Climate Foresight Lead

Acadia University

About Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions

The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) is a multi-university institute encompassing the four major research-intensive universities in British Columbia: University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Northern British Columbia. Our mandate is to catalyze and mobilize research, partnerships, and knowledge that generate research on climate solutions. We are a values-based organization that centres its work on principles of respect, relationality, reciprocity, trust, transparency, and transformation.

About the Role

The Climate Foresight Lead will help plan, research, develop and deliver PICS’ new Climate Foresight program. The Climate Foresight program will serve as a catalyst for partnership development to inspire transdisciplinary cross-sectoral knowledge networks on complex future-oriented climate issues, and Insights into transformative climate solutions for BC and the broader world. The program will bring leading researchers and partners together in dialogue to understand and develop responses to cascading ecological, societal, economic, and political impacts and transitions associated with the changing climate.

The Climate Foresight Lead will cultivate, coordinate, and contribute to collaborative research that supports strategic thinking and increases capacity to anticipate emerging climate challenges and solutions. Responsibilities will involve contributing to the overall design and operational planning for the program which will combine scholarly research, analysis, and collaborative methodologies to leverage diverse knowledges that contemplate climate futures, and supporting program implementation through interdisciplinary issue scans, collaborative workshops, and evaluation.

Note: This opportunity will be available on a three-year contract with the possibility of extension.

What you will do

• Establish and develop a BC-focused climate foresight program that holistically bridges diverse knowledge to consider pressing challenges and solution opportunities to emerging climate-related issues.
• Maintain broad oversight of leading research on emerging and cascading climate-related ecological, economic, societal, and political challenges.
• Develop and maintain expertise regarding transdisciplinary research approaches, best practices, and capacity to support climate foresight opportunities and implementation within a BC context.
• Maintain awareness of and relationships with existing and emerging BC/Canadian research initiatives, clusters, and networks and engage in proactive outreach to solicit potential partnerships and project proposals.
• Foster partnership development between academic researchers and government, Indigenous, civil society, professional and business organizations.
• Contribute to collaborative research arising from program activities.
• Facilitate synthesis and reporting of climate foresight issues within and across networks.
• Translate program insights into communication products for non-academic audiences and collaborate with PICS communications and engagement staff to identify knowledge mobilization opportunities that advance climate foresight.
• Coordinate grant application intakes including communication and feedback to potential applicants, filing of applications, adjudication processes, and grant management.
• Design and co-lead participatory processes that support partnership cohesion integrated with program design and delivery; organize vibrant and inclusive virtual and in-person spaces for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
• Support the planning, coordination, and reporting for research workshops.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen program impact, including integrating feedback received from applicants/project leads/workshop participants.
• Other duties as required.

What you will bring

• Minimum of five years of experience with a research organization, think tank, or foundation in a role with strong research and project management elements.
• PhD or master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, with relevant specialization in one or more areas: climate and environmental policy; future studies and scenario analysis; climate economics and politics; and any related field or discipline.
• Experience working on transdisciplinary climate issues that holistically weaves social, ecological, economic and other solution opportunities.
• Experience with participatory and creative methodologies and facilitation approaches that support team building, project cohesion, and delivery of action-oriented results.
• Understanding of best practices and approaches in the field of climate foresight and scenario planning.
• Experience working on collaborations at the intersections of academe, governments, practitioners and communities.
• Experience in project management, evaluation, and support for applicants and grantees
• Experience mobilizing knowledge that translates scholarly work into communication products for non-academic partners and audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and deep commitment collaboration.
• Intellectual curiosity, openness, and drive to explore complexity
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills

What we provide
• Salary range of $95,000 - $105,000
• Comprehensive health package
• Pension Plan after 1 year of service
• 22 days of vacation, plus time off between Christmas and New Years

Application Information

If this exciting opportunity to be at the Centre of climate solutions research in BC sounds like a great fit for you, please apply with your resume. In addition to submitting your resume, qualified applicants are invited to submit a cover letter (two pages max) that describes:

a) Why you are interested in working with PICS and how your work experience, key skills, and competencies would be an asset to fostering and accelerating cross-sectoral research collaborations on complex future-oriented climate issues.
b) Two learnings from your past work experiences that would inform your approach to this role and/or contribute to your understanding of our program areas.

For more information on this position, please review the full job description. This posting will remain open until August 28, 2024 and a review of resumes will start immediately so do not delay applying.

Please apply using this link: https://engagedhr.teamtailor.com/jobs/4744860-climate-foresight-lead?promotion=1092289-trackable-share-link-academic-work

We look forward to connecting with you!

Climate justice is core to our work at PICS. We believe that intersectional approaches that recognize human, Indigenous, and environmental rights and responsibilities are foundational for climate solutions to be durable, effective, and fair. Climate justice requires addressing systemic inequalities, reconciliation, and challenging structures of power and privilege. We are dedicated to working in solidarity with affected communities to advocate for transformative change that promotes equity, resilience, and sustainability for all.

We acknowledge the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized communities, including Indigenous Peoples, racial minorities, low-income individuals, individuals with disabilities, and those living in frontline communities.

PICS prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from members of all races, backgrounds, abilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations.