Supporting Demands of Booming Resource Sector
To meet the demands of a booming potash sector, as well as First Nations infrastructure and clean energy sectors, March Consulting Associates Inc. (“March”) needs additional talent – and lots of it. The company is aiming to achieve hiring goals by building relationships to increase science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) talent in First Nation communities and by expanding their offices outside of the province.
“We decided to open an office in Calgary in September,” says Ritu Malhotra, March President & CEO. “Like all others in our sector, we’re facing some challenges with skilled labour shortage. While March has been fairly successful in recruiting top talent in Saskatchewan, growing our presence outside the province will help us meet our project needs in Saskatchewan and open the door to new project opportunities in Alberta.”
March is not just growing in Alberta – the company is on a hiring spree in Saskatchewan as well. With the addition of eight team members already in Calgary, March is expecting to close in on a team of 100 employees and contractors in 2023.
What’s fuelling this growth? First and foremost, the potash sector’s challenges related to managing global shortages resulting from conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Russia and Belarus supply 40% of the world’s potash, and with 25% of their potash shipments constrained, Canadian mining companies are ramping up to meet demand. March is busy working with all the major potash producers in Saskatchewan to support increased production. As the world moves towards cleaner energy sources, the work in the Uranium sector with Saskatchewan’s top producers continues to be strong.
It’s not just Potash, Uranium and clean energy sectors that March is focusing on for 2023. When Kitsaki bought a 25% share equity in March in 2014, March committed to pursuing opportunities with First Nation businesses needing engineering, project and construction management services and expertise. In October 2020, March was awarded the Project Management Institute – North SK’s Project of the Year award for the recently completed Woodland Wellness Centre project in Air Ronge. March’s plans for 2023 include pursuing opportunities with First Nations to provide EPCM services to improve infrastructure – from new office buildings to multi-purpose health and wellness facilities.
To hire the right people for potash, infrastructure, and beyond, March believes in investing in local talent, especially Indigenous peoples pursuing new careers in STEM.
“Building Indigenous talent in STEM is crucial to ensuring local people can participate in projects in their communities,” says Malhotra. “We will continue to build relationships and provide training and mentorship opportunities to make sure people from the community are able to meet their career goals and play integral roles in the projects located in their own backyards.”
Interested in a career with March Consulting? Visit https://www.marchconsulting.com/careers to learn more.