004 - Mineral Development Advisor

Métis Nation of Ontario; Fort Frances; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Métis Nation of Ontario is seeking a Mining Consultation Advisor to support the Crown’s Duty to Consult and Accommodate. You will technically review mining plans, permits, and related documents, provide comments to protect Métis rights, and help organize engagement with communities and industry partners across Ontario.

You will lead RCC participation, analyze regulatory and policy materials, and develop outreach tools to inform and educate Métis citizens about project impacts and opportunities.

Qualifications

• College diploma (3 years) in a related field is required.
• 1–3 years’ experience in natural resources, environmental sectors, policy analysis or Indigenous affairs.
• Experience handling sensitive, confidential information.
• Proven ability to manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong report writing and briefing note skills.
• Ability to learn quickly in a demanding, dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the consultation and accommodation process with RCCs and stakeholders.
• Liaise with government, proponents, and industry on project activities.
• Coordinate engagement meetings, site tours, and community information sessions.
• Provide technical expertise for public hearings and briefings.
• Develop communication plans and plain-language materials for communities.
• Track meetings, actions, and outcomes in project records.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder management

Written reports

Public speaking

Interpersonal skills

Analytical thinking

Education

College Diploma (3 year) in related field

Job description

About the Role:

The Lands, Resources and Consultations (LRC) Branch works towards the goals of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) by protecting Métis rights and helping Métis protect and preserve the lands and waters within Métis traditional territories. The Mining Consultation Advisor provides technical advice to the MNO’s Regional Consultation Committees (RCCs), staff, legal council, and citizens to support the Crown’s Duty to Consult and Accommodate and/or engage with external organizations on lands and resources matters of concern to Métis communities. This involves undertaking technical analyses of project plans undertaking research, identifying opportunities to support the work, acting as a resource in community information sessions, and supporting Métis leadership in their relationships with industry representatives, representatives of regulatory and government agencies and other organizations. As the role involves liaising with industry, Consultation Advisors may also assist with regional economic development work, if needed. The Consultation Advisor reports to a Manager in the LRC branch.

The Mining Advisor reports to the LRC Manager for Mining and, where required, to the Director of the Branch, on all exploration and mining-related issues and initiatives. Under the direction of the Managers in the LRC Branch, the Mining Advisor will support the Duty to Consult and Accommodate by technically reviewing mining plans, permits, and documents concerning exploration, mining, and mine rehabilitation processes and policies, and help prepare MNO’s comments and educational opportunities as they relate to the potential impact of exploration, mining and rehabilitation operations on Métis rights and concerns of Métis communities, including comments on permits and Closure Plans post-approval. The Mining Advisor will technically analyze documents, keep records and provide comment on legislation, regulations, policy that impact Métis rights. The Advisor will assist in the identification of mitigation measures that reduce the negative impacts of projects on the community. The Advisor may also support activities that promote regional Metis economic development, if these opportunities arise as part of the consultation and accommodation process, such as organizing meetings that advance contract- and job opportunities for local Metis.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Liaise with proponents, government, and other exploration and mining sector entities on activities and projects.
• Work collaboratively with other staff of the LRC Branch, including the MNO Community Relations unit and the MNO Way of Life unit to implement various programs and initiatives.
• Lead the consultation and accommodation process, respond to notifications, permits, plans, requests from government agencies.
• Coordinate and facilitate the RCCs’ participation in review processes for environmental or impact assessments, environmental impact studies (EIS), hearings and reviews, rehabilitation plans, and environmental monitoring, including post-approval work.
• Provide technical expertise to the RCC to support public hearings and technical briefings.
• Research, analyze, and submit formal legislative, regulation, strategy and policy reviews to the Crown
• Safely work and wear proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) site visits to exploration and mine sites with RCCs
• Facilitate MNO citizens’ participation in meetings that advance regional economic development, if these opportunities arise, such as meetings regarding invitations to tender.
• Coordinate and respond to consultation requests from governments, industry, and proponents regarding land use, development projects, and environmental assessments.
• Oversee and engage in research related to consultation requests. Collaborate and provide technical expertise to the Regional Consultation Committee (RCC) and the LRC Branch to identify potential impacts of the proposed projects.
• Plan, organize and execute engagement activities / logistics with the RCC and the impacted community, including organizing and facilitating engagement/consultation meetings, site tours, community information sessions, etc.
• Document and record-keep important information from consultation and accommodation and engagement activities, including preparing agendas, briefings, briefing notes, reports and presentations.
• Develop communication plans for the project, including the development of content, and plain speak communication tools, such as mail outs, website ads, and other communications for the Métis Community related to the project.
• Track through a project tracking system and maintain detailed records related to activities and deliverables, such as:
  • Meetings attended with communities, dates and locations;
  • Meetings attended with other organizations, dates and locations;
  • Issues discussed
  • List and description of initiatives that have been undertaken/addressed
  • Training undertaken by the Advisor; and
  • General outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with other staff of the LRC branch and other branches including the Way of Life team to implement various programs and initiatives.
• Collaborate with the RCC, project consultants, and MNO staff for matters related to community engagement, employment, training, business and economic development opportunities, and capacity building related to the project. Assess community resources and needs; take an inventory of potential opportunities, identify gaps and a plan to capture opportunities.
• Act as point of contact for community engagement and travel to communities for meetings with the RCC, government and/or industry representatives and/or community members as directed.
• Promote the values of the organization within the workplace and in the community by demonstrating positive and professional relationships with others (employees, citizens, council, volunteers, advocates, etc.)
• Report all unsafe conditions, hazards or practices, accidents and incidents in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and adheres to all Health and Safety requirements within the MNO’s policies and procedures and provincial legislation.
• Perform other job/branch-related duties as required.

Qualifications:

• College Diploma (3 year) in a related field
• 1-3 years’ experience in natural resources, environmental sectors, policy analysis or Indigenous affairs
• Previous experience dealing with sensitive, confidential information
• Demonstrated ability in managing relationships with a variety of internal / external stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality reports, briefing notes and presentations
• Demonstrated ability to quickly acquire and expand knowledge and to be flexible when advising others in a demanding and dynamic environment
• Strong desire to act in the service of the Métis Citizens, to advance and uphold rights and culture
• Knowledge of Métis and/or Aboriginal policy issues, or demonstrated ability to quickly acquire knowledge of Métis specific matters including knowledge of the MNO’s mandate, governance structure and Métis history and culture will be a definite asset.
• Knowledge of the mining sector in Ontario, including the Mining Act and/or knowledge gained from experience in mining regulations, mining operations, mining policy, the development of Closure Plans, mining industry (private sector) and/or Indigenous consultation related to mining.
• A high degree of technology literacy and proficiency in standard office software, equipment
• Advanced communications skills, both written and verbal, including sensitive topics
• Superior organization skills and time/priority-management
• Highly detail-oriented
• Ability to problem-solve independently
• Analytical skills
• Ability to work alone/independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-issue environment, serving a wide range of varied internal and external interests
• Ability to deliver presentations on technical information in plain language to large and small groups with ease
• Ability to be flexible and meet new challenges as they arise, in a demanding and dynamic environment
• Strong project coordination, including the design and implementation of project work-plans
• An understanding of regulatory processes, environmental issues and Indigenous issues or a demonstrated ability and willingness to learn about these and other processes and issues quickly.