Job Title: Project Manager - Bear River First Nation (Species at Risk Recovery Initiative)

Position Type: Full-Time Contract

Location: Hybrid (Office is located in Halifax, NS), with travel to Cape Breton, Millbrook, Bay of Fundy, Annapolis Basin, and St. Mary's Bay

Salary: $70,000 annually equivalent

Contract Duration: As soon as possible - March 2026, with the potential to renew

About the Project

Bear River First Nation (BRFN) and DeepSense are seeking a Project Manager to lead the delivery of the Bear Ocean Health: The Eighth Paddle initiative. This project, funded by AFSAR and supported by multiple academic and Indigenous organizations, focuses on integrating Indigenous Knowledge (IK) with scientific data to support the recovery of aquatic Species at Risk (SAR), including the Blue Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale, and Fin Whale.

Position Overview

The Project Manager will oversee the development of a cloud-based knowledge platform, manage cross-sector collaborations, support community engagement, and ensure timely and successful execution of project deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Coordination & Implementation
• Manage the execution of project activities across workstreams including knowledge collection, Large Language Model (LLM) development, and community engagement.
• Coordinate with DeepSense to design, deploy, and maintain a secure, cloud-based knowledge repository integrating textual, audio, and visual Indigenous Knowledge.
• Coordinate with DeepSense to oversee the integration of a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system and multimodal search tools.
• Community & Stakeholder Engagement
• Support the Community Engagement Specialist in their work with Elders, community members, and partners (e.g., Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, Ulnooweg, UNB, DeepSense).
• Support the Community Engagement Specialist to schedule and facilitate community storytelling and knowledge-sharing sessions (15-30 total).
• Ensure ethical and respectful handling of IK and adherence to data sovereignty principles.
• Team Management & Oversight
• Support the work of the Community Engagement Coordinator
• Ensure alignment of team efforts with project goals and timelines.
• Budget & Reporting
• Manage expenditures within a $95,000 project budget.
• Oversee procurement of laptops, recording equipment, and other resources.
• Prepare and submit reports including progress updates for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
• Strategic Leadership
• Contribute to long-term maintenance planning for platform sustainability.
• Champion BRFN's leadership in Indigenous-led SAR stewardship and digital knowledge systems.
• Other duties related to the project may arise. This is the first phase of the project, so there may be a possible extension.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing community-based or interdisciplinary research projects.
• Demonstrated understanding of Indigenous Knowledge systems and data governance.
• Experience working in or with Indigenous organizations.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills with experience coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Knowledge of or interest in conservation biology, marine ecology, or Indigenous science.
• Familiarity with database systems, RAG models, or digital platforms is an asset.
• Ability to travel for community sessions as needed.

Preferred Attributes

• Mi'kmaw language proficiency or experience working with Mi'kmaw-speaking communities.
• Background in environmental science, anthropology, data systems, or related fields.
• Fundamentals of OCAP training (Will be provided to the successful candidate if not already obtained)

Applications will be considered starting on August 20. Position will remain open until filled.

APPLICATION: Email 1) a one page cover letter, and 2) your resume in one single PDF to [email protected]