City : Hamilton

Category : Other

Industry : Education

Employer : McMaster University

One of the objectives of McMaster University’s institutional priorities and strategy is to transform the campus to a living laboratory for sustainability. This includes engaging community as the University works on this transformation, focusing on carbon reduction, energy and waste management, with the ultimate goal of being a carbon free campus.

The Office of Sustainability, working under the umbrella of Facility Services, acts as a leader within the department and across the university to champion the sustainability strategy.

Facility Services oversees all processes relevant to the smooth operation of the university facilities and grounds. To do this, the department places a strong emphasis on inclusiveness and collaboration. Technological advancement, university needs, and organizational changes have been the driving forces of change in the past, bringing about newer and more efficient practices within the department. These factors continue to shape the way Facility Services operates.
 

Job Summary:

The role is accountable for managing and coordinating projects and initiatives in support of McMaster’s Sustainability Strategy as identified and supported by the Director of Sustainability. The role is responsible for the implementation and facilitation of sustainability strategic plans, including high level administration, non-capital project development, planning, implementation, communication, and outcome information management. This will be accomplished by supporting administrative responsibilities, creating and managing project plans, applying best practices, and ensuring that results are achieved and reported on in an effective and efficient manner. In addition, this role will oversee and manage resources needed to refine, implement, and measure strategic initiatives and associated projects and those activities are delivered in accordance with approved budgets. The Sustainability Manager is required to work collaboratively with a wide range of partners and stakeholders across departments and programs. The Sustainability Manager will coordinate, lead and assist with projects, initiatives and daily activities within Facility Services that require knowledge of confidential information about staffing, funding priorities, new directions, and other strategic institutional objectives.

Accountabilities:

Project Management:

• Manages multiple projects that impact the Sustainability Strategy and consults with, advises, and leads other project participants.
• Develops, implements, and oversees project plans and monitors progress toward desired outcomes. Establishes project schedules, ensures conformance to plans and revises as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements. Plans appropriately and shifts direction if current procedures do not allow for sufficient progress.
• Assumes responsibility for project outcomes; monitors all aspects of the project and analyzes progress.
• Leads and guides the roll out of individual sustainability-related strategies (i.e., waste management strategy)
• Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine

Engagement & Outreach:

• Manages the implementation of sustainability competitions with students, staff and faculty using information generated by the Energy Resource Management System, the STARS report, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, and more 
• Networks with industry contacts, such as peer universities, colleges, and consultants, to gather and identify competitive insights and best practices
• Participates in professional networks associated with sustainability within the sector (i.e., OCUSP) and represents McMaster in internal and external forums
• Provides strategic advice on policy matters, potential partnerships, and community engagement opportunities
• Work with Sustainability programs and campus labs to engage students in experiential learning
• Manages the implementation of sustainability competitions with students, staff and faculty using information generated by the Energy Resource Management System, the STARS report, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, etc. 
• Supports in building partnerships and relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Execute effective program/process management by facilitating meetings required as part of the proposal development process with internal clients and external partners
• Leads and navigates consultation activities that may be used to inform the design and delivery of the program(s)

Planning and Analysis:

• Provides analysis and recommendations to leadership on the direction and implementation of the program(s)
• Identify, manage and mitigate against organizational risk relating to initiatives in collaboration with Director, Sustainability
• Develops proposals or amendments to programs in collaboration with the Director, Sustainability
• Ensures consideration for priority social issues, such as equity deserving groups, cultural safety, gender, environment, in design and implementation approaches as well as the local context
• Investigates specific issues by performing gap analyses to identify specific needs, recommends solutions, and, where appropriate, implements improvements to existing business practices and processes.
• Conducts environmental scans and formulates strategies from the results for all strategic areas within the sustainability strategy
• Supports the development, planning and identification of strategic and operational opportunities identified by the Director, by collecting relevant data, researching best practices and trends, and obtaining relevant feedback from internal and external stakeholders.
• Provides insight and advice to ensure the department needs and priorities are effectively addressed, and strategic objectives are met. Forms concrete action plans and monitors projects to ensure they continue to address the Sustainability Strategy.

Administration:

• Work with the Manager of Communications in Facility Services to develop draft communications such as remarks, presentations, and correspondence to a multitude of stakeholders
• Work with the Director, Sustainability and the Manager of Communications to prepare the annual Sustainability Report
• Work with the Director of Sustainability and the Manager of Communications to prepare, update and report on McMaster’s Sustainability Dashboard with key metrics and data
• Support the sustainability reporting processes (i.e, STARS, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings) on an annual basis
• Ensure the appropriate collection, analysis and reporting of data required for analysis, strategic planning and decision making to support Institutional objectives
• Advise on draft policies and procedures as they relate to the Sustainability Strategy

Supervision:

• Provides direction and management to the Sustainability team and student staff working under the Office of Sustainability
• Manage and distribute workloads among your team based on strengths and capacity 
• Develop project work plans.
• Participate in ongoing performance management processes
• Oversee your team’s day-to-day operations
• Recruit and hire staff for the Sustainability team to support projects and initiatives

Qualifications:

Education:

• University Degree in Environmental Science or related field.

Experience:

• 5+ years related experience in a post-secondary setting with experience and knowledge with strategy and road map development
• In depth use of project management framework. Asset: working on projects related to sustainability.
• Experience in an institutional sustainability office. Post- secondary environment preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work with and support cross-functional and cross-professional project teams
• Able to work effectively at all levels in an organization
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships and partnerships with Faculty and staff members
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead a team on strategic projects
• Ability to manage change and ambiguity, is adaptive and flexible as conditions change
• Ability to facilitate a number of projects simultaneously

Knowledge/Skills:

• Detailed understanding of sustainability management topics, including stakeholder engagement, triple-bottom line, sustainability reporting, waste, energy and water management
• Excellent project management skills. PMI® PMP certification an asset
• Strong business acumen
• Knowledge of governance, systems and decision-making processes at McMaster University
• Solid foundation in organizational change management 
• Strong communications skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to anticipate challenges, risks and outcomes