Position Title:  Research Manager (specialized in Child Welfare)

Team:               Indigenous Health

Reports to:      Technical Lead

Job Location:  Firelight offices or Home-based remote working

Travel:              Up to 10 days of travel per quarter

Start Date:.      March 17, 2025

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.

JOB OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Program Manager and supervised by the Technical Lead, the Research Manager is a technical specialist on their team. With expertise in research, project management, engagement, and implementation, the Research Manager supports and/or leads their own consulting files, conducting the design, strategy, and execution of projects. The Research Manager provides consistently superior client experience, enhancing the reputation of the company and ensuring Firelight’s values guide project strategies and processes.

The Firelight Group approaches Indigenous health and wellness research, analysis, and evaluation from a holistic perspective, accounting for the unique and specific Indigenous social determinants that create the conditions of health and well-being. It is important for our team to meet communities where they are and use a strengths-based approach to identify wisdom, lessons, and solutions from within the Nation itself.

This position is specialized in Child Welfare, supporting various projects and communities seeking expertise in child and family services. The Research Manager will work with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, organizations, and governments to provide strategic support on child and family services initiatives, including policy development, needs assessments, research, program evaluation, and planning. This may include supporting Nations exercising jurisdiction over their child welfare systems, analyzing legislative and policy impacts, engaging with communities on culturally rooted approaches to child and family well-being, and identifying best practices in child welfare governance and service delivery.

The ideal candidate will have experience working on child and family services initiatives with Indigenous communities, a strong understanding of Indigenous-led models of care and well-being, and the ability to apply trauma-informed and culturally relevant approaches to research and engagement.

RESPONSIBILITIES + DUTIES

Research and Analysis

• Design, implement, and oversee the execution of complex consulting projects, ensuring alignment with organizational values and client expectations.
• Create and apply advanced Indigenous research methodologies and approaches tailored to project needs, including innovative emerging trends and best practices.
• Ensure rigorous data collection, analysis, and interpretation to produce actionable insights and recommendations.
• Establish and implement protocols for managing information, data, and documents, ensuring quality control, security, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Lead and facilitate community engagements, workshops, and meetings, ensuring productive discussions and effective collaboration, in order to gather input, present findings, and drive collective decision-making.
• Write and review reports, presentations, and other deliverables, ensuring they meet high standards of clarity, accuracy, and relevance for diverse audiences, and translate research findings into practical recommendations and policies.
• Working with the Technical Lead, utilize in-depth knowledge and technical skills in Indigenous well-being to strategize and offer informed recommendations and guidance to support effective decision-making and project outcomes for clients.

Project Management

• Oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of complex, multi-method projects, ensuring alignment with Firelight values and client expectations.
• Develop and manage 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 manage project budgets to ensure project profitability and healthy cash flow, and collaborate with the Finance Department on budgeting and invoicing.

Client Engagement

• Represent Firelight in client, community, and expert meetings with minimal supervision.
• Cultivate and nurture strong partner and client relationships through service excellence, knowledge sharing, and skill development.
• Contribute to business development by securing new projects and clients.

People Leadership

• Foster a positive and respectful workplace, aligned to Firelight’s values and objectives.
• Provide feedback on staff performance to Program Managers to inform performance management and professional development.
• Supervise Researchers and Research Analysts on project-specific work, including quality review and mentorship.
• Support the development of Firelight’s organizational learning and knowledge.

QUALIFICATIONS + EXPERIENCE

• 5+ years of recent, relevant experience in research, policy analysis, governance, and/or program development, particularly within Indigenous contexts, with a focus on child welfare and family services.
• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as social work, public health, Indigenous governance, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous communities, organizations, and governments on child welfare and family services initiatives. Strong understanding of the political, legal, and jurisdictional complexities of Indigenous child welfare and self-
• determination in child and family services.
• Proven consulting experience, including the ability to develop and manage client relationships, lead or support multiple projects, and provide strategic advice in a responsive and solutions-oriented manner.
• Proficiency in knowledge translation, with a strong ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences, including community members, policymakers, leadership, 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.

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.

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.

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

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

Please respond to our online ad here – Research Manager with the following: (1) resume and (2) cover letter. All files should be in PDF format using your last name as the file name.

The application deadline is February 25, 2025. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals will a full package (resume and cover letter) and who meet the requirements of the role will be considered.