Strategic Lead – Indigenous Relations & Federal Opportunities (Intermediate to Senior)

CIMA+; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 97,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP plan

Employee assistance program

Share ownership

Vacation 3-5 weeks

Flexible work policy

Job summary

CIMA+ is seeking a Strategic Lead – Indigenous Relations & Federal Opportunities to strengthen Indigenous partnerships across Ontario and beyond, and to support the firm’s federal opportunities. You will build trusted relationships with Indigenous communities, advise pursuit teams, and guide engagement strategies while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex projects.

This role offers opportunities to influence strategy, grow a sustainable pipeline of Indigenous-related

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Indigenous relations or related field.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with Indigenous communities and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Indigenous consultation, engagement, procurement, or benefits planning.
• Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Strong business development and client relationship management.
• Ability to identify opportunities and connect client needs with multidisciplinary services.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, collaboration, and strategic thinking.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with Indigenous Nations, communities, organizations, businesses, clients, and partners.
• Advise project and pursuit teams on Indigenous engagement, consultation, partnerships, procurement, and community considerations.
• Support the development and implementation of Indigenous engagement strategies, Indigenous Benefits Plans, participation strategies, and community benefits approaches.
• Help strengthen CIMA+'s relationships and positioning with federal departments and agencies and other strategic clients, including potential opportunities with DND and DCC.
• Identify and develop Indigenous Relations and federal opportunities aligned with CIMA+'s consulting services.
• Support strategic pursuits, teaming strategies, proposals, and client positioning.
• Connect opportunities with CIMA+'s Earth & Environment, Infrastructure, Buildings, Transportation, Energy, Water, Mining, Industrial, Advisory, and other capabilities.
• Participate in multidisciplinary project delivery in areas aligned with your professional expertise.
• Support integration of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into projects.
• Collaborate with CIMA+ leaders and technical teams across Ontario and Canada to increase cross-sector opportunities.
• Help build a sustainable pipeline of Indigenous Relations and related strategic work.

Skills

Relationship building

Business development

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

Cross-sector collaboration

Job description

Strategic Lead – Indigenous Relations & Federal Opportunities (Intermediate to Senior)

• Full-time
• Employee Type: Regular
• Compensation: CAD 97360 - CAD 133870 - yearly

Welcome to a commitment to sustainable development you can relate to.

Welcome to people who like people, to brilliant minds, tomorrow’s visionaries, challenge seekers, collaborators, and those with an entrepreneurial spirit in their DNA.

At CIMA+, you’ll find a place where your ideas and perspectives are welcomed and encouraged. In both the field and at the office, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to reach your full potential in an environment that’s engineered for people. At CIMA+, we care about our people and make sure that they feel valued, appreciated, and part of the team. You could even become a shareholder in the company.

At CIMA+, we give you the freedom and flexibility to manage your work on your own terms and the opportunity to work on projects you can relate to.

Welcome to CIMA+

CIMA+’s Earth and Environment team have adopted sustainability as a core value and prioritize the environmental, social, and economic benefits of every project. Our engineers and certified technicians have the detailed knowledge of local conditions to provide the full range of environmental services for clients in both the public and private sectors. We have the skills to execute complex environmental projects, but we also integrate green solutions into every infrastructure, building, transportation, and energy project we undertake. Join us and immerse yourself in a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative environment where you’ll make a real impact. Together, we’ll push boundaries and go above what’s expected of us to meet the challenges of tomorrow and engineer a better world!

CIMA+ is seeking an experienced professional to strengthen Indigenous relationships and partnerships across Ontario and, where appropriate, nationally, while also supporting the firm’s strategic engagement with the federal government.

We are open to candidates from a variety of professional backgrounds, including Indigenous Relations, environmental or engineering consulting, mining and natural resources, infrastructure, government, defence, Indigenous organizations, community relations, regulatory affairs, or related fields.

More important than a specific career path is your ability to build trusted relationships, understand complex projects and stakeholder environments, identify opportunities, and connect client and community needs with CIMA+'s multidisciplinary consulting capabilities.

Working primarily within our Earth & Environment team, you will collaborate across CIMA+ to foster respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous communities and partners. You will also support strategic pursuits and federal opportunities, including potential opportunities in areas such as Defence, and contribute to the delivery of multidisciplinary projects.

Primary Responsibilities

As part of this role, you will:

• Build and maintain meaningful, respectful relationships with Indigenous Nations, communities, organizations, businesses, clients, and partners.
• Advise project and pursuit teams on Indigenous engagement, consultation, partnerships, procurement, and community considerations.
• Support the development and implementation of Indigenous engagement strategies, Indigenous Benefits Plans, participation strategies, and community benefits approaches.
• Help strengthen CIMA+'s relationships and positioning with federal departments and agencies and other strategic clients, including potential opportunities with the Department of National Defence (DND) and Defence Construction Canada (DCC).
• Identify and develop Indigenous Relations and federal opportunities aligned with CIMA+'s consulting services, including, where appropriate, opportunities in the Defence sector.
• Support strategic pursuits, teaming strategies, proposals, and client positioning.
• Connect opportunities with CIMA+'s Earth & Environment, Infrastructure, Buildings, Transportation, Energy, Water, Mining, Industrial, Advisory, and other capabilities.
• Participate in multidisciplinary project delivery in areas aligned with your professional expertise.
• Support the appropriate integration of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into projects.
• Collaborate with CIMA+ leaders and technical teams across Ontario and Canada to increase cross-sector opportunities.
• Help build a sustainable pipeline of Indigenous Relations and related strategic work and contribute to the longer-term development of these services within CIMA+.

You will ideally have:

• Significant professional experience in Indigenous Relations, environmental services, consulting, mining, infrastructure, government, defence, community relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing trusted relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, businesses, clients, partners, or stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Indigenous consultation, engagement, partnerships, procurement, or benefits planning.
• Experience supporting complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and disciplines.
• Strong business development and client relationship-management capabilities.
• An ability to identify opportunities and connect client needs with multidisciplinary consulting services.
• Strong communication, facilitation, collaboration, and strategic thinking skills.
• The ability to work effectively across different business sectors, disciplines, and geographies.
• A collaborative approach grounded in integrity, respect, and long-term relationship building.

Experience with federal departments and agencies, major infrastructure projects, environmental approvals, Indigenous Benefits Plans, or Indigenous procurement initiatives would be considered an asset. This could include experience with organizations such as Indigenous Services, Public Services and Procurement Canada, DND, or Defence Construction Canada.

What Success Looks Like

During your first year, you will help:

• Strengthen CIMA+'s Indigenous Relations capabilities and market presence.
• Support federal and other strategic pursuits, including potential opportunities in areas such as Defence.
• Develop relationships with Indigenous communities, partners, clients, and government organizations.
• Generate opportunities through external relationship development and internal collaboration.
• Integrate Indigenous Relations into multidisciplinary CIMA+ pursuits and projects.
• Increase collaboration and cross-selling across CIMA+'s sectors and markets.
• Contribute directly to client and project work.
• Develop a sustainable pipeline of Indigenous Relations and related strategic opportunities.
• Help shape the longer-term strategy and service offering for this area of CIMA+'s business.
• Integrity, team spirit, and a commitment to excellence

The position combines strategic growth and relationship development with meaningful client and project involvement. The successful candidate will be expected to deliver billable work alongside business development, relationship-building, and strategic pursuits. The balance between these responsibilities will evolve as the role and project pipeline develop.

Why choose CIMA+? Because we offer you:

• Comprehensive Group Benefits available from day one for all permanent employees working at least 20 hours per week
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) with up to 4% employer contribution
• As an employee-owned company, an annual opportunity to purchase shares for all eligible employees
• Work/Life balance policy across Canada
• 3-5 weeks of vacation, based on years of relevant experience
• Tailored training to improve your existing skills

At CIMA+, we recognize the richness and diversity of each individual’s experience. Compensation for this role is therefore based on the candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications, while maintaining internal equity. The level and associated salary may vary depending on the candidate’s profile.

CIMA+ uses an applicant tracking system that includes an automated match score feature. However, this score is not used to screen, assess, or select applicants. All hiring decisions are made through human review.

Ethics and integrity are fundamental values at CIMA+. That is why we are committed to ensuring equal access to resources and opportunities for candidates, regardless of their identity (race, ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic status or background, etc.).

In keeping with the principles of employment equity, we encourage all applications, including, but not limited to, those from women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities and visible minorities. We also encourage candidates to complete the self-identification form when applying for employment.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible. Accommodations are available in accordance with CIMA's policies. If you require an accommodation, please let us know.