Senior Socio-Economic Specialist

EnviroCareers; Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A Canadian environmental consultancy is seeking a Senior Socio-Economic Specialist to lead socio-cultural assessments with a focus on Indigenous engagement. This fully remote role requires 5+ years of relevant experience. You will contribute to impactful project development and community well-being while collaborating with diverse stakeholders. Offering a competitive salary of $120k - $150k plus benefits.

Benefits

Health benefits

RRSP matching

Annual bonuses

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience leading socio-economic or socio-cultural assessments within environmental assessments or major project contexts.
• Adaptability to evolving regulatory, Indigenous, and community socio-economic frameworks.
• Knowledge of UNDRIP, DRIPA principles, and trauma-informed engagement is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and write socio-economic baseline studies and impact assessment chapters.
• Develop and track socio-economic management plans with measurable indicators.
• Build relationships with Indigenous Nations and local communities.

Skills

Cross-cultural communication

Superior writing and QA/QC review

Effort estimation and schedule accountability

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Indigenous Studies, Environmental Studies

Job description

My client is a specialized environmental consultancy focused on regulatory strategy, Indigenous engagement, and socio-economic impact assessment across Canada’s resource, infrastructure, and energy sectors. The firm is 100% Canadian-owned and operated, recognized for its collaborative, solutions-focused approach to navigating complex environmental and community-driven project challenges. They provide expertise in environmental assessments, permitting, and socio-economic analysis, guiding clients through key project milestones while establishing strong working relationships with regulators, Indigenous Nations, and local communities.

I am seeking a skilled and strategic Senior Socio-Economic Specialist to lead and deliver high-quality socio-cultural and socio-economic assessments, with a strong focus on Indigenous engagement and community impact. This role is ideal for a senior practitioner who thrives on meaningful, outcomes-based work, and who is passionate about shaping inclusive, culturally respectful practices that support sustainable development and community well‑being.

Remote / WFH / Hybrid: 100% Remote anywhere in Canada (BC experience required)

Travel: Minimal

Salary: $120k - $150k, plus health benefits, RRSP matching, annual bonuses (The final salary will reflect the qualifications, relevant experience, expertise, and professional designations that each candidate brings to the role. Individuals who offer additional strengths or bring exceptional value to the team will be considered for compensation beyond the stated range, as our client recognizes and rewards unique contributions.)

Responsibilities

• Socio‑Economic Baselines & Impact Assessment
  • Conduct and write defensible baseline studies and environmental/impact assessment chapters evaluating effects on economy, employment, housing, education, health, and social/community services.
  • Analyze social and economic risk/opportunity drivers using clear assumptions and evidence, presented in a format that influences permitting/EA/ESIA/CEA decisions.
• Management Planning & Monitoring
  • Develop, implement and track socio-economic management plans and monitoring frameworks with measurable indicators, attribution logic, triggers, and adaptive mitigation pathways.
• Indigenous & Community Engagement + Capacity Building
  • Build trusted, culturally-grounded relationships and co-develop socio-economic study frameworks with Indigenous Nations, local communities, stakeholders, proponents, and government agencies.
  • Organize and facilitate engagement sessions, workshops, and consultation meetings while enabling knowledge transfer and capacity building for local/Indigenous members to lead baseline/assessment inputs.
• Leadership, Mentorship & Review
  • Lead QA/QC reviews for socio-economic deliverables, mentor juniors, and coordinate team progress to meet timeline, budget, and quality targets.
• Cross-Functional Contribution
  • Participate in project, planning, budgeting, and proposal meetings that drive socio-economic deliverable strategy and execution.

Deliverables

• Baseline & Assessment Quality
  • Produce socio-economic baseline studies and impact assessment chapters that hold up under scrutiny from regulators, Indigenous reviewers, and proponents, with zero major revisions required after submission.
  • Deliver assessment chapters quantifying project effects on regional/local economy, employment, housing demand, community services (education, health, social infrastructure) using clear assumptions, auditable data sources, and scenario ranges.
  • All deliverables will integrate Gender-Based Analysis Plus and Indigenous Knowledge/Traditional Land Use context in a way that reviewers can trace and validate.
• Management & Monitoring Frameworks
  • Design and implement socio-economic management and monitoring plans with measurable indicators for employment, housing pressure, service capacity, and community well-being.
  • Establish monitoring protocols that enable quarterly reporting, attribution logic (project vs background drivers), and a clear trigger system for adaptive mitigation measures.
• Stakeholder, Indigenous, and Community Trust
  • Build structured partnership cadences with Indigenous Nations and local/community stakeholder groups, maintaining regular engagement, documented agreements on process, and shared socio-economic framing for studies/programs.
  • Facilitate community/Indigenous engagement workshops that demonstrate knowledge transfer (local members co-leading or conducting baseline elements), with documented evidence of capacity building.
• Review, QA/QC & Mentorship
  • Provide senior-level QA/QC for 12+ reports/chapters prepared by junior staff or partner consultancies, identifying red flags, assumption gaps, and regulator/community risks before submission.
  • Mentor 3–5 junior specialists/coordinators to execute analysis, writing, and engagement tasks with increasing autonomy and quality.
• Project Accountability
  • Maintain budget discipline, effort estimation accuracy, schedule tracking, and delivery timelines.
  • Contribute to proposal development for socio-economic or human-environment scopes to win strategic work.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience leading socio-economic or socio-cultural assessments within environmental assessments or major project contexts.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Indigenous Studies, Environmental Studies, or related field.
• Cross-cultural communication and relationship building with Indigenous and community stakeholder groups.
• Superior writing and QA/QC review for regulator/Indigenous-facing socio-economic submissions.
• Effort estimation and schedule accountability with remote, internal, and external multidisciplinary teams.
• Adaptability to evolving regulatory, Indigenous, and community socio-economic frameworks.
• Ability to travel to remote communities and project sites.
• Knowledge or applied experience with UNDRIP, DRIPA/DRIPA principles, FPIC, OCAP®, trauma-informed engagement, and intergenerational trauma context is considered an asset.

Nice to Have

• Experience in mining, infrastructure or renewable energy projects.
• Experience leading Indigenous Knowledge studies or community-based research.
• Fluency in French or an Indigenous language is an asset.

As a Senior Socio-Economic Specialist, you will do more than assess impacts—you’ll lead the conversation on how resource and infrastructure projects can leave lasting, positive legacies for Indigenous Nations, local communities, and regional economies. You will guide clients through evolving provincial and federal legislation, deliver actionable insights for project approvals, and mentor a growing team of engagement professionals.

To Apply

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume describing your experience and salary expectations in confidence via our careers site to see all open positions and apply: www.EnviroCareers.ca or via email: [e-mail]. Please indicate “Senior Socio‑Economic Specialist” in your subject line.