Due to the nature of this role and the specific communities it serves, the successful applicant is required to be part of Indigenous communities.
The First Nations Field Services Specialist will work alongside various stakeholder partners in a collaborative and coordinated approach in setting up collection programs for stewarded material, as well as establishing and building capacity to assist with the management of various collection (recycling) programs.
This role is the primary point of contact for First Nation collectors (recycling) and community province-wide and is responsible for overseeing collection operations, defining strategic priorities, determining compliance and material quality from collection service providers, and optimizing value-generating relationships. As a field services position, this role requires travel throughout the entire province of BC with regular overnight travel to conduct site inspections and meet with First Nation collection and processing partners. Our client’s office is in North Vancouver, though being a mostly field-based position, the successful applicant would be expected to work from a home-based office while not on the road. This is primarily an independent role which requires the ability to prioritize and coordinate on a continuous basis.
Principal Duties And Responsibilities:
- Liaise with First Nations at the level appropriate for the community: Chief, Band Council, Waste Management Coordinator, etc., and with ISC, IZWTAG and other key stakeholders. Liaise with the participating FNRI stewardship agencies under the guidance of our client to develop and improve the collection of stewarded material.
- Build relationships with each First Nation community and employ standards, value-added summaries, scorecards, and codes of conduct for collectors and post-collection services (consolidation, transport and processing) for both our client and each of the participating FNRI stewardship agencies as agreed.
- Manage and build relationships with collectors, contractors and other stakeholders and provide in-field training for collectors on established policies and practices as well as manage and build relationships with supply chain service providers and provide in-field training for collectors on established policies and practices.
- Work with other Collection specialists, our client’s team members, First Nations Recycling Initiative stewardship partners, third-party auditors, and other temporary field staff as needed for the oversight of collection and post-collection and approved stewardship material flow in the field.
- Collaborate with other team members to gather information, conduct research and analysis, test ideas and conclusions, and in the development of plans and strategies necessary to achieve the objectives of the program.
- Participate in the implementation of a reverse supply chain in the field with sufficient capacity to collect, transport, process, and market materials to meet program plan targets for each of the participating FNRI stewardship agencies as agreed for this initiative.
- Provide community training, promotion & education, and participate in local events & initiatives (i.e., classroom visits, community day interaction, etc.) to promote the collection of FNRI stewarded material.
- Gather and analyze in-field best practices and make recommendations on how these best practices can be incorporated into our client and FNRI programs.
- Promote and facilitate the implementation of our client’s Program Plan and the collector agreements for consistent and compliant supply chain management by all of our client’s collectors.
- Work closely with the manager, of Special Projects prior to initiating or executing changes that impact the collection and post-collection network and related commercial arrangements to ensure that the terms and conditions for change in the collector agreements are followed. Follow dispute resolution protocols should changes or other issues require escalated management.
- As needed develop operating procedures and project templates purposed to standardize operations and to increase efficiencies across the provincial network of First Nations partners and potential partners for our client and FNRI
- Identify issues or operational concerns posing an impact to the program, implement effective issues management techniques and follow escalation procedures as necessary.
- Working with the Manager, Special Projects, and other Collection Specialists, actively assess key metrics and implement processes to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness. Key metrics include but are not limited to contamination rates, tonnage by the material stream, operational behaviour, and trends.
- Develop operating procedures and project templates purposed to standardize operations and increase efficiencies across all First Nation partners.
- Assist in developing, implementing and overseeing priority projects and pilots in a consistent and disciplined format, including maintaining meeting minutes, timeline documents and written reports, and ensure all applicable team members and collection service provider staff complete necessary tasks on agreed timelines.
- Develop and implement projects aligned with annual operating plans and Program Plan key metrics, including reducing contamination rates, enhancing in-scope material capture rates, increasing operational efficiencies, standardizing processes, trialling new collection models, etc.
Interpersonal/Communications:
Internal Relationships
- Coordinate with the team, and partner stakeholders as required on the implementation of collection site expansion, changes to vendor standards and P&E campaigns.
- Work closely with the Collection Specialist team to participate in the plans and processes for effective field and where appropriate contractor oversite; develop and ensure that your internal support team has the necessary information and resources to facilitate collection site communication, training & other support consistently across the province as it relates to First Nations.
- Work closely with the Manager of Special Projects prior to initiating or executing changes that impact the collection and post-collection network and related commercial arrangements.
- As and when required work closely with the Resident Support Coordinator and Communications team to coordinate outreach activities and support processes.
- Collaborate with Western Canada, Manager of Special Projects for program support and onboarding with the First Nations Field Services Specialist.
External Relationships
- Collection service providers
- Local government/municipal service providers & First Nations
- Stewardship and related associations for FNRI
- Extended field services: i.e., summer students, field auditors, etc.
- Commercial partners – As required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:
- Education related to indigenous studies and post-secondary education related to environmental studies, sustainability, supply chain, operations, engineering, and related disciplines is beneficial but not necessary.
- 5 years’ of work experience in operational optimization, waste management, logistics contracting, or related roles is beneficial but not necessary.
- Direct experience in paper and packaging recycling, stewardship, or related fields is beneficial but not necessary.
- Direct experience in stewardship, recycling or related fields is beneficial but not necessary.
- Ability to conduct detailed analysis and provide summaries and recommendations.
- Knowledge of waste management, materials management, commodity markets, and logistics or related operational business activities.
- Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
- Strong leadership skills with an ability to work independently daily.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to prepare clear and concise administrative and technical reports.
- Excellent computer and software skills (Microsoft Suite, SAP)
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong relationships.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to effectively create and implement project plans.
- Willingness to work flexible/extended working hours to meet deadlines during peak periods.
- Willingness to work in the community with physical labour and in all weather conditions.
- Requires travel within the province to meet with First Nation communities.
- A valid B.C. driver’s license and a suitable vehicle are required. (In some cases, a rental vehicle can be utilized)
Working Conditions:
- Remote with travel to the office in North Vancouver for meetings or activities on a frequency to be determined plus when notified that attendance is required.
- Travel throughout a defined region of the province will be required to visit collection sites.
- Occasional travel to other areas of the province to conduct site inspections and meet with various partners.
- Travel may also be required to attend workshops and conferences.
- A valid BC driver’s license is required.
- The peak work period may require extended hours.
Are you the person they are looking for? Get in touch with me and apply now. Not ready to apply or have questions first? Send me an email in confidence and we can go through this opportunity in more detail. [email protected]
We thank all applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted
