Position Title: Research Analyst

Team: Indigenous Led-Assessment (ILA)

Reports to: Research Manager

Job Location: Firelight office or home-based remote office

Term: 1-year temporary full time with possibility of permanent position

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, and Edmonton.

JOB OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Research Manager, the Research Analyst will play a key role in conducting research, analyzing data, evaluating EA materials, and supporting the development of high-quality reports and deliverables. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure technical excellence and cultural relevance, helping clients achieve their goals in regulatory and decision-making contexts. The Research Analyst role offers the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, including technical reviews, Indigenous-led assessments, cumulative effects research, and Impact Assessment training and capacity development. You will engage directly with Indigenous communities to support research, gather insights, and ensure alignment with community priorities. If you are passionate about environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and contributing to positive, lasting impacts, this role is for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES + DUTIES

Indigenous led-Assessment

• Support the design and implementation of Indigenous-led assessments, ensuring alignment with community priorities, values and knowledge systems.

• Assist in developing culturally appropriate and technically rigorous methodologies and tools, such as community-defined indicators, criteria and thresholds.

• Support the development and implementation of community-based research, such as interviews, focus groups, surveys and workshops.

• Coordinate in-community work, including scheduling, travel arrangements, logistics and expense tracking.

• Apply qualitative and quantitative analytical methods, such as coding, quote pulling, and descriptive statistics.

• Document and synthesize findings into reports and deliverables that reflect community perspectives and voices.

Critical Review and Evaluation

• Conduct research and analysis related to Impact Assessments, including literature reviews, archival searches, and reviewing project proposals, technical documents, and regulatory frameworks.

• Critically analyze proponent Impact Assessments materials, focusing on impacts to Indigenous rights and interests.

• Draw on subject matter expertise, literature and Impact Assessments experience to craft compelling arguments in support of client interests.

• Compile technical comments from subject matter experts into well-organized comment tables.

• Draft cover letters summarizing key themes and findings from the technical review.

• Track issues and concerns across all stages of Impact Assessments, proponent commitments and contribute to issues resolution.

• Prepare summary information and speaking notes to support meetings with proponents, regulators, technical advisory committees and Indigenous leadership.

• Draft and finalize a variety of documents, including internal memos, information requests, comments on draft reports, motions to compel, final arguments, mitigation and monitoring tables, and project reports.

Community Engagement and Capacity Development

• Coordinate and attend community scoping and verification sessions, synthesizing outcomes to identify key issues and areas of focus.

• Prepare presentation materials such as slide decks, handouts and visual materials tailored to community audiences.

• Deliver presentations to diverse audiences, including communities, project proponents, regulators, and other stakeholders.

• Deliver Impact Assessments training and capacity development to Indigenous communities to enhance communities’ knowledge of Impact Assessments processes.

• Support the development of tools and resources, such as guides and templates, to assist communities in navigating Impact Assessments processes.

• Ensure the application of culturally appropriate, respectful and trauma-informed community engagement methods.

Project Management Support

• Assist project managers in developing scopes of work, budgets, timelines, and deliverables for Impact Assessments projects.

• Support the planning, coordination, and execution of project activities, ensuring tasks are completed on time and within budget.

• Monitor project progress by tracking milestones, deadlines, and deliverables, and communicate updates to project managers and team members.

• Coordinate internal and external meetings, including developing agendas, note-taking, and circulating action items.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and subcontractors to ensure alignment with project goals and timelines.

• Manage project information, including proponent files, regulator correspondence, legal documents, field notes, and audio & video files.

• Support administrative duties as needed.

Travel

• Commit to regular travel (up to 5 days per month, not necessarily consecutive) to remote communities for fieldwork and community engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS + EXPERIENCE

• 4-year degree in environmental assessment, environmental sciences, social sciences, archival studies, equivalent education, or commensurate Impact Assessment experience.

• Knowledge of federal and/or provincial Environmental Assessment processes in Canada.

• 5 years of experience in Impact Assessment, Indigenous-led research, regulatory review, or related work.

• Experience conducting qualitative and/or quantitative research, such as interviews, focus groups, coding, or statistical analysis.

• Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous Nations or supporting community-based projects. Candidates from Indigenous backgrounds will be preferred.

• Strong writing and analytical skills, with the ability to prepare high-quality reports, comment tables, and other deliverables.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.

• Subject matter expertise in socio-economics, community well-being, Indigenous Knowledge, culture and rights, physical and cultural heritage, Indigenous land use, cumulative effects, or other relevant subject matter.

• Experience delivering training or capacity-building programs.

• Project management experience.

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 and Edmonton.

• 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, (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.

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 accommodation or support to participate in the application process, please contact our HR Department via email at careers@firelight.ca.

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