Ballad Group

The Ballad team is comprised of Alberta-based professionals dedicated to strengthening the communities in which we live and work. We provide services related to business and strategic planning, community development, government relations, and stakeholder and Indigenous rights holder engagement. Our diverse team brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and creativity to each project we undertake.

Ballad is a growing company with a broad portfolio of consulting projects. We have experience working with Indigenous organizations, academic institutions, communities, municipalities, industry, and public sector organizations. We take a community-focused approach to design, deliver, and evaluate projects with impact. Through meaningful and collaborative relationships with our clients, Ballad aims to empower people, communities, and businesses across Canada.

Ballad works closely with Cascade Projects Ltd., an Indigenous-owned and controlled company based in Calgary. Through this strategic partnership, our two companies work collaboratively to assist industry with initiatives such as Indigenous engagement, economic inclusion, and cultural awareness training.

The Opportunity

Ballad is looking to hire a recent university graduate or someone with entry level experience in the finance services sector to join our consulting team. The ideal candidate for the Research Analyst (Finance) position must be motivated, forward-thinking, and educated to degree level. This individual will work in a fast-paced and creative environment, collaborating with the consulting team to provide services to clients across Canada. In particular, the Research Analyst (Finance) will be involved in projects that focus on market research of potential business opportunities, business planning, and Indigenous economic development, as well as other emerging opportunities.

A key component of this work will include report writing. Candidates are asked to provide a writing sample with their application.

Additionally, the successful candidate will provide support to Ballad managers to help maximize daily productivity. The ideal candidate is a reliable self-starter with experience supporting multiple projects, the capacity to deliver high quality work across multiple projects at the same time and the ability to handle confidential information with professionalism. The individual will also be expected to interact in a professional manner with internal and external contacts, including clients and stakeholders.

This role will report to the Manager of Business and Economic Services and other consulting team members. There is potential that more than one individual may be hired under this job posting.

Key Responsibilities

Research and Analysis

• Develop methodology and monitor data gathering processes (e.g. create surveys/interview questions, complete data entry, verify data quality).
• Accurately summarize and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, insights, themes, and recommendations.
  
• Synthesize and translate data into high-quality written reports, presentations, visuals, and strategic recommendations.
• Design and deliver consulting projects with a focus on Indigenous economic development, financial analysis, business planning and sustainability.

Project Planning and Delivery

• Liase closely with clients regarding business opportunities.
• Support new business development and proposal writing under tight deadlines.
• Collaborate with the consulting team to execute all project phases including project design, planning, communications, reporting, and monitoring activities.
• Build rapport with internal and external contacts, partners, and clients through transparent and genuine communication.
• Conduct interviews with project stakeholders, including but not limited to business owners, community leaders, and Indigenous rights holders.
• Support, if necessary, projects or streams of large projects involving engagement and community development.
• Maintain and update documentation such as meeting minutes, contact lists, engagement summaries, transcripts, and databases.
• Writing and designing project deliverables, including reports and presentations.

Indigenous Knowledge

• Lived or professional experience working with Indigenous Communities.
• Understanding of Indigenous Peoples, protocols, and history.
• Willingness to pursue cultural awareness education.

Other duties as assigned.

Experience

The position requires the following skills, experiences and abilities:

Essential:

• A post-secondary degree in commerce, business, finance, or equivalent, with exposure to financial analysis.
• Strong understanding of data analysis tools (MS Excel) and visualization (Tableau or similar).
• Strong writing skills acquired through academic and/or professional experience and demonstrated in a writing sample.
• Experience working with online survey or engagement platforms such as Survey Monkey.
  
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional weekends and/or evenings and willingness to travel to rural and remote communities.
• Demonstrated understanding of consulting practice with the ability to deliver high-quality work on time and within budget.

Assets:

• Educated to master’s level.
• Experience in a research-related role.
• Understanding of Indigenous Peoples, protocols, and history or willingness to pursue cultural awareness education to that end.
• Comfortable working with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, and/or similar.
• Valid driver’s license.

What does Ballad offer you?

Ballad is a growing, entrepreneurial, and collaborative work environment. You will work alongside dedicated team members with a passion for empowering the clients with whom we work, solving diverse client challenges, and implementing new ideas.

Through our employee volunteer days and community investment program, team members have the opportunity to support the causes and communities that are important to them.

We provide full competitive benefits upon successful completion of a probationary period, and competitive compensation is commensurate upon experience.

Requirements and Deadline to Apply:

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Applicants are asked to provide a cover letter, resumé, and writing sample.

Please provide a writing sample that demonstrates your analytical writing skills. It should be no longer than 2–3 pages and have been researched and written by you personally. It may be a piece of work completed for another role or academic submission with confidential information removed; alternatively, you may write an original piece that demonstrates your ability to engage with current economic issues.