Community & Indigenous Engagement Strategist

Posting End Date:

Employee Type:

This senior role oversees and implements strategic engagement with key partners, Municipalities & Indigenous Nations, governments, groups and partners for Projects and Operations. Key partners include municipal government officials and representatives, Indigenous Nations, governments, groups and partners, influential business leaders, emergency responders and non-government organizations. Where this involves Indigenous people, this engagement is consistent with the principles contained in Enbridge’s Indigenous Peoples Policy.

Maintain, cultivate, and document relationships and engagement activities with key influential leadership within affected communities, local organizations and Indigenous communities. Must have a comprehensive understanding of our business, issues, risks and opportunities associated with respective communities, organizations and Indigenous communities. Coach, mentor, and guide the team, while keeping leadership informed of partner & Indigenous concerns and critical activities. Accountable for overseeing and contributing to the development, implementation and modification of regional engagement plans, major project engagement plans and related budgets.

Contribute to the advancement of Enbridge’s Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan commitments by leading or participating in key initiatives and assisting the CIE team and regional operations in their efforts to achieve the commitments.

At Enbridge, we offer a competitive compensation package with generous benefits including paid time off and a pension plan! If this sounds like you, come join us, we'd love to hear from you!

What You Will Do:

• Own relationships with key influential leaders and work with internal partners within and outside Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability (PACS) (i.e. Supply Chain Management) to develop innovative engagement strategies, approaches and tools to maximize efficiencies and minimize risk related to Community and Indigenous Engagement.

• For Indigenous engagement, may be responsible lead for providing the awareness and guidance to the company on Indigenous cultural protocols, norms and politics to ensure the company respectfully engages with Indigenous communities, builds positive relationships, meets regulatory engagement requirements and effectively manage the related risk.

• Lead development and implementation of specific engagement plans, including project specific engagement plans and Regional Engagement Plans, strategies, talking points for media spokesperson and related budgets that reflect the interests of both the Company and the potentially-affected partner/Indigenous groups. Meet regulatory requirements and build, maintain and enhance Enbridge's reputation as a trusted corporate citizen.

• Coach and mentor team mates on developing and maintaining effective relationships, engagement strategies, and managing issues and risks.

• Implement regulatory requirements and conditions that may be required or imposed by federal and or provincial regulatory bodies.

• Support the development of regulatory strategy and participate in formal regulatory process.

• Provide timely advice and counsel to Enbridge management and staff and business teams with respect to Community/Partner Engagement, including cultural awareness, consultation, relationships and partnership opportunities, negotiations, issue management, risk and opportunity assessments. This includes bringing the voice (interests and perspectives) of the communities into Enbridge for appropriate and timely consideration.

• Contribute regional knowledge and policies into Business Development to ensure consideration of local and regional partner risks and opportunities.

• Work with Public Awareness team to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of delivery of supplemental partner outreach and other activities within the Public Awareness Program.

• Lead development of Protocol and Engagement Agreements, negotiate commercial contracts, Letters of Intent and project agreements, etc., that support key partner and Indigenous community relationship building and communication, capacity building, and key partner and Indigenous training and education, contracting and hiring that will strategically advance business objectives.

• Where applicable, working with the Sustainable Supply Chain Management team, identify opportunities in conjunction with project teams or Operations regarding Indigenous content on Enbridge's projects or operations. This includes providing insight into community dynamics, capacity and politics, identifying potential local impacts and regional Indigenous participation opportunities and benefits (e.g. educational, skills development, employment, and business opportunity initiatives).

• Provide senior level expertise and consultation to industry trade associations through participation on high profile advisory panels and working groups.

• Plan and manage functional area or project budget(s) and other resources with a view to cost effectiveness and ensuring appropriate controls.

• May include leading engagement in the field with individuals, communities, Indigenous Nations, governments and groups and municipal government officials and representatives and organizations in support of business goals and project objectives, working cooperatively with internal functions such as Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Business Development and Operations.

• Establish and maintain well-organized record of contact and in the relationship management database.

• Keep up professional and individual development

• Crisis Communications & Response Team:

• May serve as part of the crisis communications & response team (CCRT) during operational incidents or emergencies and non-operational events such as a reputational crisis. If identified as a member of the CCRT, training will be provided.

Required:

Personal Traits

• Values of integrity, safety, respect and inclusion

• Character that is reliable, open, considerate, accommodating, agreeable, courageous

• High achievement orientation

• Stress tolerance

• Self confidence

Knowledge

• University degree from a related post-secondary program

• 10 or more years of directly related work experience in Municipal, Indigenous or partner engagement, preferably in the resources sector, particularly in the energy industry / energy transportation infrastructure sector or renewal power projects

• In-depth knowledge and direct experience in engaging with Indigenous communities, including on Indigenous history and rights, on cultural protocols and norms, on Indigenous politics and the ability to successfully engage with Indigenous people.

• Familiar with Indigenous history and culture

• Familiarity with applicable government and regulatory requirements, present day issues, and municipal government structures and dynamics

• Experience in and understanding of a large, public company with operations in multiple regions.

Technical Skills:

• Specific experience in cross-cultural partner and community engagement

• Knowledge of community (Indigenous and Municipal) development practices and organizational effectiveness strategies

• Ability to interact effectively and establish credibility with a wide audience including Indigenous leaders and community representatives, field and corporate staff, external collaborator groups, partners and contractors

• Solid written and verbal communication, presentation and organizational abilities

• Proficient with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

• Ability to work with complex databases for tracking engagement and producing reports

• Persistence, patience, and the ability to work independently with minimal direction

• Sense of urgency, with well-developed prioritization, time management and multi-tasking skills

• A high degree of flexibility to adapt to multiple and competing priorities

• Able to deal with a variety of external and internal fields and senior management and manage multiple projects at once, under constant deadline pressure

• Ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Good judgment in determining relevant content for employees

• Strong customer focus with the ability to listen, identify key issues, advise and maintain confidentiality

• Strong analytical skills to quickly analyze complex situations, determine key issues and messages, and implement the programs

• Strong research skills in subject matter field

• Excellent attention to detail

Social Process (People) Skills:

• Team-oriented attitude and the ability to work independently.

• Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with key partners, internal and external.

• Strong interpersonal skills, including consultation, negotiation, facilitation, risk communication and conflict resolution.

• Passionate about and experienced in building employee engagement and organizational alignment through effective internal communications

• Office environment

• Works with highly confidential, strategic information

• Decentralized operation

• Frequent travel

• Attends after-hours Indigenous and community events on personal and business time throughout the year

• Company paid international relocation is not offered for this role.

• Flex Work Arrangements: Enbridge provides competitive workplace programs that differentiate us and offer flexibility to our team members. Enbridge’s FlexWork (Hybrid Work Model) offers eligible employees the opportunity to work variable daily schedules with a flexible start and end time, to opt for a compressed workweek schedule, or the option to work from home on Wednesdays and Fridays. Role requirements determine your eligibility for each option. #LI-Hybrid #joinourteam

Grasping, kneeling, light - moderate lifting (objects up to 20 pounds), reaching above shoulder, repetitive motion, typing, sitting, standing, visual requirement (able to see screens, detect color coding, reads fine print), hearing requirement and the ability to sit at a computer for long periods of time.

Mental Requirements (Both Field & Office) include but are not limited to:

Ability to: understand, remember and apply oral and/or written instructions or other information, understand complex problems and collaborate/explore alternative solutions, organize thoughts and ideas into understandable terminology, organize and prioritize work schedule on a short-term basis, make decisions which have moderate impact on the immediate work unit and monitor impact outside this area, understand and follow basic instructions and guidelines, complete routine forms, compose letters, outlines, memoranda and basic reports and communicate with individuals via telephone.

Diversity and inclusion are important to us. Enbridge is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to age, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, veteran status, Indigenous/Native American status, or disability. Applicants with disabilities can request accessible formats, communication supports, or other accessibility assistance by contacting careers@enbridge.com.

Information For Applicants:

• Applications can be submitted via our online recruiting system only.
• We appreciate your interest in working with us; however, only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
• Final candidates for this position may be required to undergo a security screening, including a criminal records check.

To learn more about us, visit www.enbridge.com