Research Manager

**Position Title**:Research Manager

**Team**: Ecology

**Reports to**: Research Director

**Job Location**:Flexible - Firelight office or home-based remote office

**Travel**: Approximately 4 days/month (1 work week), on average (25%)

**Start Date**: February 24, 2025

**JOB OVERVIEW**

**ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS**

One of the largest Indigenous-owned research firms and values-based organizations, the Firelight Group has provided socially responsible, community-driven research services across Canada since 2010. Indigenous clients have trusted Firelight to provide high-quality research and technical services that decolonize research practices and centre on Indigenous Knowledge and values to protect rights and advance self-determination. Firelight has an expanding, diverse team of over 100 talented professionals working on multi-disciplinary projects in nine business units: Indigenous Knowledge Research, Socio-Economic Research, Environmental Assessment, Indigenous Negotiations, Mapping & GIS, Planning & Implementation, Ecology, and Indigenous Health.

Firelight has offices in Xwmélch’tstn, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Territory, Lkwungen, Tkarón:to, and ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Amiskwacîwâskahikan). Firelight acknowledges that most of our work is with clients on territories where we are invited guests, and we are deeply grateful for this trust. We bring respect, humility, and a willingness to learn while recognizing that our work supports realizing our clients’ needs and objectives. Firelight proudly provides client-identified services that amplify and strengthen community voice and participation.

**RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES**

**Technical Advising**
- Lead project design, strategy, and execution, primarily focused on Indigenous-led ungulate recovery, stewardship, and landscape restoration.
- Execute field-based restoration activities, including identifying areas for treatment, developing prescriptions, implementing treatments with the appropriate field equipment, and establishing long-term monitoring of restoration success to achieve short and long-term goals.
- Lead and oversee the development of environmental regulatory reviews.
- Lead community capacity-building efforts related to restoration implementation and monitoring.
- Uphold diverse Indigenous Knowledges in all phases of ecological research through design and implementation by allowing local Indigenous Knowledges to guide the conversations.
- Ensure community-driven research applies a strengths-based approach by prioritizing and centring Indigenous Knowledges, traditions, core values, worldviews, and cultural integrity.
- Lead the development of high-quality research materials and reports under demanding timelines.
- Support the implementation of innovative land-based research practices aligned with emerging trends.

**Project Management**
- Oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of complex, multi-methods projects that are aligned with Firelight values and meet client expectations.
- Develop and monitor project scope, plans, budgets, and schedules to ensure successful project delivery.
- Support the timely execution of current, planned, and modified tasks in alignment with project scopes and schedules.
- Identify and allocate fiscal and human resources, develop work plans, and delegate tasks to achieve project success.
- Manage project budgets to ensure profitability and healthy cash flow.
- Coordinate with the Finance Department and communicate with clients to ensure timely invoicing and payments.
- Lead discussions with clients to prioritize requirements for complex financial and organizational issues.
- Manage information, data, and documents following established procedures.
- Assure quality control.
- Support Indigenous self-determination and data sovereignty by upholding Indigenous protocols and principles regarding data collection and repatriation processes.
- Oversee and coordinate logistics for multi-day community engagement with research teams.
- Manage up to eight projects, ranging in value from $5,000-$250,000 at any time.

**Client Engagement**
- Demonstrate and communicate Firelight's approach and ensure Indigenous voices are at the forefront of our work.
- Represent Firelight at client meetings and Indigenous community gatherings.
- Represent clients at technical meetings as an expert witness.
- Collaborate with community partners, clients, Firelight team members, and external consultants to coordinate activities, including developing, designing, and implementing projects.
- Cultivate partner and client relationships through service excellence, knowledge transfer, and skills development (capacity building).
- Coach and mentor Firelight team members in respectful community engagement aligned with Firelight values and shared objectives.
- Manage conflicts, disputes, and communications effectively and positively to serve as a strong facilitator of dialogue for clients.

**People Leadership**
- Foster a positive and respectful workplace aligned with F