Job Description

Senior Strategist, Carbon and Energy Planning

Competition Number
N#79

Job Code
1407

Posting Date
August 19, 2022

Closing Date
September 12, 2022

Job Status
Permanent Full-Time


The City of Kitchener is a vibrant and dynamic city of approximately 240,000, in the heart of southwestern Ontario. As the largest municipality in Waterloo Region, Kitchener continues to be poised for development and growth, enhancing its reputation as a leader in city-building and innovation, with nationally recognized strategies to build its neighbourhoods, its digital infrastructure and its diverse economy.

The City of Kitchener is WHERE you want to work! Learn more about the top reasons to join us:
Why work at the City of Kitchener


Position Overview:
Are you someone who is strategic, future focused, innovative and has excellent relationship building skills combined with technical skills? This role will be part of the Corporate Sustainability Team that is helping the City navigate transition to low carbon energy. Using the TransformWR Community Plan as a starting point, we are looking for a passionate person who will help develop and implement a Kitchener Utilities Low Carbon Sustainable Business Strategy to support the transition to reduce greenhouse gas as well as look at other opportunities at the City to develop strategies to decrease the City's and community’s carbon footprint.

This is an excellent opportunity to join an exciting and innovative team and support the creation and implementation of an ambitious plan to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and meet community targets set for 2030 and 2050.

This role is ideal for you if:

• You are excited about tackling a complex problem that has the potential for significant carbon emission reductions in our community and involves many stakeholders;
• You are interested in helping shape the strategic vision and business plan for Kitchener Utilities to transition to low carbon energy;
• You excel at building relationships and navigating through competing interests and viewpoints; and
• You love being future focused and strategic while also being comfortable with technical details and policy.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate existing Kitchener Utilities services from a customer service, technical, financial and climate change perspective.
• Analyze, monitor and review the regulatory environment including but not limited to what is being done in other Natural Gas Utilities, Provinces, Ontario Energy Board, National Energy Board, etc.
• Set strategy and future direction of the gas utility by creating a Low Carbon Strategy Framework and Business Plan – this will include facilitating conversations with senior leadership, staff, Council and a variety of stakeholders to help set a vision.
• Provide advice to senior management regarding change management associated with the Gas Utility energy transition as well as potential positive/negative impact on receivers.
• Provides recommendations on long-term gas utility business strategy and back-cast tangible actions and associated success measures to achieve long-term business strategy.
• Review current technologies and support initiatives, changes and trends in industry and government regarding low carbon energy transition and explore funding opportunities for pilot projects, etc.
• Builds interdepartmental and interdivisional relationships, as well as with external partners. Acts as an ambassador on behalf of the City to explore potential partnerships with the private sector and community (e.g., vendors, non-profit institutions, research institutions, other municipalities, etc.) for projects and funding opportunities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local sustainability organizations such as Reep Green Solutions, ClimateAction WR, Sustainable WR and WR Community Energy.

Requirements:

• Must be reliable with a good attitude and employment record.
• Honours Degree in a related field (e.g., engineering, planning, environmental studies, energy management, etc.).
• 4 – 7 years of related and relevant experience.
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM) considered an asset.
• Understanding of and familiarity with systems design thinking and practical applications including change management.
• Understanding of energy sector including the regulations and policies associated with energy transition. Preference for candidates with experience in the energy sector, natural gas in particular.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, facilitate and engage a variety of stakeholder groups – from the public to senior leadership and governing bodies (i.e., Council or a Board of Directors).
• Be future focused and envision transformation that will include ‘quick wins’ and actions that may take many years to unfold as technology continues to improve and change.
• Ability to adapt to a constantly evolving field/sector and navigate effectively in uncertainty.
• Verbal, written and interpersonal skills needed to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Excellent project management skills and a strong operational focus.
• Ability to work independently with exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail and follow through.
• Strong problem solving, analytical and decision-making skills.

The City of Kitchener is committed to an equity-driven, inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free recruitment and selection process, and to ensuring our workforce reflects the full diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ persons, as well as other equity deserving groups.

We will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please contact Human Resources at recruitment@kitchener.ca or 519-741-2200 ext. 7261 to make your needs known, so that we can support your full and equal participation throughout the hiring process.

We appreciate the interest of all applicants. Only candidates whose skills, experience and qualifications meet the requirements of the position will be contacted.

Please note that as per Human Resources Policy HUM-HIR-110, "Employment of Relatives of Staff Members and Elected Officials":
"The immediate relatives of staff of the Human Resources Division, all Directors, General Managers, or the Chief Administrative Officer and Elected Officials shall not be employed by the City in any capacity.
The immediate relatives of all other Management personnel shall not be employed where such employment would be:
1. within the same Department in the case of permanent full-time, temporary full-time and part-time classifications.
2. within the same Division in the case of students."


Department
Infrastructure Services

Division
Office of the GM, Infrastructure Services

Union Affiliation
Non-Union/Management

Number of Positions
1

Hours of Work
35 hours per week

Location

Initial Location

Kitchener Operations Facility

City
Kitchener

Compensation

Salary Range
$92,994 - $116,181

Grade/Band
11 (under review)