Technical Lead

Position Title:       Technical Lead
Team: Indigenous Negotiations (ING)
Reports to: Business Lead
Job Location: Flexible – Firelight office or home-based remote office

Travel: Up to 10 days of travel per month required

Start Date: April 1, 2026

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 Business Lead, the Technical Lead supports business development, client relationships, and project delivery. With expertise in negotiations, impact benefit agreements, research, project management, engagement, and implementation, and significant experience serving Indigenous Nations, the Technical Lead leads complex and innovative projects and engagements, championing the design, strategy, and execution of projects. The Technical Lead provides consistently superior client experience, enhancing the image and reputation of Firelight, and ensuring the technical quality and delivery of Firelight's consulting services.  

RESPONSIBILITIES + DUTIES
Technical Advising

• Provide expert knowledge and leadership to the development and execution of projects and client relations in negotiations and implementation
• Act as a technical advisor or subject matter expert on social science research projects, including methods, theory and data analysis and reporting  
• Understand and provide expert advice on the processes of negotiation and implementation of agreements
• Lead robust and innovative, short and long-term projects, acting as Principal Investigator or Project Manager
• Ensure the adherence to ethical and legal standards, and the centering of Indigenous methods
• Work with the Business Lead to support the development of organizational learning and application of best practices in research methodologies and community engagement that centre Indigenous
• Knowledge and sovereignty
• Write and review reports, presentations, and other deliverables, and ensure they meet high standards of clarity, accuracy, and relevance for diverse audiences, and translate research findings into practical recommendations and policies
• Act as a thought leader, internally and externally, researching, implementing, and sharing innovative practices that are aligned with emerging trends and best practices in Indigenous negotiations & agreement implementation
• Utilize in-depth knowledge and technical skills to strategize and offer informed recommendations and guidance to support effective decision-making and project outcomes for clients

Project Management Leadership

• Oversee the development and execution of multiple, concurrent, complex, multi-method research and negotiation projects aligned to client expectations and goals
• Work with Project Managers to monitor project scopes, plans, budgets, and schedules, including resource allocation and task delegation, to ensure successful and timely project delivery
• Ensure quality control, security, and proper management of research data and documents
• Oversee and coordinate the work and activities of multiple research teams, identifying areas for further development and growth
  Oversee and manage Firelight's fiscal resources and project budgets, ensuring business profitability
• Oversee improvements in research and project management practices across the research team identified through project evaluation
  Client Engagement
• Manage client relations according to Firelight's values, tools, and approaches, ensuring project deliverables meet client expectations 
  Represent Firelight to clients, communities, and in expert technical meetings with minimal supervision and review
• Nurture and cultivate partner and client relationships through service excellence, knowledge transfer, and skills development
• Support and coach others in effective community engagement aligned to Firelight's values and in support of shared objectives 

People Leadership

• Provide intellectual leadership, technical expertise, strategic advice, mentorship, and training to in-house staff and associates
• Provide feedback on staff performance to Program Managers to inform performance management and professional development
• Foster a positive and respectful workplace, aligned with Firelight's values and objectives
• Ensure the workplace, including while traveling for in-community and on-territory work, meets all health and safety guidelines and regulations
• Assist Program Manager with onboarding new staff to ensure effective integration
• Lead Firelight's organizational learning and knowledge for team development

Business Management + Development

• Support the Business Lead in proactively identifying new business opportunities and services
• Lead and oversee the development of proposal submissions and scopes of work, ensuring they align with client needs and Firelight's capabilities.
• Act as a representative for Firelight at forums, conferences, and professional meetings, and network with potential clients, partners, and thought leaders to build relationships and enhance Firelight's profile within the community and industry.

QUALIFICATIONS + EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years of recent, relevant experience in Indigenous negotiations and facilitation with Indigenous communities, organizations, and governments across various settings, with a strong understanding of the political, legal, and jurisdictional complexities of negotiations, including nation-to-proponent and government-to-government contexts.
• Knowledge of social science research methodologies and approaches, and design and implementation of research projects.
• Experience with agreement implementation is an asset.
• Proficiency in facilitation, with a strong ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences, including community members, leadership, proponents, and others.
• Ability to work within a fast-paced environment while being responsive, adaptive, and respectful of the knowledge, needs, timelines, and desired outcomes of the communities and organizations we work for.
• Master's degree or equivalent in experience in a relevant field such as social sciences, environmental management, Indigenous studies, or law.
• PhD or equivalent in experience is an asset
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Fluency in spoken and written French is an asset
• Fluency in an Indigenous language is an asset
• Valid driver's license

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, Edmonton and Winnipeg.
• 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)
• Company Registered Pension Plan (RPP)  
• 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 

HOW TO APPLY?

Please respond to our online ad with the following: 

1. Resume
2. Cover letter outlining how you meet the requirements.
3. All files should be in PDF format using your last name as the file name.

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.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals with a full package (resume, cover letter) will be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and remain open until the position is filled. 

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.

If any candidate requires accommodation or support to participate in the application process, please contact our HR Department via email at  

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

Location

Vancouver, British Columbia (Remote)

Department

ING

Employment Type

Full-Time

Minimum Experience

Senior Manager/Supervisor

Compensation

$112,710 - $132,600