Climate Change and Environment Specialist

at  The City of Spruce Grove

ABOUT US

The City of Spruce Grove is a fast growing, dynamic city committed to building and maintaining a fiscally responsible community that serves our residents, attracts visitors, and promotes future growth.
The “Values, We Live By” are accountability, communication, leadership, integrity, and respect while we work towards maintaining a work/play balance.
We are an organization that cares, an organization that is committed to our city and committed to you. The City of Spruce Grove is committed to public service, where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We believe that by working together in a spirit of collaboration and respect, we can achieve great things.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Are you ready to drive and support a transformative change in climate and environmental sustainability? We’re seeking an experienced and dynamic individual to fill the role of the Climate Change and Environment Specialist. As a vital member of our team, you’ll play a pivotal role in advancing climate action at the corporate, regional and community level and overseeing initiatives that propel our commitment to a greener, more sustainable future.
The Climate Change and Environment Specialist is responsible for leading and supporting implementation of the City’s Climate Change Action Plan and integration with other strategic initiatives. The position also leads several climate or sustainability projects identified as part of the City’s strategic planning processes including education and outreach, policy, and program development, supporting incentive programs, grant funding applications, environmental metric design, and risk mitigation.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking a candidate with the following:

• Post Secondary or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, including environment, sustainability, public administration, or other.
• 3-5 years of experience in climate and environmental or related fields.
• Advanced knowledge in policy analysis, issues and actions related to climate adaptation and mitigation, systems, and critical thinking, and understanding of urban climate-related contexts.
• Experience in educational outreach and public engagement, experience with ecosystem services and natural asset approaches, energy efficiency principles and applications, adaptation-informed techniques.
• Advanced communication skills, strong writing skills, and excellent presentation skills.
• Excellent collaborative negotiation and problems solving skills.
• Highly developed level of interpersonal skills and diplomacy to interact with a variety of internal and external clients.

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS:

Special consideration will be given to those who hold:

• Environmental professional designation or professional in training Alberta.
• General knowledge of land use planning.
• GHG quantification and analysis is considered.

• Advise on policy and program matters related to climate, energy, water, circular economy, environment, and nature-based solutions. Advice will be informed by research, evidence, analysis and supported by performance management metrics.
• Complete major projects as identified through the strategic and corporate planning processes.
• Act as a subject matter expert on climate change actions including delivery of presentations to internal and external partners and audiences.
• Establish tools, education programs, and communication plans to raise public awareness and mobilize climate action; and
• Support the development of environmental metrics and annual reporting.
• Conduct jurisdictional scans, reviews best practices, establishes compelling business cases.
• Help develop, amplify, and integrate climate considerations into asset management, infrastructure, risk management and other decision-making processes.
• Seek environmental opportunities and sustainability co-benefits, supports issues management on environmental challenges including horizontal and emerging priorities.
• Help to pursue funding opportunities, manage climate related funding and grant programs, and coordinate procurement activities, ensuring projects are maintained within budget and timeline reporting.
• Support environmental compliance, risk mitigation and management of City owned environmentally significant areas.
• Perform other job-related duties as required.