Manager - Environmental Services

at  Hydro One Networks Inc

49388 - Toronto - Regular -
Hydro One is proud to be the largest electricity transmission and distribution provider in Ontario, serving nearly 1.4 million customers. We have a long history in the industry with our roots dating back over 110 years to 1906. Since then, we have worked to grow and evolve to meet the changing needs of our customers and communities across Ontario. Today, we’re focused on providing exceptional customer service and ensuring we are building safe communities where we live, work and play.
It’s an exciting time to join the team at Hydro One!
The Manager, Environmental Services – Environmental Strategic Projects Team (South) will lead a team of approximately 10 professional staff accountable for the delivery of environmental requirements associated with major capital transmission projects and programs throughout Ontario. In this capacity, the Manager will be responsible for managing, and helping to grow, a high-performance, collaborative team capable of successfully delivering large, complex and dynamic projects on time and on budget, and working with multi-disciplinary project teams to achieve and maintain social license.
Key areas of accountability relate to ensuring the team’s strategic and successful completion of Environmental Assessments, permits and approvals, due diligence, compliance, and monitoring activities for capital projects with considerations of long-term operational success. It will also require building relationships and closely collaborating with internal lines of business, such as Project and Program Delivery, Community Relations, Indigenous Relations, Facilities and Real Estate, Transmission System Planning, Engineering, Lines, Forestry, Construction, and other teams as applicable. As such, knowledge of the utility sector is an asset. Similarly, external relationship development and collaboration with regulators, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, consultants, contractors, and associations is critical. The role will require dynamic approaches and comfort working within various project delivery models, including Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) frameworks.
Reporting to the Senior Manager of Environmental Strategic Projects within Environmental Services, the Manager will provide leadership and specialist environmental support to senior management and staff throughout the company. The Manager will also be expected to support or lead advancements in other key areas to benefit the Environmental Services team, which may relate to policy, working groups, innovation, pursuits, accounting, productivity savings, etc. This position will support transmission projects in southern Ontario and will require travel throughout the region to support staff in the execution of project development and construction phases, which will include, but not be limited to: attending Community Open Houses, meeting with Indigenous community leaders and representatives, local stakeholders, elected officials, and project team members and managers to explore and advance project opportunities and supporting the resolution of project challenges and introducing workable solutions.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Lead a team of professional staff to deliver environmental requirements on capital projects throughout the entire project lifecycle (planning, design, and construction), including, but not limited to: complex environmental assessments, permits, approvals, specifications and monitoring.
• Oversee budget estimates and the timely delivery of project reports per scheduled delivery dates, while ensuring quality control.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, counsel, and guidance necessary to staff to ensure conformity to regulation, and company policies.
• Ensure consistency in overall approach for corporate undertakings and application of applicable legislation, regulations, and other policy documents, such as the Class Environmental Assessment for Transition Facilities.
• Monitor, evaluate and maintain current knowledge of environmental legislation, best management practices, technologies, developments in other jurisdictions and changes to current environmental approval processes to identify risk and opportunities for the company and to projects and programs.
• Effectively engage and interact with the public, regulatory bodies, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders and interested parties with respect to Hydro One projects through correspondence, meetings, and other communications.
• Attend and participate in project meetings at level appropriate to support Environmental Lead Planners and balance knowledge and awareness of project status and issues with creating an environment for staff growth, development and autonomy.
• Contribute to other key approvals like section 92 leave to construct applications, intervener responses, and hearings.
• Maintain and review consulting service contracts to procure external services, including EA, natural sciences, consultation, cultural heritage, noise and air quality, soil and groundwater assessment and remediation, contaminant management and other technical disciplines as necessary.
• Provide environmental advice required to deliver the approved capital and operations/maintenance corporate work programs in accordance with established scope, budget and timelines.
• Track deliverables to support corporate projects and initiatives and consult, influence and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of parties to enable the company to meet its business objectives.
• Assign duties and help make decisions regarding staff and organizational changes. Provide guidance relative to staff problems and disciplinary issues and implement effective change management. Review and authorize expense and time reports. Manage professional development plans, provide performance feedback and assess capabilities.
• Ensure high quality services are provided in a cost effective and timely manner, while ensuring compliance with Hydro One policy, standards and specifications and all applicable environmental laws and regulations.
• Support both internal Lines of Business and external consultants and contractors in ensuring projects and programs meet environmental specifications.
• Maintain effective relationships with regulatory bodies, such as the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks; Ministry of Energy; Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism through approved contacts and provide updates regarding the applicable work programs and procedures and policy that are in place.
• Participate in internal and external Committees as required including attending meetings with other Lines of Business and participation in professional technical committees, such as Electricity Canada.
• Create value for our customers by effectively managing financial aspects of work programs, and creating labour efficiencies within work programs.
• Demonstrate visible leadership to develop and maintain a safe and healthy workplace.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 10 years business experience in an environmental or utility-related field including the oversight of environmental, capital project, or operational work; with at least 3 years in a supervisory capacity.
• Sound knowledge of project and program principles including budget and schedules, consultants oversight, and tracking of work flow and deliverables
• Proven leadership skills with the demonstrated ability to lead a team of professionals and influence and collaborate with individuals at all levels within the organization.
• Must possess excellent communication and negotiation skills with a focus on providing project requirements in a manner which meets industry and corporate environmental and sustainability requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and executing workflows and programs affecting multiple lines of business.
• Demonstrated experience and technical expertise in completion of environmental assessments, permits and approvals, or capital and operational requirements of utilities
• Solid understanding of various environmental legislation, guidelines and industry best practices and experience interacting with regulatory bodies.
• Strong organizational skills with a proven ability to manage and meet tight deadlines.
• Experience working and managing in a unionized environment is an asset.
• Experience in supporting infrastructure design, construction and operations; experience specifically in the electricity industry is an asset.
• Experience in collaborating with Indigenous communities is an asset.
• Related knowledge, such as Environmental Management Systems, Public Consultation, Climate Change and Sustainability, Construction Specifications, Contract Administration, Contaminant management, is also considered an asset.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Planning, Forestry or field relevant to the utility sector required.
  At Hydro One we understand that the success and strength of our business rests with our people. When we develop their skills, we are investing in both their success and ours. To secure the best talent, we seek to create a workforce that reflects the diverse populations of the communities where we live and work and to create a culture based on safety, innovation and inclusiveness.

Please refer the Job description for details