Research Specialist - Indigenous Negotiations

Position Title:       Research Specialist (Bilingual)

Team:                   Indigenous Negotiations (ING)

Reports to:             Research Manager and Program Manager

Job Location:        Flexible – Firelight office preferred (Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg) or home-based remote office

Travel:                  Up to 10 days of travel per month may be required

Start Date:           November 10, 2025

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

Firelight is an Indigenous-owned consultancy that provides research and technical support to Indigenous Nations and organizations across Turtle Island. We specialize in six core areas: Livelihoods (Indigenous Knowledge Research, Socio-Economics), Indigenous-led Assessment, Indigenous Negotiations, Mapping & GIS, Stewardship (Ecology, Planning, Implementation), and Health.

Majority-owned by First Nations individuals from Ebb & Flow First Nation (MB), Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (YK), and Garden River First Nation (ON), our work is grounded in community values and guided by the principles of relationships, accountability, quality, and responsibility.

Since 2010, Firelight has supported over 250 clients and delivered more than 1,000 projects focused on Indigenous rights, knowledge, and self-determination. Our growing team of 100+ professionals works remotely across Canada, with offices in West Vancouver, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg and Edmonton.

JOB OVERVIEW

Reporting to Research Manager, the Negotiations Research Specialist (Bilingual) supports Business Lead and Research Managers and leads smaller client projects and engagements in both English and French. With growing expertise in research, project management, and engagement, the Negotiations Research Specialist supports consulting files, informing the design, strategy, and execution of projects, and manages a small number of projects, with supervision. The Negotiations Research Specialist contributes to strong, accountable client relationships. 

RESPONSIBILITIES + DUTIES

Technical Advising

• Lead or support the design and strategy alongside communities to understand and negotiate or implement agreements in the Indigenous Negotiations business unit under the supervision of Research Manager or Business Lead
• Work with Research Managers to provide strong technical skills in research and the negotiation and implementation of agreements, and documents and processes needed to support this work, between Indigenous governments and companies or governments
• Support discussions with clients to define strategies vis-a-vis companies and governments on complex relationships, involving financial and organizational issues
• Support the application of best practices in Indigenous research methods, engagement, and implementation, staying current in new and emerging trends in the field of negotiations
• Lead or support the development of deliverables for multiple clients and external stakeholders
• Present, in community and leadership settings, the process, outcomes, and milestones of the negotiation and the implementation of an agreement

Project Management

• Support and guide client engagements, engaging new and existing clients, communicating the project plan, and identifying when there is a change in purpose, scope, or timeline
• Oversee the development and execution of smaller, multi-methods projects aligned to client expectations with mentoring and oversight from Research Managers, Program Manager, and Business Lead
• Work with Business Lead and Research Managers to develop and monitor project scope, plans, budgets, and schedules to ensure successful project delivery
• Ensure timely execution of current, planned, and/or adjusted tasks in alignment with the project scope and schedule
• Manage information, data, and documents following established procedures
• Mentor and support Researchers within project work

Client Engagement

• Represent Firelight to clients, communities, and in some technical meetings with supervision from the Research Managers, Program Manager, and Business Lead
• Work with and coordinate the activities of community partners and others, including Firelight team members and external consultants, to develop, design, and implement projects
• Nurture and cultivate partner and client relationships through service excellence, knowledge transfer, and skills development

QUALIFICATIONS + EXPERIENCE

• 3-5 years of recent, relevant experience
• 3-5 years of experience working with and for Indigenous Nations and communities
• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) or equivalent in experience, which may include community-based knowledge, lived experience, and connections to Indigenous communities (i.e., in-community on-the-land experience).
• 1-3 years of demonstrated success in project management
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Fluency in spoken and written French
• Valid driver’s license

WHY JOIN US?

Firelight offers compensation that is commensurate with skills and experiences. We provide a progressive and flexible work environment, along with the following benefits:

• Four-day work week (32 hours/week) with options for remote or hybrid work - Offices located in Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton and Winnipeg.
• Comprehensive Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Long Term Disability (LTD)  and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Health Spending Account (HSA) and Wellness Spending Account (WSA)
• Parental Leave Top-Up payments
• Child & Elder Care Benefit
• Paid time off and holidays
• Indigenous Cultural Leave - Time off for cultural practices
• Anniversary Vacation and Winter Break

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

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals with a full package (resume, cover letter) 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 accommodation or support to participate in the application process, please contact our HR Department via email at careers@firelight.ca. 

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