Job Description

DEPARTMENT: Climate Action, Planning & Development
STATUS: Regular Full Time
NO. OF POSITIONS: One
UNION: CUPE, Local 387
HOURS OF WORK: 35 hours per week*
SALARY: $50.13 to $59.23 hourly + benefits
2023 was the hottest year in recorded human history. Human caused climate change is having a profound effect on all life on our planet. In 2019, New Westminster’s City Council declared a climate emergency, the second municipality in our region to formally acknowledge this call for action. Since that time, the City has taken bold steps to mitigate corporate and community climate impacts however there is much more work that needs to be done.

The City is seeking a dedicated and passionate climate advocate to join our newly created Energy and Climate Action Department as a Planner 1 – Adaptation and Resilience Specialist. In this role, you will assemble, research, collect and interpret climate related data and information to help the City be resilient as we navigate the changing climate, and support the City to achieve the climate action goals as defined in the Community Energy and Emissions Plan 2050 (CEEP), e-Mobility Strategy, and the Corporate Energy and Emissions Reduction Strategy (CEERS). To achieve resilience, the City’s mitigation strategies will need to be delivered with robust adaptation plans and this position will be key.

With a focus on adaptation and resilience, you will be responsible for helping to inform what the City, community, and individual approaches are needed to succeed now and in an uncertain climate reality as the City anticipates how to increase capacity to adapt and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. As the City’s Adaptation and Resilience Specialist, you will be required to rely on your critical thinking and long-range planning view to identify gaps and anticipate unintended consequences of current and future climate action plans and strategies and to make data informed recommendations to address these gaps. To succeed in this role, you will need to apply an interdisciplinary approach and an ability to influence and establish strong relationships across departments, including emergency management, engineering, planning and communications.

As the City’s Planner 1 –Adaptation and Resilience Specialist, you will:

• Assemble, research, analyze and interpret climate data to inform the City’s adaptation and resilience efforts.
• Support the development and implementation of an overall plan, policies and by-laws written to address climate adaptation and resilience priorities.
• Support the completion of climate risk hazard assessments to develop opportunities to augment existing approaches, identify potential gaps and deliver recommendations, priorities, and action.
• Support emergency management efforts in climate risk response, such as extreme heat preparedness, and identify innovative approaches to delivering climate risk mitigation services.
• Conduct investigations and studies including research and recommends on climate models to help inform infrastructure design, mitigation considerations and organizational priorities and initiatives.
• Prepare progress reports on adaptation and resiliency strategies and plans.
• Present adaptation and resiliency recommendations to Council, Committees of Council, Boards, departments, and community groups and agencies.
• Organize, participate in, report on, and support consultation with internal and community partners in a professional planner capacity.
• Provide advice, information, and interpretation as the subject matter expert to internal staff and community partners on climate action impacts on organization and community facing initiatives.
• Participate in local, provincial, national, and international climate and sustainability initiatives.
• Work on other initiatives and responsibilities as assigned.

If you have many of these key competencies, we would like to hear from you:

• University degree in the field of climate change and sustainability such as planning, architecture, environmental science, engineering, clean energy, or related discipline; plus post-graduate degree in a related field. Sound experience related to the work or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Three or more years of related experience or an equivalent education and experience.
• Considerable knowledge related to planning, climate action and mitigation, emergency management, and policy development.
• Proven ability to conduct comprehensive research and analysis, and to synthesize solutions from diverse information using critical thinking and logic.
• Strong data analytics, modelling, and interpretation skills.
• Strong technical report writing skills.
• Demonstrated skill in public engagement and facilitation.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to juggle multiple objectives to develop integrated solutions.
• Excellent problem solving and decision making within a team-oriented culture.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, facilitation, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.
• Innovative and creative problem solver.
• Keen awareness of the principles of climate equity.
*This position is eligible for hybrid work and to participate in a Compressed Day Off program.
Apply online with your resume and cover letter in one document at www.newwestcity.ca/employment by April 18, 2024

To support a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community; women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized individuals, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (LGBTQ2S+), persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to diversity of our workforce, are encouraged to express their interest. New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halq’eméylem-speaking peoples.
It is acknowledged by the City that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. We are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on. We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
This position is only open to those legally entitled to work in Canada.

Required languages: english

Education level: • University degree in the field of climate change and sustainability such as planning, architecture, environmental science, engineering, clean energy, or related discipline; plus post-graduate degree in a related field. Sound experience related to the work or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Required skills: • Three or more years of related experience or an equivalent education and experience. • Considerable knowledge related to planning, climate action and mitigation, emergency management, and policy development. • Proven ability to conduct comprehensive research and analysis, and to synthesize solutions from diverse information using critical thinking and logic. • Strong data analytics, modelling, and interpretation skills. • Strong technical report writing skills. • Demonstrated skill in public engagement and facilitation.

Additional skills / Assets: • Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines. • Ability to juggle multiple objectives to develop integrated solutions. • Excellent problem solving and decision making within a team-oriented culture. • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people. • Excellent interpersonal, communication, facilitation, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills. • Innovative and creative problem solver. • Keen awareness of the principles of climate equity.

Closest intersection: Royal Ave and 6th Street