Program Manager - Ontario Climate - Environmental Defence

CharityVillage; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental advocacy organization seeks a Program Manager to lead efforts in promoting climate policies in Ontario. The role involves community engagement, policy analysis, and strategic communication to support renewable energy initiatives. This hybrid position offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

4 weeks vacation

Employee and family assistance plan

RRSP matching program

Half-day Fridays between Canada Day and Labour Day

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience working on environmental issues or public policy.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze Ontario government’s climate and energy policies.
• Support development of government relations and public mobilization strategy.
• Produce communications-ready information for various platforms.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Political awareness

Job description

About the Role

Environmental Defence Canada (EDC) is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities. You will be joining a mission-oriented organization with solution-oriented team members who strive to improve our communities and environment. This is a full-time position with an excellent benefits package, 4 weeks vacation, employee and family assistance plan, half-day Fridays between Canada Day and Labour Day and an RRSP matching program. Salary range is $70K-$75K depending on experience. This role will be reporting to the Campaigns Director.

Purpose of the Role

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead Environmental Defence’s efforts to advocate for effective climate policies in Ontario, especially ones advancing a transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The Program Manager will build awareness about climate change solutions in Ontario, and mobilize Ontarians to demand stronger policies and programs from the provincial government. You will also be supporting specific community-led campaigns to fight new fossil fuel powered electricity plants, support renewable energy development, and counter misinformation about local climate solutions. The Program Manager will be responsible for staying informed on policy developments, co-creating, updating and overseeing progress on a work plan, contributing to content development, developing the agenda and leading the weekly meetings, writing blogs, drafting policy briefs and press releases and assisting with fundraising proposal development.

In this role you will work with a robust team of communications, public engagement and campaigning experts to provide analysis and support to local communities impacted by climate change and high-carbon projects and other environmentally damaging projects and policies.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor, analyse and comment on the Ontario government’s climate and energy policies.
• Support and assist in the development of a government relations, communications and public mobilisation strategy build support for stronger climate action in Ontario, and mobilize opposition to actions that would increase greenhouse gas emissions.
• Prepare briefing notes and other submissions on government policy.
• Research the benefits of low carbon solutions like renewable energy, heat pumps and investments in energy efficiency and communicate these benefits to local communities to build support.
• Produce relevant communications-ready information that can be used for blogs, video, website text, press releases, op-eds, newsletters, social media content, reports and act as the media spokesperson.
• Build and support grassroots networks of community organizers in key communities.
• Assist with writing grant applications and funder reports.
• Develop relationships with civil servants, elected officials, and political staffers relevant to the environmental file in Ontario, including at the municipal level.
• Facilitate weekly team meetings and coordinate with the team to develop and implement work plans.
• Work with other organizations and facilitate coalition meetings.
• Assist with writing grant applications and funder reports.

Skills and Experience

• 5+ years experience working on environmental issues or public policy with government or an NGO
• Deep understanding of climate change solutions and impacts and demonstrated experience working on issues-based campaigns.
• Knowledge of electricity systems and clean energy is a plus.
• Strong political awareness and strategic insight
• Project management experience an asset
• Experience with government relations, media and/or politics a plus
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Thrives in a team environment, and can build strong working relationships
• Efficient time and workload management skills

Location

This role will be a hybrid role, part time in the Toronto office and part time work from home.

To apply

Please submit your application through our job portal - https://edc-careers.applytojobs.ca/

Environmental Defence embraces equity and diversity and is committed to a workplace that is enriched by the people, needs and desires of Canada’s diverse community. We thank all candidates in advance for their application, but only those contacted for an interview will receive a reply.