Program Director of Climate Justice and Sustainability

Winnipeg School Division; Winnipeg; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Winnipeg School Division seeks a Program Director of Climate Justice and Sustainability to lead innovative climate action initiatives across the division. This key role will involve strategic planning, community engagement, and collaboration with various departments to promote sustainability and resilience. The successful candidate will guide climate justice efforts, implement educational programs, and work closely with Indigenous communities to foster environmental stewardship and social equity.

Benefits

Employment equity initiatives

Accommodations during the interview process

Qualifications

• Knowledge or lived experience of climate action planning and sustainability principles.
• Experience leading cross-sectoral projects related to climate action and justice.
• Ability to work within an equity-focused and climate justice-oriented framework.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the Climate Action Plan.
• Build partnerships with Indigenous communities and other organizations.
• Support schools in embedding land-based principles and sustainability.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Project Management

Critical Thinking

Education

Post-secondary degree in Indigenous Environmental Knowledge, Land-Based Learning, or related field

Job description

The Program Director of Climate Justice and Sustainability will provide visionary leadership and strategic coordination for Winnipeg School Division’s (WSD) climate action and climate justice initiatives. Reporting to the Assistant Superintendent of Anti-Racism, Equity, and Climate Justice, the Director will guide the development, implementation, and monitoring of WSD’s Climate Action Plan through a lens of reciprocity, accountability, and Indigenous land-based knowledge. The role requires collaboration across all departments—including Indigenous Education, Facilities, Transportation, Nutrition Services, and Schools—and active engagement with students, staff, families, and community to promote land stewardship and a shared responsibility to build resilience, sustainability, and environmental justice across all parts of the division.

Responsibilities May Include But Are Not Limited To

Strategic Planning and Leadership
• Lead the development and implementation of WSD’s Climate Action Plan in alignment with divisional priorities and the Strategic Plan.
• Establish short- and long-term goals to promote carbon reduction, environmental resilience, and sustainable practices across all areas of operation, with a focus on supporting communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.
• Collaborate with the senior leadership team to embed climate action and climate justice within divisional planning, budgeting, and decision-making.

Partnership and Departmental Support
• Work in partnership with Facilities, Transportation, Nutrition Services, Schools, and other departments to identify, implement, and support climate action strategies.
• In consultation with Indigenous community leaders, knowledge keepers, and elders, provide guidance to project teams on sustainable building practices, energy efficiency, waste reduction, transportation strategies, food sustainability initiatives, and reciprocity with the land.
• Develop cross-departmental initiatives that integrate sustainability into operational and educational practices rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing.

Community Engagement and Partnerships
• Build and maintain partnerships with Indigenous communities, local, provincial, and national organizations, non-profits, youth groups, and other partners to advance climate action and climate justice efforts.
• Facilitate community engagement opportunities that connect students, families, caregivers, and staff with broader sustainability, climate action, and climate justice initiatives.
• Represent WSD in climate networks, conferences, and collaborative projects.

Education and Capacity Building
• Support schools in embedding land-based principles and sustainability into school culture, curricula, and initiatives.
• Develop professional learning opportunities for staff to enhance knowledge and practices related to climate action, climate justice, and sustainability.
• Promote student leadership in climate action through division-wide initiatives, projects, and events.

Monitoring and Reporting
• Develop community-informed systems to monitor progress on climate action and report on key outcomes.
• Provide regular updates and reports to divisional leadership and the Board of Trustees, grounded in community priorities.
• Communicate successes and opportunities for growth in climate action efforts to the broader WSD community, fostering community dialogue and participation.

Qualifications
• Post-secondary degree in Indigenous Environmental Knowledge, Land-Based Learning, Education for Sustainability, Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Public Policy, or related field (preferred).
• Extensive knowledge or lived experience of climate action planning, resiliency strategies, and sustainable development principles grounded in Western and Indigenous knowledge systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-sectoral projects focused on climate action and justice, organizational sustainability, and community-based initiatives.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to build and maintain reciprocal relationships across departments and communities.
• Experience in educational or community-based learning environments is a strong asset.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, project management, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work within an anti-racist, decolonial, equity-focused, and climate justice-oriented framework.

How To Apply
Click the "Apply Online" button and log into your account. First-time users will need to create a profile to apply.

We thank all interested individuals; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Note: Employment is subject to a clear Child Abuse Registry check and Police Information Check.

Winnipeg School Division promotes employment equity and strives for the removal of barriers for women, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, persons with disabilities, and racialized groups. Preference will be given to qualified candidates who self-identify as belonging to these groups.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided during the interview and assessment process upon request.

About Winnipeg School Division
WSD is one of Manitoba’s largest employers, with over 6,000 employees across 84 locations, including 79 schools, administrative buildings, a training centre, maintenance locations, and a fleet of almost 100 buses. Our mission is to support nearly 30,000 students in a diverse, inclusive environment.