Senior Indigenous Engagement Specialist

Grow with the best. Join a smart, creative, and inspired team that works to support operational excellence. The Stantec community unites more than 31,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. Our Functional Services Teams (FSTs) include Corporate Development, Finance, HR, HSSE, IT, Legal, Marketing/Communications, Practice Services and Real Estate and Procurement. Bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds, talents, and expertise, our FSTs are vital to making our Company stronger.

Your Opportunity

Reporting to the Vice President, Indigenous Business and Relations, the Senior Indigenous Relations Specialist – Ontario, will uphold Stantec’s corporate Indigenous Relations Practice and will manage the organization’s approach to fostering and strengthening relationships with Indigenous Peoples, communities, and businesses in the Ontario region, specifically Southern, Central and Eastern Ontario.

This position will be responsible for coordinating and facilitating the full range of Stantec’s Indigenous community engagement and relationship management initiatives, including active and future projects. The successful candidate will be involved as an advisor in the regulatory, planning and management aspects of projects and in providing assistance in the continued development of business opportunities throughout the Ontario region. In concert with the fully integrated operational and project teams at Stantec, the Senior Indigenous Relations Specialist will also be expected to liaise with Indigenous communities and businesses as well as with external stakeholders, regulators, landowners, new and prospective clients, government and non-government agencies, and others with interest in Stantec projects.

This position will work collaboratively with operational and functional services leadership across the Ontario region to deliver on Indigenous relations goals including Indigenous staff recruitment and retention, engagement with Indigenous communities and organizations, and strengthening internal awareness of Indigenous cultures, histories, and issues. 

Your Key Responsibilities

• Participates in short and long-range planning, establishing Indigenous related priorities and business development opportunities.
• Engages and collaborates with local, regional and national leaders in Indigenous engagement to inform strategy and practice, gaining an understanding of trends and developments and how they may impact Stantec, our partners and clients.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Indigenous leadership and communities in the Ontario Region.
• Act as a central coordination point for the navigation of relationships and partnerships between Stantec and Indigenous communities and businesses.
• Partner with key internal stakeholders to implement strategies and recommendations to continually strengthen Indigenous engagement and consultation in a manner that promotes collaboration and transparency with Indigenous communities and the company.
• Participate in Stantec’s Indigenous relations strategies, including the identification of potential business opportunities with Indigenous groups.
• Actively represent the company on industry association working groups and at business development related events.
• Collaborate with Indigenous communities and Stantec business units and contractors to identify and develop opportunities for building capacity, business development and employment.
• Creates and maintains effective working relationships with Stantec business developers, relationship managers, and account managers working on Indigenous focused projects and initiatives.
• Develop and implement Indigenous related participation and engagement plans, as required.
• Identifying, tracking, and monitoring issues, concerns, and interests identified by Indigenous groups.
• Supports Stantec practitioners to develop effective, respectful and sustainable relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations and businesses, developing an understanding of their needs, priorities and activities so that Stantec can continue to grow as a thought leader and solution provider.
• Ensures that Stantec’s project management processes are followed (e.g., internal work orders signed, signing authorities are correct, project setup, etc.).
• Travel within the Region will be required.
• Performs other related duties.