Director, Climate Change Research

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

The Government of Canada is committed to building a skilled workforce that is representative of Canada's diversity, which includes the recruitment of Canadian Veterans and releasing Canadian Armed Forces personnel: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-servicecommission/jobs/services/publicservice-jobs/canadian-armed-forcesmembers-veterans.html

We encourage applicants to identify any abilities, competencies, and/or experiences acquired through employment with the Canadian Armed Forces where applicable.

Duties

The Director, Climate Change Research is responsible to manage a group of research scientists, technicians, and other professional staff. The Director plays a critical science leadership role locally and nationally, and helps shape the research agenda in line with organizational priorities. A key focus of the role is on forests in a changing climate, but the Director will provide leadership in other domains such as sustainable forest management, and applications of earth observation technologies. The Director also provides leadership for analytic laboratory services. The Director will foster a culture of innovation and integration, encouraging client-focused and holistic approaches to complex problems according to systems thinking. The Director will lead the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships, seeking to leverage capacity and expertise across organizations. The Director will ensure the integration of science and policy, and the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge to end users in industry, government, and elsewhere. He or she will model key leadership competencies to engage and mobilize people, to foster collaboration, to deliver results, to manage resources responsibly, and to support a respectful and healthy workplace. The Director will be expected to support efforts to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people through meaningful engagement and co-development of research activities.

Work environment

At Natural Resources Canada, a Federal government job means developing leadership skills, fostering teamwork, and supporting creativity and innovation. We know it takes people from diverse pools of talent to make this happen. That is why we are looking for people like you. As an employee at Natural Resources Canada you can enjoy diverse employment opportunities, a range of career development programs, and a learning culture that supports you to learn on an ongoing basis. We support balancing your work and private life by offering the benefits of flexible work arrangements: https://natural-resources.canada.ca/careers/why-work-us/20734

The Canadian Forest Service (CFS) of Natural Resources Canada is a science-based organization that provides science and policy expertise and advice on issues related to forests and the forest sector at regional, national, and international levels. A core mandate is to conduct scientific research on Canada’s forests. This research is used to inform forest management planning and policy decisions and to assist the forest industry, the public and other scientists. CFS scientists conduct research and provide expertise on topics such as forest fires, pests, inventory and monitoring, climate change, integrated resource management, sustainable forest management, restoration, industry innovation, and more. The CFS also plays a critical role in enabling the transformation of the forest sector as it moves toward a future focused on innovation and the bioeconomy.

The Northern Forestry Center (NFC) is a federal research facility located on its own small campus adjacent to the University of Alberta’s experimental farm in central Edmonton. It has a primary focus on the forests and stakeholders of prairie and northern Canada, but it contributes to national research priorities through a matrix management approach. The Director, Climate Change Research is one of five directors at NFC who report to the Director General: two other research directors lead teams focused on wildland fire and ecosystem health, respectively, plus a Director of Operations and a Director of Wildfire Programs. Nationally, the Director, Climate Change Research will work closely with managers and scientists across the country and will interface with other scientific and policy domains as part of a matrix structure.

A hybrid work arrangement may be possible, but a minimum of 2-3 days per week on site at NFC is required. The successful candidate must live in or be willing to relocate to the Edmonton area.

Intent of the process

The intent is to staff one (1) indeterminate position in Edmonton, Alberta.

A pool of qualified candidates WILL NOT be established. Applicants are advised to apply only if they wish to be considered for this Edmonton-based opportunity.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Education

E1. Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of the natural sciences related to the duties of the position, or the employer-approved alternative for the SE classification.

The employer-approved alternative for the SE classification is an acceptable master’s or bachelor’s degree coupled with acceptable research, training and experience. The degree must be from a recognized post-secondary institution and in scientific fields and specialties related to the duties of the position. The training and experience must clearly demonstrate the ability to do personal research of doctoral degree calibre.

Degree equivalency

Experience:

EX1. Extensive experience* in managing scientific research activities related to climate change, forestry, ecology, or other scientific field relevant to the position.
EX2. Extensive experience * in providing strategic advice to senior management on policy or program development.
EX3. Experience in the planning and managing of human** and financial*** resources.
EX4. Experience in developing collaborative initiatives with partners or stakeholders.

* Extensive experience is defined as three (3) years of experience acquired in the last seven (7) years.
** Managing human resources is defined as: applicants must clearly demonstrate that they have supervised staff, assigned work, managed and assessed performance and ensured development and training needs of employees are met.
*** Managing financial resources is defined as: applicants must show evidence of managing and being accountable for a budget. This experience is defined as being responsible for sound financial planning, forecasting and reporting.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Assets experience

AEX1. Experience in knowledge exchange between science and practitioners
AEX2. Experience co-developing projects with Indigenous partners

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:

K1. Knowledge of issues related to environmental performance of Canada’s forest sector, and associated research needs.

Key Leadership Competencies:

C1. Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders
C2. Create Vision and Strategy
C3. Mobilize People
C4. Uphold Integrity and Respect
C5. Promote Innovation and Guide Change
C6. Achieve Results

Abilities:

A1. Ability to analyze options and present clear recommendations to senior management
A2. Ability to communicate effectively in writing
A3. Ability to communicate effectively orally

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

Natural Resources Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. This organizational need may be identified as part of the appointment decision. In such cases, qualified candidates who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, or women could be considered in priority.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Willingness and ability to work flexible hours including overtime
• Willingness and ability to travel when required

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

Candidates may be required to meet the other qualifications.

All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

Candidates must meet the conditions of employment and continue to meet these same conditions during their employment.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.