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Fire Policy Advisor

The ILI is seeking a strategic Fire Policy Advisor to join our team. The Fire Policy Advisor will conduct policy analysis, knowledge synthesis, and relationship-centered advising to support Indigenous Nations and organizations in advancing their stewardship and conservation goals towards Nationhood, with a focus on Indigenous fire stewardship through Indigenous Guardian Programs, Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, Indigenous-led Nature Climate Solutions, and Indigenous wildfire knowledge systems.

The successful candidate will have expertise in one or more of these domains and demonstrate a working knowledge of others. They will recognize how these areas of work are interconnected and how they strengthen Nationhood.  They will bring experience and knowledge working with Indigenous Nations and organizations. And they will thrive being part of a highly productive team that is diverse in expertise and backgrounds, supports open communication, and works collaboratively. Together, our team will advance our goals of supporting Indigenous-led conservation, asserting rights over land and water, and ensuring Indigenous voices are heard in decision-making processes that impact their lives and environments.

Preference will be given to Indigenous Peoples. Candidates who wish to qualify for preferential consideration must meet the ILI’s definition of Indigenous identity:

• A person who is a member of an Indigenous Nation and community, that is recognized as an individual within their community, its leadership, members and other traditional governance systems and who can provide verification of their claim to being Indigenous. 

• The community should also be recognized by other communities within their Nation, and the Indigenous Person should be able to provide verification of the community’s status within their Nation.

Key Responsibilities and Requirements 

• Fire Policy Review and Advice

  • Review existing on-the-land fire, land, climate, and emergency management policies across jurisdictions for impacts on Indigenous fire stewardship.

  • Analyze policy gaps, barriers, and opportunities related to increasing Indigenous decision-making, Nationhood, and authority on fire management and stewardship.

  • Turn complex policy information into clear summaries that support decision-making

  • Prepare policy advice, briefing notes, and recommendations for leadership and partners.

  • Track emerging legislation, policies, strategies, and regulatory changes relevant to Indigenous fire stewardship.

  Research and Policy Support

  • Synthesize Indigenous fire stewardship research into usable policy evidence.

  • Support research, including data gathering, that strengthens Indigenous-led decision-making and policy influence.

  • Assist with the development of research-based policy products, including reports and backgrounders.

  Indigenous-led Engagement and Relationship Building

  • Engage with Indigenous Nations and their communities, Knowledge Holders, and practitioners to understand priorities, challenges, and policy needs.

  • Support respectful, protocol-driven knowledge sharing and co-development of policy positions.

  • Assist in organizing and documenting meetings, advisory circles, and collaborative policy discussions.

  • Ensure Indigenous voices and leadership are centered in all policy and research outputs.

  Organizational Policy Infrastructure

  • Maintain awareness of emerging fire policy developments and share relevant updates internally.

  • Work with the fire team to develop and maintain internal policy positions, principles and frameworks related to Indigenous fire stewardship.

  • Support coordination across programs (including communications) to ensure consistency in policy-related work.

  • Build internal tools and briefing materials to improve policy readiness and responsiveness.

  • Contribute to strategic planning, funding proposals, and reporting as they relate to fire policy and stewardship.

  Qualifications

  A combination of:

  • University degree in related field.

  • Minimum 5+ years of experience working with and in Indigenous Nations and their communities, ideally in fire, policy, stewardship, conservation, or land governance.

  • Demonstrated experience in Indigenous fire stewardship.

  • Demonstrated expertise in policy analysis.

  • Knowledge and understanding of indigenous land stewardship conservation concepts.

  • Experience with writing for a general audience.

  • Deep understanding of Indigenous rights, governance, Nationhood, and Nation-to-Nation relationships.

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and contribute to system-level change in Indigenous-led conservation.

  • Excellent communication skills in English (required). French (preferred). Ability to communicate in an Indigenous language is a strong asset.

  • Effective under pressure, highly self-motivated, and able to work independently in a remote environment.

  • Experience writing briefing notes and policy analyses.

  • Proven ability to represent Indigenous perspectives and initiatives at national, regional, and international levels.

  • Standard office computer literacy, using Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, OneDrive, SharePoint).
    

  Skills

  • Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with coworkers, Indigenous Nations and their communities and partners.

  • Exercises sound judgement.

  • Able to adapt to a variety of situations.

  • Is self-motivated and self-reliant.

  • Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing.  

  • Service and goal oriented.

  • Demonstrates strong stewardship ethic.

  • Takes initiative for project development.

  • Able to maintain utmost confidentiality.

  • Works collaboratively with a team and independently as required.

  • Works collaboratively with other organizations in this space.

  • Participates in meetings as required in person and virtually.

  • Meets work objectives within established time frames.

  • Manages time effectively.

  • Manages and ensures projects and priorities are responded to on time.

  • Self-motivated.

  • Available to travel for meetings and within communities.

  • Available for overnight travel.

  • Able to maintain flexible hours as needed.

  • Knowledge and awareness of Indigenous culture, practices, traditions, and community.

  • Willing and ready to learn.
    

  Accountability

  • Carries out duties related to the job description.

  • Keeps current with knowledge and expertise in the field.

  • Upholds ILI policies and Code of Conduct.
    

  Working Conditions

  • This is a flexible, remote position. Colleagues are located from Pacific to Newfoundland time zones.

  • Travel to Indigenous communities and to meetings is required.

  • ILI is committed to decolonizing approaches to conservation, work-life balance, and values-driven leadership.