Research Analyst | The Firelight Group

Position Title:         Research Analyst

Reports to:              Research Director

Job Location:          Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria or Home-based remote working

Desired Start Date:  As soon as possible

JOB OVERVIEW

The Research Analyst role is an opportunity to contribute to environmental governance in Canada by supporting Indigenous clients in Environmental Assessment processes. Key elements of the role include providing technical support, conducting community-based research, using qualitative and quantitative analytical methods, managing projects, and developing relationships with clients. This role includes travel, sometimes to remote communities, to conduct interviews and focus groups and other related community work.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

The Firelight Group is an Indigenous-owned, dynamic, socially responsible business providing community-based research and consulting services across Canada. Since 2010, we have been trusted by our clients to do high quality work that centers Indigenous knowledge and values to protect rights and advance self-determination. We have a growing team of over 100 professionals, and offices in Xwmélch’tstn, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Territory, Lkwungen, Tkarón:to and ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Amiskwacîwâskahikan). 

Firelight’s Environmental Assessment (EA) Team supports Indigenous communities’ effective and meaningful participation in provincial and federal EA processes. Our approach centres community knowledge and experience, helping Indigenous Nations make free, prior, and informed decisions about proposed projects on their territories. We work on project assessments for mining, infrastructure, hydroelectricity, and oil and gas development, among other sectors.

RESPONSIBILITIES + DUTIES

The role is an opportunity to contribute to environmental governance in Canada by supporting Indigenous clients in EA processes. Key elements of the role include:

• Provide technical support
• Conduct community-based research, using qualitative and quantitative analytical methods, 
• Manage projects, and developing relationships with clients. 
• Commit to travel regularly up to 6 days per month, not necessarily consecutively, sometimes in remote communities 
• Conduct interviews and focus groups literature reviews, archival searches, conducting third-party technical reviews of proponent EA materials and other related community work,
• Synthesize and summarize information, and drafting submissions to regulatory bodies 
• Coordinate community scoping and verification sessions and synthesize outcomes to identify key topics and areas of focus.
• Prepare presentation materials and orally presenting information to communities, project proponents, and other parties.
• Firelight researchers also draft and finalize documents, including internal memos, information requests, comments on draft reports, motions to compel, and project reports.
• Draft  proposals and project budgets, staffing for projects, budget management, keeping on top of timelines and deliverables, and invoicing. 
• Commit to travel regularly up to 10 days per month, not necessarily consecutively, sometimes in remote communities

QUALIFICATIONS + EXPERIENCE

• 5 years’ related research experience, preferably working on environmental assessment and/or regulatory files.
• 4-year degree in environmental assessment, environmental sciences, social sciences, archival studies, equivalent education, or commensurate environmental assessment experience. 
• 3 years’ experience in Project Management.
• Must be legally entitled to work in Canada
• Familiarity with Environmental Impact Assessment in Canada
• Experience and knowledge of Indigenous communities. Candidates from Indigenous backgrounds will be preferred.

Please respond to our online ad with a resume, cover letter and a writing sample. Please upload the cover letter and writing sample in 1 document. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals will a full package (resume, cover letter and a writing sample) will be considered.

Firelight is committed to respecting diversity within our workforce and specifically to increasing the number of Indigenous employees within our organization.

As a result, we encourage all Indigenous applicants to self-identify in our recruitment and staffing processes and preference may be given to these applicants.

Working at the Firelight Group means being passionate about what we do. Be part of our amazing team, with a very exciting future.