Job Description

Position Title:  Research Manager

Team: Ecology

Reports to: Research Director

Job Location:  Flexible – Firelight office or home-based remote office

Travel: Approximately 4 days/month (1 work week), on average (25%)

Start Date: February 24, 2025

JOB OVERVIEW

The Firelight Group’s Ecology unit collaborates with local Indigenous experts, governments, and organizations to develop ecological inventories, monitoring programs, and management plans that are centred on Indigenous Knowledges, are scientifically rigorous, and provide practical tools for decision-making in complex governance environments. The Research Manager is passionate about land-based research, building community capacity, and upholding Indigenous Knowledges while applying their ecological expertise to support the exercise of Indigenous rights through land stewardship and decision-making. The Research Manager leads and supports projects from development, design, and strategy to project management, research implementation, and final deliverables. They apply their research and facilitation expertise to address challenges and opportunities related to environmental change. The Research Manager consistently provides a superior client experience, enhances the company’s reputation, and ensures Firelight’s values guide project strategies and processes. They report to the Program Manager and are supervised by a Technical Lead, Research Director, or Business Lead.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

One of the largest Indigenous-owned research firms and values-based organizations, the Firelight Group has provided socially responsible, community-driven research services across Canada since 2010. Indigenous clients have trusted Firelight to provide high-quality research and technical services that decolonize research practices and centre on Indigenous Knowledge and values to protect rights and advance self-determination. Firelight has an expanding, diverse team of over 100 talented professionals working on multi-disciplinary projects in nine business units: Indigenous Knowledge Research, Socio-Economic Research, Environmental Assessment, Indigenous Negotiations, Mapping & GIS, Planning & Implementation, Ecology, and Indigenous Health.

Firelight has offices in Xwmélch’tstn, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Territory, Lkwungen, Tkarón:to, and ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Amiskwacîwâskahikan). Firelight acknowledges that most of our work is with clients on territories where we are invited guests, and we are deeply grateful for this trust. We bring respect, humility, and a willingness to learn while recognizing that our work supports realizing our clients’ needs and objectives. Firelight proudly provides client-identified services that amplify and strengthen community voice and participation

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

Technical Advising

Lead project design, strategy, and execution, primarily focused on Indigenous-led ungulate recovery, stewardship, and landscape restoration.
Execute field-based restoration activities, including identifying areas for treatment, developing prescriptions, implementing treatments with the appropriate field equipment, and establishing long-term monitoring of restoration success to achieve short and long-term goals.
Apply terrestrial ecology expertise in various ecosystems to conduct spatial analysis, evaluate existing spatial datasets, and statistically analyse and interpret ecological data to inform decision-making.
Lead and oversee the development of environmental regulatory reviews.
Produce high-quality, innovative deliverables in ecological restoration by applying technical and strategic research and evaluation expertise.
Lead and support the application and development of best practices in community-driven land-based research, including Indigenous wise practices at the local level.
Lead community capacity-building efforts related to restoration implementation and monitoring.
Uphold diverse Indigenous Knowledges in all phases of ecological research through design and implementation by allowing local Indigenous Knowledges to guide the conversations.
Ensure community-driven research applies a strengths-based approach by prioritizing and centring Indigenous Knowledges, traditions, core values, worldviews, and cultural integrity. 
Lead the development of high-quality research materials and reports under demanding timelines.
Provide facilitation support to clients based on subject matter expertise.
Support the implementation of innovative land-based research practices aligned with emerging trends.

Project Management

Oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of complex, multi-methods projects that are aligned with Firelight values and meet client expectations.
Develop and monitor project scope, plans, budgets, and schedules to ensure successful project delivery.
Support the timely execution of current, planned, and modified tasks in alignment with project scopes and schedules.
Identify and allocate fiscal and human resources, develop work plans, and delegate tasks to achieve project success.
Manage project budgets to ensure profitability and healthy cash flow.
Coordinate with the Finance Department and communicate with clients to ensure timely invoicing and payments.
Lead discussions with clients to prioritize requirements for complex financial and organizational issues.
Manage information, data, and documents following established procedures.
Assure quality control.
Support Indigenous self-determination and data sovereignty by upholding Indigenous protocols and principles regarding data collection and repatriation processes.
Oversee and coordinate logistics for multi-day community engagement with research teams.
Manage up to eight projects, ranging in value from $5,000-$250,000 at any time.

Client Engagement

Demonstrate and communicate Firelight’s approach and ensure Indigenous voices are at the forefront of our work.
Represent Firelight at client meetings and Indigenous community gatherings. 
Represent clients at technical meetings as an expert witness.
Collaborate with community partners, clients, Firelight team members, and external consultants to coordinate activities, including developing, designing, and implementing projects.
Cultivate partner and client relationships through service excellence, knowledge transfer, and skills development (capacity building).
Coach and mentor Firelight team members in respectful community engagement aligned with Firelight values and shared objectives. 
Manage conflicts, disputes, and communications effectively and positively to serve as a strong facilitator of dialogue for clients.

People Leadership 

Foster a positive and respectful workplace aligned with Firelight’s vision, values, and goals.
Inform performance management and professional development by providing feedback on staff performance to the Program Manager.
Supervise Researchers and Research Analysts on project-specific work, including peer review, coaching, mentorship, and annual performance reviews to foster service excellence, knowledge transfer, and skills development (capacity building).
Coordinate and oversee the work of Researchers and Research Analysts and provide feedback to identify areas for further development and growth.
Satisfy health and safety guidelines and regulations for all office and in-community work, including while travelling.
Support the development of Firelight’s organizational learning, including innovation in research methods and knowledge mobilization approaches.
Model healthy workplace habits by prioritizing individual and team wellness. 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

7+ years of experience in applied land-based research with expertise in ecological restoration, landscape planning, or ungulate research.
7+ years of experience working with, within, and for Indigenous communities.
Master’s degree or equivalent experience, which may include community-based knowledge, lived experience, and connections to Indigenous communities (i.e. in-community on-the-land experience).
Demonstrated strong writing experience, including publications of reports, guidance documents, or peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Fluency in spoken and written English.

Please respond to our online ad with the following: (1) resume, (2) cover letter, and (3) writing sample. Please upload the (2) cover letter, and (3) writing sample as ONE document. All files should be in PDF format named using your last name as the file name.

The application deadline is January 31, 2025. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals will a full package (resume, cover letter, and writing sample) will be considered. 

At Firelight, we are committed to developing a diverse and inclusive team and we welcome all cultures, ages, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities. We recognize and celebrate the diversity of all peoples and actively promote development of inter-cultural competence within our team.

As an Indigenous-owned organization, we are particularly committed to supporting the employment of Indigenous individuals because we recognize the unique challenges and barriers faced by Indigenous people and because we feel it is necessary to reflect Indigenous perspectives and values in the work that we do. We encourage all Indigenous applicants to self-identify in their cover letter so that we consider their application accordingly, as Firelight may give preference to these applicants.

If any candidate requires an accommodation or support to participate in the application process, please contact our HR Department via email at [email protected]. 

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

Required languages: English

Education level: Masters Degree

Required skills: evelop ecological inventories, monitoring programs, and management plans that are centred on Indigenous Knowledges, are scientifically rigorous, and provide practical tools for decision-making in complex governance environments

Closest intersection: Edmonton