Senior Socio-Economic Consultant, Indigenous Relations

Overview / Aperçu du rôle

Avaanz is now part of SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., bringing together Avaanz’s specialized socio-economic and Indigenous relations expertise with SLR’s global technical capabilities in ecology, water, geotechnical, and power engineering. Together, we deliver integrated environmental and social services across Canada, supporting both fast-paced assignments and complex, multi-year infrastructure initiatives.

Within this structure, the Senior Coordinator – Indigenous Relations plays a critical senior role on a major infrastructure program, including large, multi-community engagement portfolios (crown corporation / private proponent environments with structured governance, reporting, and regulatory oversight).

We are seeking a bilingual (French/English oral and writing) senior practitioner who combines strong relationship-building skills with proven experience leading Indigenous consultation and engagement programs in Canada. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in structured project environments, has strong analytical and reporting capabilities, leads teams with confidence, and delivers engagement that is technically rigorous and grounded in respectful, community-based practice.

Role Overview / Description du rôle

In this position, you will work alongside the Indigenous Relations Lead and client team, focusing on client needs in Indigenous relations and engagement workstreams for major infrastructure and Impact/environmental assessment projects. You will be responsible for leading and/or coordinating engagement delivery, directing junior and intermediate staff delivering engagement activities, and ensuring Indigenous perspectives are meaningfully integrated into project design, assessment, and decision-making processes. The role operates within a matrix team structure, working closely with project directors, technical subject-matter experts, and client Indigenous relations teams.

Key Responsibilities / Principales responsabilités

Engagement and Leadership / Engagement et leadership

• Design, manage, and implement Indigenous consultation and engagement strategies that align with regulatory requirements, client mandates, and reconciliation principles.
• Co-Lead structured engagement programs involving multiple Indigenous Nations, in Quebec and Ontario.
• Guide coordinators and consultants responsible for engagement planning, logistics, and documentation.
• Oversee workplans, schedules, and deliverables, ensuring consistency with client governance and reporting frameworks, with attention to analysis and reporting requirements of an Impact Assessment Act governed project.

Facilitation & Relationship Management / Facilitation et gestion des relations

• Lead, facilitate and support client meetings with Chiefs and Councils, leadership, staff, Elders, and community members (in-person and virtual).
• Build and maintain trusted, long-term relationships with Indigenous partners.
• Lead and support initiatives related to employment, procurement, business development, and capacity funding.
• Lead and support the negotiation, tracking, and implementation of relationship agreements, MOUs, protocols, and capacity funding arrangements.

Reporting & Quality Assurance / Reddition de comptes et assurance qualité

• Provide oversight and, as needed, establish systems to deliver clients with consultation records, engagement summaries, and regulatory documentation for internal and client review.

Travel / Déplacements

• Travel to Indigenous communities and project meetings as required (typically monthly – up to 4 times a month in busy engagement windows), primarily within Quebec and Ontario.

Essential Qualifications / Exigences essentielles

• 10-15+ years of experience in Indigenous relations, consultation, or engagement; experience in Impact Assessment is an asset.
• Professional bilingualism in French and English (written and oral) is mandatory.
• Must reside in Quebec or within reasonable commuting distance of the Quebec border.

Demonstrated experience with:

• Indigenous and Crown consultation processes
• Major projects engagement and/or consultation experience

Proven ability to lead multi-stakeholder teams and coordinate technical specialists, regulators, and community representatives. Strong facilitation, relationship-building, and field engagement experience.

Assets / Atouts

• Large infrastructure and/or linear projects, with focus on regulatory processes
• Strong relationship-building experience with First Nations
• Experience in crown corporation project environments
• Familiarity with engagement management platforms (e.g., Borealis)
• Post-secondary education in Indigenous studies, social sciences, environmental planning, or related discipline

Compensation, Benefits & Working Environment / Rémunération et avantages & Travail chez nous

• Telework model (Canada), with presence in Quebec required
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits
• Employer contribution to a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)
• Vacation and sick leave
• Team activities and team-building opportunities
• Salary range: $110,000 - $150,000; final compensation based on education, experience, and location
• Full-time, permanent role with opportunities for growth

Equity & Inclusion / Équité et inclusion

Indigenous candidates are strongly encouraged. We are committed to building teams representative of the communities we work with and to promoting meaningful and respectful engagement.

Other notes / Autres informations

This job posting is for an existing vacancy. Artificial intelligence is not being used to screen, assess, or select applicants. SLR strives to build diverse teams that reflect the communities we work in, and encourages applications from traditionally underrepresented groups including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, people identifying as 2SLGBTQI+, veterans, and people with disabilities.

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