Job Summary:
Reporting to the Director, Archaeology Operations; the Indigenous Engagement Advisor will play a crucial role in fostering meaningful relationships between our organization and Ontario First Nation and Indigenous communities. This position involves developing and implementing strategies to engage, ensuring Indigenous perspectives and knowledge are integrated into our organization's projects and initiatives. The advisor will work closely with various stakeholders to promote cultural understanding, respect, and collaboration.
Responsibilities:
Relationship Building and Maintenance
Develops and maintains network of contacts with Ontario First Nations and Indigenous communities.
- Serves as primary point of contact for First Nations and Indigenous communities reaching out to ARA for various reasons.
- In collaboration with Division and Project Managers, provides information to and answers questions from First Nations and Indigenous communities about ARA projects.
- Supports ARA clients in their engagement with First Nations and Indigenous communities.
- Facilitates meetings between ARA, clients, and First Nations and Indigenous communities for both general information-sharing purposes, project and strategy development, and conflict resolution.
- Monitors project progress and flags potential items that might impact ARA’s relationship with First Nations and Indigenous communities and project progress.
- Provides advice to ARA Senior Management and clients regarding engagement with First Nations and Indigenous communities and maintaining positive project progress.
- Investigates and seeks harmonious resolution to issues and concerns raised by First Nations and Indigenous communities by facilitating open communication between Nations and ARA.
- Identifies and attends relationship-building opportunities (e.g., conferences, special events) specific to First Nations and Indigenous communities.
- Develops and maintains a strong understanding of industry best practices and evolving expectations for engagement with First Nations and Indigenous communities.
- Develops and implements evolving ARA policies on Indigenous engagement, reconciliation, and relationship-building.
Facilitation of Engagement on ARA Projects
- Determines appropriate Indigenous communities to engage on a project specific basis.
- Prepares and sends invitations to participate.
- Tracks Indigenous engagement efforts for all archaeological and select heritage projects.
- Coordinates between archaeology and heritage departments whenever possible.
- Reviews participation agreements and addresses client/proponent questions.
- Coordinates fieldwork with participating Indigenous community representatives (sends weekly deployments for all archaeological crews and daily updates as required).
- Circulates summary updates, recommendations and prepared reports for review and comment.
- Drafts Records of Indigenous Engagement for submission to the client and MCM.
- Provides advice to Division Managers and Project Archaeologists to mitigate fieldwork concerns.
- Provides advice/works with Project Managers to obtain meaningful feedback for heritage projects.
- Identifies opportunities to expand Indigenous engagement for heritage projects.
- Maintains a current record of hourly rates and Vendor of Record rates for all engaged First Nations.
- Reviews and maintains a record of received invoices for daily participation and estimates outstanding invoices amounts as necessary for internal and Vendor of Record clients.
- Prepares Indigenous Engagement Strategies for large-scale archaeology and heritage projects.
- Prepares presentation materials and attends meetings as required.
- Provides estimated costs for Indigenous community participation as required; and
- Prepares status updates for Indigenous engagement tasks at companywide weekly meetings.
Qualifications:
- 2+ years of experience working with Ontario First Nation and Indigenous communities.
- 5+ years of experience working in Cultural Resource Management in a senior role.
- Experience engaging with First Nations and Indigenous communities during the archaeological and heritage process.
- Strong knowledge of Indigenous communities and CRM process in order to navigate and flag potential impacts to project progress.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for coordination with First Nations and Indigenous communities.
- Must possess excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills including ability to facilitate and mediate challenging conversations and scenarios.
- Demonstrated experience working in a computerized environment. Must possess excellent computer skills with strong knowledge of MS Office Software (Word, Outlook, Excel, and Power Point) and Microsoft Teams.
- Familiarity with Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists and associated Technical Bulletins, as issued by the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism.
- Excellent organizational skills and record keeping, with a proven ability to manage changing timelines and priorities.
- Strong work ethic and comfortable working during “off hours” when required.
- Experience preparing, reviewing and tracking costs and managing activities within proposed budgets.
- Willingness to travel within Ontario, with the potential for out-of-town/overnight work.
Salary:
The salary range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000 per year. Starting rate is based on knowledge and experience.