Senior Indigenous Affairs Specialist (St. Thomas)

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We love our cars, but it’s the people behind them who make them what they are. To market, sell, and service great cars, we need great people. That’s why at Volkswagen Group Canada, we are passionate about our cars and our brand and foster this same passion and drive in our people. We know that the right people in the right positions can do incredible things, and we love making that happen.

Our mission has started. Volkswagen Group’s largest cell factory in St. Thomas will carry out all battery activities – from processing raw materials to developing a unified Volkswagen battery to managing the European and North American gigafactories. Headquartered in Salzgitter, Germany, we are experiencing the transformation of mobility up close. Our goal is to contribute a positive impact to our global society, the environment, and the economy. To reach these goals we need your POWER!

We are looking for a Senior Indigenous Affairs Specialist based out of the St. Thomas, Ontario office.

Are you passionate about Indigenous Relations? Do you love engagement and have a knack for facilitating respectful and collaborative solutions? Do you have experience developing a sound strategy for a company? Then come help us to meaningfully transform the automotive industry on its journey to sustainable e-mobility.

PowerCo is dedicated to fostering strong, respectful, and sustainable relationships with Indigenous communities. We are seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Indigenous Affairs Specialist to join our team and to lead and manage PowerCo’s Indigenous affairs program. In this role, the successful candidate will be at the interface between the company, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders and part of the team that handles all PowerCo Canada’s government relations, community engagements, and communication.

This role requires a deep understanding of Indigenous community needs and interests, as well as the ability to translate organizational objectives into community-focused programs that support growth and engagement. The position will lead and manage the full range of PowerCo’s Indigenous affairs internally and externally in a cross-functional team. The candidate will strategically develop Indigenous engagement plans and be involved as an advisor to operational project teams on regulatory, planning, and management aspects and related strategies. A future involvement in government relations is also possible.

This is a flex hybrid model, requiring 2 days in the St. Thomas office.*

Primary Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local Indigenous leadership and communities.
• Act as a liaison between the company and Indigenous communities to facilitate open communication and collaboration.
• Identify, track, and address issues, concerns, and interests raised by Indigenous groups.
• Facilitate conflict resolution and problem-solving between the company and Indigenous communities.
• Identify and pursue engagement and relationship opportunities with internal departments and Indigenous groups.
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance the company's engagement with Indigenous communities in various areas.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures that support respectful and effective engagement with Indigenous communities.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and best practices in Indigenous relations.
• Represent the company towards the federal and provincial government concerning Indigenous Affairs and other topics as needed.
• Attend meetings, events, and forums related to Indigenous relations as PowerCo representative.
• Actively participate in community events and initiatives.
• Lead Indigenous Engagement within PowerCo and work across all departments.
• Advise and support on Indigenous relations and cultural competency.
• Develop and conduct training sessions for management and employees on Indigenous cultures, histories, and issues.
• Promote awareness and understanding of Indigenous perspectives within the company and the PowerCo Group.
• Lead and coordinate projects related to Indigenous Affairs.
• Monitor and report on the progress of initiatives and their impact on Indigenous communities.
• Prepare reports and presentations on Indigenous Affairs activities and outcomes.
• Support Government Relations as needed in various topics, like energy and raw materials.
• Possibility to grow and gain further responsibilities in the area of Government Relations.
• Travel as required to engage with Indigenous communities and stakeholders.
• Other duties as required.

Desired Skills:

• Bachelor's Degree in Indigenous studies, commerce, law, engineering, environmental studies, social sciences, public administration, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience in Indigenous Affairs development within an organization, with a strong background in Indigenous relations, community engagement, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems, worldviews, cultures, histories, and issues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills.
• Experience in project management and coordination.
• Self-starting attitude, critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and problem-solving abilities.
• Empathy and the ability to learn, question the world around oneself, bounce back from mistakes, and stay creative.
• Must possess a high level of integrity and personal accountability.
• Ability to travel locally as required.

What you’ll get in return:

• A flexible and collaborative team dynamic.
• Opportunities for development.
• Opportunities to participate in exciting company events that give back to the community.
• Competitive employer-paid benefits and overall compensation package.
• And much more!

Thank you for your interest in joining our team! As the year comes to a close, our recruiting team will be taking a break to enjoy the holidays, a perk of working at PowerCo! We’ll be reviewing applications and will be in touch in the new year. We appreciate your patience and look forward to connecting with you soon.

*This is a flex hybrid work structure, where employees can work both remotely and on-site. However, please note all hybrid work arrangements are subject to the terms and conditions of our hybrid work policy as may be amended from time to time.

Please note that we appreciate the interest of all candidates; however, only those under consideration will be contacted.

Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, family status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal or local laws.

Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities, including during the application process. If you require an accommodation because of a disability, we will work with you to determine what reasonable accommodation may be available to meet your needs, whether it be as an applicant or an employee. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. If you are selected for an interview and require an accommodation, you are encouraged to advise the Recruiter who will consult with you to determine an appropriate and reasonable accommodation.