Position: Manager, Economic Transformation (Circular Economy)
Reports to: Senior Manager, Economic Transformation
Employment Type: Full-time, permanent
Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 1, 2022, 5:00PM (PST) [Closed]
Main Purpose and Function
The Vancouver Economic Commission’s mandate is to support the building of a prosperous, inclusive, low-carbon and resilient economy in Vancouver.
The Manager, Economic Transformation (Circular Economy) is responsible for advising, leading and overseeing select strategic programs, initiatives, events and engagement to accelerate the circular economy in Vancouver, with a strong focus on coordinating industry and public sector effort, creating resources, and facilitating the transition in the local business communities.
Key Contacts and Reporting Relationships
The Manager, Economic Transformation (Circular Economy) reports to the Senior Manager, Economic Transformation, who is responsible for assigning work to the Manager, Economic Transformation (Circular Economy); overseeing their day-to-day work; seeking their input and ideas; facilitating issues when escalation is required; and providing ongoing feedback and mentorship.
The Manager, Economic Transformation (Circular Economy) is expected to work with and support other VEC team members as needed and liaise professionally and respectfully with leadership within VEC and with VEC’s stakeholders.
Performance goals, workplans and work allocation will be reviewed on a regular basis with their direct manager, as approved by the CEO. These goals and workplans will be adapted from time to time as business and organizational needs evolve.
In addition to reporting to the Senior Manager, Economic Transformation, on any given work item the Manager, Economic Transformation (Circular Economy) may also report to or provide subject matter expertise to other leads on the project/initiative to which they are providing services. In these instances, the Manager, Economic Transformation (Circular Economy) takes direction concerning initiative decisions from the project/initiative lead and may seek consultation and support from the Senior Manager, Economic Transformation, the Director, Economic Transformation and Climate Action, and ultimately the CEO.
Direct Reports Currently Include:
None at this time. Potential for additional resources in future as budget and resources permit.
Duties and Responsibilities
Specific duties will vary as work is allocated, but will most often include:
- Lead Key Initiatives. Lead and support those VEC staff and contractors with a role on all work items allocated to the Manager, Economic Transformation (CE), and or those who are direct reports. Actively manage resource deployment and quality of deliverables. Ensure the ongoing performance, productivity, development and engagement of all allocated team resources.
- Strategic Relationship Management. Support the Senior Manager, Economic Transformation as VEC’s primary relationship lead with contacts relevant to the circular economy; lead and manage relationships to partners as assigned. Foster, nurture and manage select strategic relationships with industry, NGOs, NPOs, various levels of government, peers and stakeholders within Canada and abroad to advance and promote VEC’s work to accelerate the local circular economy. Clearly articulate VEC’s role and priorities when working with others.
- Catalyze Change. Be a catalyst to develop an economy aligned to VEC’s core values: With support from the Management Team, identify and deliver, with others, research, programs and advocacy that purposely and proactively act as a catalyst for an economy that reflects VEC’s core priorities.
- Project Management. With the Senior Manager, Economic Transformation, and ultimately the Director’s and CEO’s approval, initiate and develop new projects focused on circular economy, including assigning work, maintaining scope, budget, schedule and quality expectations, managing relations, escalating issues and opportunities as appropriate, and ensuring proper project close-out and post-project evaluation.
- Deliverables. Work with VEC’s marketing and communications staff as it relates to publishing and promoting events, new opportunities, and the final outcomes of the project or initiative.
- Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.
Position Requirements
VEC recognizes that relevant knowledge and experience can come from many different avenues. Alternative training or expertise will also be considered. If this job sounds like a good fit with your capabilities and passions, you are encouraged to apply!
Education and Experience
- Bachelors and post-secondary education preferred, in fields such as business administration, sustainability, economics, public policy, resource management.
- 3+ years experience supporting and leading project management, advisory and / or advocacy for the green, just economy, and/or local business community and/or economic development and/or economy related policy.
- Strong understanding of circular economy principles in action and change management.
- Minimum of 2 years experience leading people, initiatives, projects and teams.
- Proven experience building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with organizations and/or businesses and/or education and training institutes.
- Experience in advocacy to other levels of government, including policy and service delivery is considered an asset.
- Highly organized with the ability to handle multiple programs/deadlines and multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong presentation skills – comfortable acting as an expert; representing the VEC in meetings, workshops and events.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Manager, Economic Transformation should have the following knowledge, skills and abilities.
- Leadership. Demonstrated leadership skills, with the ability to bring together and sustain teams made up of diverse members, and to lead, inspire, bring out the best in others, and to manage and coach others, including direct reports.
- Resource management. Engage with the Senior Manager, Economic Transformation in managing the deployment of team resources to various projects efficiently and effectively, balancing the need to ensure direct reports are fully deployed with the need to appropriately resource a set of projects at any given time.
- Strategy and business analytics. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills that can be applied to complex, multi-faceted issues, with the ability to think objectively and innovatively, and to present solutions in clear and compelling terms within a short timeframe.
- Facilitation. Strong facilitation skills, with the ability to bring together people with a diverse set of interests, styles and areas of expertise, and align them toward a unified goal, and to reconcile differing perspectives, develop consensus and secure cooperation and support from both clients, partners, and team members.
- Business relationship management. Ability to understand and steward business relationships, based upon a solid understanding of change management, circular economy adoption, and emergent solutions.
- Professionalism. Ability to appropriately represent VEC to all levels of government, academia, and industry contacts. Ability to respect relevant protocols and confidentiality, to inspire trust and credibility, and to generally conduct oneself with tact and diplomacy.
- Technical. Strong computer competency in office productivity tools that can be leveraged to support business analytics and decision-making including MS Office 365, webinar and virtual meeting platforms, and project management platforms.
- Curiosity/quick learner. An aptitude for and interest in learning about a wide variety of topics and willingness to consider integrating new options as a result of investigation and unanticipated opportunities arising.
- Organisation and efficiency. Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to concurrently manage multiple tasks and competing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Communication. Superior written communication, verbal communication and presentation skills, as well as a high level of competency in office productivity tools and technology.
- Optimism and Attitude. Commitment to optimism for the future and a demonstrated willingness to engage in relationships/activities with respect and a positive outlook.
Application Process
Interested applicants should supply their resume and cover letter in pdf format by email. Deadline to apply is 5pm PST Wednesday June 1st. While we thank all applicants for taking the time to apply, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted directly.
Anticipated start date is Monday June 27th or sooner depending on negotiations with the successful candidate.
Conditions of Employment
General office hours are 9am to 5pm and some flexibility is required due to the events-based nature of the work. Some evening and early morning hours may be necessary.
VEC is currently operating in a hybrid remote-office mode; staff are expected to work one to two days a week in the office located on the 5th floor at 855 W 8th Avenue. The building is fully accessible and includes indoor locked bicycle storage and end of trip facilities. The remaining days of the week will be worked from a local remote location. A laptop and accessories will be provided.
This is a full-time, permanent position. The salary range is CDN $70,000 to $75,000. VEC offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes a group health and dental insurance plan and participation in the Municipal Pension Plan.
VEC values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Diversity at VEC means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, respected, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths.
Based in Vancouver VEC respectfully acknowledges that it is located on the unceded ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish nations.
