Social Performance Specialist - (Sustainability)

Ausenco; Canada; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career advancement

Hybrid work model

Parental leave benefits

Wellness program

Job summary

Ausenco is seeking a Social Performance Specialist to advance Indigenous and stakeholder engagement, social impact assessments and governance across Canadian projects. The role partners with our Social Performance team to create shared value for communities and clients, with an emphasis on regulatory compliance and international standards.

You will support socio-economic programs, community consultation, and grievance mechanisms while traveling as needed and potentially working in a hybrid setup

Qualifications

• Degree in social sciences, environmental assessment, natural resource management, Indigenous Studies, Economic Development or related field of study.
• 5+ years experience in Indigenous and stakeholder engagement within environmental assessments (BC EAO, CEAA/IAAC, YESAB, CER)
• Strong understanding of Indigenous/local community structures, governance and priorities.
• Experience with UNDRIP, FPIC and related policy/regulatory enhancements.
• Experience with social due diligences against international standards (IFC, Equator Principles, ICMM, TSM MAC)
• Experience facilitating meetings/engagement with diverse audiences.
• Excellent verbal/interpersonal communication and strong research/writing skills.
• Experience working with Indigenous Nations in BC/Yukon/Canada-wide.
• Spanish language is an asset; willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze environmental and social data for management plans to mitigate and maximize project impacts.
• Conduct Indigenous rightsholder and stakeholder engagement activities and develop engagement strategies.
• Support social due diligence against domestic regulations and international standards (IFC/Equator Principles).
• Implement socio-economic development programs, community consultation plans, and grievance systems.
• Provide technical expertise for socio-economic and cumulative impact assessments and monitoring plans.
• Design and implement local employment, contracting and social investment plans within EPCM contracts.
• Develop collaborative social innovation solutions aligned with client values.
• Develop social governance systems, policies, scorecards, audits and monitoring tools.
• Participate in business development and write proposals.
• Collaborate with Ausenco's Environmental team to deliver integrated solutions.

Skills

Indigenous engagement

Stakeholder engagement

Social management plans

Socio-economic assessments

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Meeting facilitation

Research & technical writing

Travel readiness

Spanish (asset)

Education

Bachelor's degree in social sciences / related field

Job description

Ausenco is a fast-growing company with big ideas. We redefine what’s possible in some of the world’s most complex projects and toughest environments. Delivering innovative, value-add consulting, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions is what we do. From 21 offices in 9 countries, with projects in over 80 locations worldwide, we create sustainable outcomes for our people, clients and communities.

We are looking for a talented Social Performance Specialist to join our Social Performance team. Reporting to the Director of Social Performance, you will collaborate with our clients to enhance positive social outcomes and minimize negative impacts, creating shared value for their projects and the host communities. The ideal candidate will possess relevant knowledge and experience in Indigenous and community engagement, social management plans, socio-economic impact assessments, and compliance with regulatory and international standards, such as the IFC and Equator Principles.

The role may be based on any of our Canadian offices, and you may be required to travel for short periods of time. If you’re the right person for the job, we are open to discussing possible remote working arrangements.

About the role:

• Collect and analyze environmental and social data for preparing management plans to mitigate and maximize impacts associated with projects.
• Conduct a wide range of Indigenous rightsholder and stakeholder engagement activities including developing and implementing community and stakeholder engagement strategies and plans
• Support in conducting social due diligence against domestic regulations and international recognized standards such as the IFC Performance Standards and Equator Principles
• Implement socio-economic development programs, community consultation plans, and grievance management systems to address community concerns effectively.
• Provide technical expertise for socio-economic impact assessments, cumulative impact assessments and social management and monitoring plans
• Support in designing and implementing tailored local employment, contracting and social investment plans as part of our Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Management (EPCM) Contracts to ensure our client’s projects contribute to meaningful, measurable economic benefits.
• Design collaborative and sustainable social innovation solutions connected to client’s corporate values and strategies.
• Develop and implement social governance systems, such as policies, scorecards, audits, evaluation, and monitoring tools to ensure that social outcomes are transparent, measurable and continuously improving
• Participate in business development activities, including identifying and pursuing opportunities and writing proposals
• Collaborate closely with Ausenco's Environmental team and other internal multidisciplinary groups to deliver integrated solutions and support project execution.

About you

• Degree in social sciences, environmental assessment, natural resource management, Indigenous Studies, Economic Development or related field of study.
• 5+ years experience in Indigenous and stakeholder engagement, particularly as part of environmental assessments under federal, provincial and/or territorial project review processes e.g., the BC Environmental Assessment Office (BC EAO), the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA, now the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC)), the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) and/or the Canada Energy Regulator (CER).
• Strong understanding of Indigenous and local community structures, governance and priorities.
• Demonstrated experience with UNDRIP, FPIC and other related enhancements in related policy or regulatory advancements.
• Relevant experience with social due diligences against international standards (e.g., IFC, Equator Principles, ICMM, TSM MAC)
• Experienced facilitating meetings or engagement activities with diverse audiences.
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent research, analysis and technical writing skills.
• Experience working with Indigenous Nations in BC, the Yukon, and/or communities across Canada.
• Working proficiency in Spanish is an asset
• Willing to travel, as required.

We’re committed to a fair and human hiring process. All applications are reviewed by a member of our team and are not automatically screened or rejected by AI.

Why Ausenco?

We support individual growth and aim to allow you to work in a way that plays to your strengths. Beyond a competitive remuneration package we offer:

• Career advancement - Embark on a journey of continuous growth through technical training, mentorship initiatives, and networking opportunities
• Work Life Balance – Experience the best of both worlds with our hybrid work model, allowing you to balance office days with working from home; and progressive parental leave benefits to foster family needs and professional life
• Holistic approach to wellness – Take a proactive approach to your overall wellbeing. Access to confidential counselling, information services and a benefits program that supports your health & wellness
• Accessible leadership team – Work with highly reputable industry leaders who value your contribution.

Our people don’t settle for the status quo. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and want to help set a new standard in sustainability, we’ll help you find your place. This means working with you to develop a unique career path and skillset to match your ambition.

We’re proud of the work we do, and we do it within a culture that is open, honest, and cooperative. We have a history of attracting visionary people who embrace challenges and deliver creative solutions for every project, and your voice is an important part of the conversation.

As a global company we embrace and encourage diversity in its fullest sense – gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, experience, nationality, colour, language, religion, location, disability, education, skills, working styles and time availability. Our work environments are based on mutual trust and respect for the rights and opportunities of every individual.

Expected salary: $80,000 to $110,000 annually

Variation in salary is determined by factors such as qualifications, relevant years of experience, and prevailing market conditions for the specific role.

Join us and work a better way.