Human Environment Specialist
Do you enjoy working with an engaged team toward a common goal? Do you regularly come up with creative solutions to problems? Do you want opportunities to put those solutions to work? Are you excited to support and advance Indigenous-led assessments and planning? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, we might have the perfect role for you!

PGL Environmental Consultants (PGL) is looking to hire a Human Environment Specialist to help our team and Indigenous clients assess social impacts and maximize benefits to their communities. PGL has a large (and growing) list of Indigenous clients. The person hired for this role will work mainly with our Indigenous clients as they assess industrial projects or undertake their own planning projects. Depending on your interests and client needs, you may also become involved in resource management planning, government-to-government negotiations, land use studies, socio-cultural studies, policy development, and community-based monitoring programs.

We are seeking an Intermediate or Senior professional with consulting experience who wants to grow their career within our PGL Village. Based in our Victoria, Vancouver, or Langley office, this role is part of our Environmental Planning Group, which is an established, experienced group of mostly long-tenured professionals serving our diverse client set in a wide range of sectors.

Over the last decade, PGL is proud to have been at the forefront of the expanding and evolving field of environmental and regulatory support for Indigenous clients. The successful candidate for the Human Environment Specialist role will support our work in this area.

We are seeking an individual with a strong background in the social sciences/humanities related to human-environment interactions. The ideal candidate has expertise in the regulatory and Indigenous context of development in Canada and experience applying it in an Environmental Impact Assessment and permitting context. The candidate will be looking to apply and grow their knowledge in a variety of project types and enjoy the diverse, innovative, and dynamic nature of consulting.

The ideal candidate has a blend of the following experience:

Working with Indigenous Nations doing socio-economic/environmental planning and traditional land use and Indigenous Knowledge studies;
Supporting regulatory consultation and negotiations;
Supporting development and implementation of Impact Benefit Agreements;
Facilitating meetings and community engagement;
Providing training and capacity building;
Holding interviews with community members and Elders in a culturally appropriate and ethical manner;
Analyzing qualitative data collected through multiple methodologies;
Collecting and working with Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous land use information in an ethical manner;
Applying knowledge of Indigenous Rights in the context of land and resource development in Canada;
Integrating information from environmental disciplines;
Supporting Indigenous governance and decision-making; and/or
Scoping, conducting, and reporting on Indigenous-led assessments, research, and/or planning projects.

We are looking for a resourceful and organized practitioner. You will be expected to work both independently and in project teams, undertaking tasks from start to finish with full team support.

Responsibilities
You will be expected to:

Work in a team to scope, budget, conduct, and coordinate diverse projects with our clients;
Apply technical skills and creativity to coordinate and execute environmental planning projects;
Prepare professional reports describing projects, outcomes, and recommendations, often for diverse audiences;
Carry out technical fieldwork, depending on your area of expertise, including interviews and community meetings;
Conduct Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, background research, and report writing;
Manage projects and communicate with clients and regulators;
Lead and mentor teammates in your area of practice; and
Effectively communicate our work both verbally and in writing.

Note that as a consultant, business development and client care are important components of the role.

Job Requirements

5 to 10+ years of experience working in a professional capacity
Consulting skills: project management, client service, verbal and written communication, situational awareness, conflict management, and business development
Technical skills: social science, human geography, or environmental discipline with focus on the human dimension; community engagement; facilitation

Experience researching and interpreting Indigenous Rights within the context of the Canadian resource economy
Experience with the Environmental Impact Assessment process and methods in Canada
Knowledge of environmental and land use policies and regulations for development in Canada
Experience collecting and working with Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous land use information, understanding the context of western scientific disciplines, and supporting Indigenous decision-making
Experience conducting environmental, socio-economic, or cultural studies following professional standards of practices
Excellent client service and networking skills an asset
Experience working with Indigenous groups as clients and/or project partners is essential

Other strengths:

Indigenous lived experience is an asset
Inter-cultural sensitivity training (ideal, but will provide)
Professional accreditation is desirable, if applicable to your field
Proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office suite products
Willingness to travel to our clients’ communities to conduct work as needed
First aid certification (ideal, but will provide)
A valid driver’s license

PGL Perks:

100% Employee owned organization;
Employee and Owner Profit Share Program;
Flexible work arrangements (any of the offices, work from home) and daily work hours;
Medium sized organization; a lot of opportunity for career development and progression.
Annual Company Retreat;
Allowances: Cell phone, Wellness, Office, Clothing & Costco memberships;
Annual training and development budget;
Professional associations and membership dues;
Salary range $80,000 - $130,00+;
3 / 4 weeks’ vacation & paid sick time;
Competitive benefits: Extended Health, Dental, STD, LTD, Life & Travel Insurance.

If you are looking to join a great team that values creativity, collaboration, and employee engagement, please apply online (http://www.pggroup.com/join_team.htm). This job posting will be open until Friday, November 17th, 2023. We will be reviewing resumes the following week and reaching out to successful candidates via e‑mail.

About PGL Environmental Consultants
PGL is committed to advance our people and company by creating a sense of belonging for every employee and by being equitable, diverse, and inclusive. We recognize that our community will be strengthened by the inclusion of a wide range of views and perspectives, informed by different backgrounds and life experiences. We want every employee to feel they have equal opportunities for growth at PGL and strive to include, embrace, promote, and celebrate differences of race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical, and mental abilities.

We are a full-service environmental consulting firm with offices in BC and Ontario. Since 1991, PGL has provided environmental services such as environmental planning, contaminated site assessments, remediation, Environmental Impact Assessment, environmental monitoring, sustainability assessments environmental permitting, and agrology. PGL is an employee-owned company with over 80 employees including environmental scientists, geoscientists, biologists, social scientists, and engineers, plus a dynamic and customer-oriented support team.