City of Vancouver

Main Purpose & Function 
The Sustainability Director provides vision and broad leadership to the City on operational and community sustainability issues.

The Sustainability Director is charged with leading the City’s Sustainability Group. This team of innovative professionals is responsible for developing strategy, programs, policies, and partnerships to advance City objectives including:

• climate mitigation
• climate adaptation/resiliency
• climate equity
• renewable energy
• green & resilient buildings
• air quality
• low carbon vehicles
• low carbon city operations
• climate finance

In addition, the Sustainability group plays a key role in supporting the development and implementation of sustainability strategies by other departments and integrating sustainability into key City processes. This includes undertaking research and project management, providing advice and funding, facilitating planning processes, developing education and communications strategies, etc.

Another key role of the Sustainability Director is to facilitate interdepartmental and interagency sustainability partnerships to advance the City’s sustainability priorities. This involves providing guidance and identifying synergies on sustainability related steering committees, fostering strategic alignment amongst external partners to encourage their direct action or financial support, and building collaborative frameworks to maintain ongoing commitments to the relationships.

Key Contacts & Reporting Relationships

The Director reports to the Deputy General Manager of PDS and advises the City Manager, City Council, the Mayor, General Managers and staff on issues pertaining to sustainability and its implications to their projects, policies and programs. The Sustainability Director (or Sustainability Group staff) also represents the City on sustainability issues in the media, public sustainability discussions, local and international conferences, stakeholder groups and consultation processes as needed.

The Director manages direct reports of at least three senior professional team leads who in turn manage an additional ten to twelve professionals and support staff.

The Director is a key and high profile contact both internally and externally for the City on all things related to sustainability discussions and projects. Significant working relationships include:

Internal:

• Climate Emergency Steering Committee – regular meetings with GMs and Directors in Engineering Services, DBL, Financial Services, Communications, and PDS to establish community sustainability priorities and foster interdepartmental collaboration;
• Climate Adaptation Steering Committee – regular meetings with the General Managers of Engineering, Planning, Parks, Finance, VEMA and Law to ensure that the City is preparing for the effects of climate change and protecting residents and critical infrastructure;
• Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) – discussing sustainability issues and associated resource allocation as they pertain to the activities of each department and city programs;
• Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillors and their advisors – provide support and advice on any sustainability issue or project these political figures are interested in or the City is launching including political / PR implications analysis of various policies, projects and programs;
• Others as required

External:

• MetroVancouver – partnering on projects, sharing information, supporting each others events and programs, advising Metro on sustainability opportunities as Vancouver is leading the way in the region, strategies for sustainability, and others;
• Provincial Ministries – frequent interaction with middle to senior management in Provincial Ministries regarding projects and partnerships on sustainability especially the Ministries of Energy, Environment, Community Development, and the Climate Action Secretariat;
• Federal Departments – strategic interaction with staff and ministerial advisors on a wide range of sustainability issues and potential programs, including developing programs the City can create to access federal funding;
• Utilities – works closely with Fortis, BC Hydro and the BCUC among others to support Vancouver’s climate related priorities.
• Industry and business – working with industry on sustainability issues and projects that they are involved with.
• Universities – establish and oversee partnerships with local post-secondary educational institutions to foster project collaboration, sharing of best practices, accelerating applied research, and developing joint approaches for public engagement;
• A wide range of community groups interested in various projects or sustainability-related issues (emissions, energy, water, waste, equity, environment, green buildings, parks, traffic, etc.)
• Various agencies and interest groups – the Director represents the City with various sustainability-related and climate equity agencies;
• International visitors – representing the City on sustainability-related discussions with foreign visitors at the staff and political levels;
• Other Cities – the Manager oversees the contacts the City has with other cities  and city based networks on sustainability issues, including: C40, Urban Sustainability Directors Network, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, ICLEI etc.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the implementation of the City’s climate mitigation strategy (Climate Emergency Action Plan), Corporate Sustainability Strategy (Green Operations), Climate Adaptation Strategy, and other related work
• Provides leadership to the organization to advance sustainability priorities both corporately as well as within the community on issues such as sustainable fleet and facilities management, land-use planning and development, climate equity, renewable energy systems and building energy efficiency, greenhouse gas management, sustainable transportation systems and demand management, green building design, solid and liquid waste management, green economic development and other related topics
• Provides advice and guidance to CLT and City Council on sustainability issues
• Provides leadership and guidance to the Sustainability Team, including equity, diversity, hiring, assigning responsibilities, evaluating performance, coaching, mentoring, training and development, and discipline up to and including termination
• Provides program and policy oversight throughout the City
• Manages sustainability projects and is responsible for outcomes
• Responsible for internal and external education, communication and partnership management for sustainability initiatives, including conducting public consultation
• Establishes and administers budgets for the Sustainability Group
• Responsible for metrics associated with the City’s overall sustainability work
• Establishes external partnerships and secures significant external funding for City sustainability research and initiatives
• Conducts research and ensures the City is current on sustainability issues
• Prepares and presents reports and presentations
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• University or College degree in a related field
• Minimum of 10 years combined government and private sector experience

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proven ability to deliver concrete, measurable, results under tight timelines in a large, complex, organization
• Knowledge of key local sustainability issues including land-use planning and development, renewable energy systems, building energy efficiency, greenhouse gas management, climate adaptation, climate equity, transportation systems and demand management, green building design, solid and liquid waste management, and economic development
• Knowledge of sustainability frameworks and critical analysis (including environmental, social and financial elements)Knowledge of local government authority and roles
• Knowledge of Public Administration / government management, including at the regional, provincial and federal levels.
• Strategic planning skills
• Project management skills
• Organizational change management skills
• Public consultation skills
• Public engagement and social marketing skills
• Media experience
• Ability to manage a division and the staff within
• Ability to develop strategic partnerships (internally and externally) to leverage Sustainability Group and City resources
• Ability to develop policy
• Ability to develop business cases
• Ability to influence, align, and motivate a diverse group of stakeholders toward a common goal

 

Application Close: July 30, 2023

Please APPLY here: https://​​​​​​​jobs.vancouver.ca/job/Vancouver-Sustainability-Director-Brit-V6A-4K6/1048764200/

 

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.