information."

Contact information for 3 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION:
 Graduation with a degree from a recognized university specializing in marketing, recreation, leisure studies, tourism or other discipline relevant to the position or an acceptable combination of education, training, experience and/or traditional knowledge.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
• Experience in the planning, promotion and delivery of park or tourism programs and activities;
• Experience in collaborating with staff, partners and stakeholders;
• Experience in the management of human and financial resources;
• Experience in the use of social science research and trend analysis to identify target markets and develop visitor experience opportunities; and
• Experience in the evaluation of projects and programs.

Preference may be given to candidates who also have:
• Experience in providing advice and guidance to senior managers and staff;
• Experience coordinating multi-functional teams and projects;
• Experience working in the north and/or in a remote northern community;
• Wilderness First Aid certification (40hr) or Wilderness First Responder (80 hr);
• Experience working with Parks Canada;
• Three or more years of experience supervising staff;
• Experience working with Indigenous communities;
• Experience working with Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Metis Nation, Deninu K’ue First Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation communities or organizations; and
• Experience operating vessels in a marine environment.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
• Knowledge of Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve;
• Knowledge of current and emerging trends related to visitor experience;
• Knowledge of Parks Canada, its mandate, corporate orientation, objectives, and programs;
• Knowledge of cooperative management with Indigenous partners as it relates to visitor experience.

Preference may be given to candidates who also have:
• Knowledge of the Great Slave Lake region and its communities.
• Knowledge of one or more of the following:
o Łutsël K’é Denesǫłine culture and familiarity with Denesǫłine Yati;
o Indigenous Métis culture, language and way of life;
o Deninu K’ue Dëne Dédliné culture and familiarity with Dëne Dédliné Yati;
o Yellowknives Dene and Tetsǫ́t’ıné culture and familiarity with Tetsǫ́t’ıné Yati.

ABILITIES:
• Ability to analyse issues and opportunities and develop creative solutions;
• Ability to manage human and financial resources;
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Ability to identify potential partners and develop respectful and collaborative arrangements;
• Ability to develop and deliver programs and services consistent with national standards, local realities and evolving visitor demand;
• Ability to optimize opportunities for visitor experience based on results, resources and revenues; and
• Ability to competently travel on and be out on the land.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:
• Connects with others
• Makes things happen
• Exercises sound judgement
• Strives for excellence
• Ensures thoroughness
• Takes responsibility

Conditions of employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
• Obtain and maintain a Reliability level security clearance;
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence;
• Required to undergo and pass pre-placement and periodic medical checks (a pre-employment medical examination of an individual and his/her dependents is required).

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Willingness to wear a Parks Canada uniform;
• Willingness to work irregular hours, overtime, weekends and/or statutory holidays and provincial/territorial holidays, when required;
• Willingness to work shift and stand-by work;
• Willingness to work and/or travel in varied terrain, weather conditions, isolated locations and by various means of transportation;
• Willingness to obtain Wilderness First Aid (40 hour) and CPR certificate;
• Willingness to obtain pleasure craft operator certificate;
• Willingness to obtain Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL);
• May be required to obtain Secret security clearance for short term acting purposes.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

For tips to navigate the application process step by step, refer to the following site:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GW7P3g9hhI.

The successful candidate must be willing to work shift work. This includes work on holidays, evenings and weekends. Shifts may include day and multi-day trips into Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. There are minimal park facilities and infrastructure, the majority of field work will involve tent based camping. The candidate must also be willing to be on stand-by as required.

Parks Canada is working with the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation to provide rental housing to Parks Canada team members. A Parks Canada position in Łutsël K’é is eligible for an Isolated Post Allowance to adjust for the higher cost of living. Please note, all rates below are subject to change. As of August 2020 the applicable annual rates are:
• Environmental allowance $8,320 (with dependants) / $4,992 (no dependents)
• Living cost differential $17,984 (with dependants) / $10,791 (no dependents)
• Fuel and utilities differential (not applicable if in Parks Canada rental housing with utilities included) $7,375 (with dependants) / $4,425 (no dependants)

Parks Canada also provides a vacation travel allowance (VTA). The VTA provides financial assistance to staff to travel to their nearest southern hub, which for Łutsël K’é is Edmonton. As of March 20, 2020, the VTA supported two trips a year from Łutsël K’é. Adults able to apply for $1,556 per trip and children $1,460. The exact amount may be adjusted twice a year.

Parks Canada is committed to the principles of diversity and employment equity under the Employment Equity Act, and strives to ensure that our workforce reflects the diverse nature of Canadian society. We encourage women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of a visible minority group to self-identify in their application.

Please submit your completed application, including all of the above-mentioned documentation. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected.

The Parks Canada Agency is established as a separate employer in the Federal Public Service under the Financial Administration Act. Persons appointed to the Agency continue to be part of the Public Service. The Parks Canada Agency operates under its own human resources framework outside of the Public Service Employment Act and in line with values of fairness, competence and respect, and its operating principles.

In accordance with paragraph 8(2)(a) of the Privacy Act, information or material, whether provided directly by the candidate or otherwise obtained by the selection board, used during the selection process for the purpose of assessing a candidate may be used as part of the selection review and recourse processes. Such relevant information may be provided to third parties, such as other candidates or their representatives, who have a legitimate reason to be aware of that information.

Tips for applicants:
• Please provide complete and thorough details of your education and experience.
• Do not assume that the screening board has any previous knowledge of your background, qualifications, or work history. You must be specific and provide concrete examples/details for each Experience element, as applications will be screened only on the information provided.
• Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being screened out of the competition.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Travel cost for individuals who are not Federal Public Servants will not be covered.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information