Job Title: Climate Change Adaptation and Policy Specialist
Reports to: Program Manager - Adaptation Initiatives
Location: Dartmouth office - hybrid
Employment Type: Full-time, term position (35 hours/week)
Start Date: January 2025
Salary Range: $55,000-$57,500
About Clean Foundation:
Clean Foundation brings specialized teams together to work on complex problems, delivering many climate action and capacity building projects and initiatives around Nova Scotia, PEI and the Atlantic region.
Learn more about us and the work we do: www.cleanfoundation.ca
Equity Hiring:
Clean is committed to Employment Equity. Our goals are to offer our employees a living wage and to be inclusive of a diverse workforce that is reflected at all job levels. We welcome candidates from diverse equity groups to apply and encourage you to self-identify in your cover letter or resume. If you require an accommodation at any stage of the hiring process, please let us know.
Position Overview:
As a Climate Change Adaptation and Policy Specialist, you will play a vital role in supporting the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy – Coordinator in enhancing adaptive capacity in Nova Scotia’s coastal parks. Clean Coasts' initiative to increase this capacity is focused on fostering collaborative adaptation approaches within Nova Scotia’s Shared Coastal Parks Sector.
Your responsibilities will include desktop research on policy and planning related to climate change adaptation, writing research briefs, and presenting findings to Rightsholders and stakeholders. You will assist the Coordinator in building and maintaining relationships with various Rightsholders and stakeholders, as well as organizing, hosting, and facilitating meetings and workshops by managing scheduling logistics. Furthermore, you will participate in weekly team meetings and external stakeholder workshops, gaining insights from leading experts and practitioners in the field.
Key Responsibilities:
Policy and Planning
- Analyze existing federal, provincial, municipal, and Indigenous policies related to Nova Scotia’s coastal zone, with a specific focus on parks and conserved areas.
- Create briefing materials outlining relevant policies and considerations essential for planning within park sites.
- Research current climate change adaptation and management plans, recommending appropriate adaptation strategies for parks and neighboring communities.
- Develop recommendations on if, why, and how policies, permitting, and planning actions must change to create favourable conditions for implementing nature-based solutions projects in Nova Scotia's coastal parks (federal, provincial, municipal, and IPCA parks).
Program Delivery and Project Management
- Collaborate with partner organizations to plan and conduct workshops on coastal policy, engaging Rightsholders and stakeholders involved in local project teams.
- Identify required permits and communicate with permitting agencies to ensure accurate completion of applications.
- Participate in update meetings with contractors and meet with relevant contractors and collaborators as needed.
Communication and Engagement
- Engage in community outreach activities, including formal presentations and stakeholder meetings.
- Mentor project interns to support their professional development and success.
- Represent Clean Foundation at various stakeholder and partner events.
- Establish and nurture relationships with a diverse range of partners.
- Exhibit strong writing, presentation skills, and clear verbal and written communication abilities.
Qualifications:
- Graduate degree in environmental policy, public policy, urban planning, sustainability, environmental sciences/studies, or a related field.
- At least 5 years of combined work and academic experience in policy development, climate change adaptation planning, or urban planning.
- Proven interest in and understanding of climate change adaptation, enabling policies, nature-based solutions, and stakeholder engagement.
- Familiarity with climate change impacts in Nova Scotia, along with relevant environmental policies and regulations.
- Exceptional organizational skills with the capacity to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience in report and grant writing.
- Demonstrated abilities in group facilitation, critical thinking, and stakeholder management within complex project environments.
- Experience in building, empowering, and leading diverse multidisciplinary teams.
- Valid Nova Scotia (or another Canadian) driver's license.
- Successful completion of a criminal record check and driver's abstract upon hiring.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience collaborating with Indigenous communities.
- Experience working with federal, provincial, municipal, or Indigenous governments.
- Knowledge of Nova Scotia's Municipal Government Act.
- Familiarity with Canada’s targets, strategies, and policies for conserved and protected areas.
- Basic understanding of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), coastal ecosystems, and monitoring and evaluation practices.
Working Conditions:
- Based in the Dartmouth office with a hybrid work arrangement (office and remote within Nova Scotia).
- Some travel within Nova Scotia may be required.
- On-site attendance in partner communities across Nova Scotia may be necessary.
Clean Benefits:
The extra shine of working at Clean:
· No more emails past 5 p.m.—your off-work time is YOUR time.
· RRSP matching.
· We fully cover your health and dental insurance plan.
· Paid vacation and wellness days.
· Paid volunteer time off.
· You get your birthday off.
· Every day is treat day—are you team M&M’s or team Sour Keys?
· Your dog friends are welcomed.
· We offer a hybrid work environment (team dependent).
Apply Now:
We're eager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways - not just candidates who check all the boxes. Even if you don't feel that you meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply!
If you’re interested in our current position of Climate Change Adaptation and Policy Specialist with Clean, please submit your cover letter and resume. The screening questions are mandatory to the application process and will be evaluated to determine whether candidates are selected for an interview. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. We appreciate all interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
