AddressSustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is a highly entrepreneurial foundation, created by the federal government. Our mission is to be a catalyst and convenor for the cleantech ecosystem in Canada. We do this by investing in projects that are pre-commercial and have the potential to demonstrate significant and quantifiable environmental and economic benefits in one or more of the following areas: climate change, clean air, clean water, and clean soil.
We are a small team of high energy, dedicated, private sector-oriented individuals who are hands-on and innovative. Come and help us make a difference to the Canadian innovation and sustainability agenda.
Purpose:
Reporting to the Vice-President, Investments, the Director, Investments is jointly responsible for the team that manages SDTC's Investments process, which includes the screening and evaluation of new funding applications, the management of the portfolio of funded projects, and delivery of funded projects in accordance with SDTC's criteria.
The Director ensures strong relevance of deal flow presented to the Project Review Committee and Board, consistent with the investment themes and priorities developed by the VP Investments and CEO to ensure good portfolio diversification. The Director will manage the overall portfolio of funded projects, and provide oversight of the contracting, execution and post-project commercialization phases of the portfolio lifecycle.
The Director will develop a deep understanding of portfolio and company progress against targeted outcomes and results. The Director also supports the Insights team in executing their mandate to conduct portfolio analysis, including generation of outcomes and results.
The Director leads a team of professionals and is responsible for all aspects of people management, including budget management, reporting requirements and delivery of key initiatives for the team. This position liaises and provides support to all functions of the SDTC team.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
General
- Lead and mentor a team of Investment Leads. Provide day-to-day management of the team, through coaching and mentoring, empowering the team to take responsibility for their portfolios, while delivering results.
- Develop a sound understanding of SDTC's evaluation framework and ensure that projects having strong relevance to these criteria at all stages of the Investments lifecycle.
- Identify and implement improvements to the Investments lifecycle to ensure optimal balance between responsiveness to applicants, quality of due diligence and oversight, and risk management.
- Coordinate evaluation activities and management of funded projects with partner funding organizations.
- Lead the coordination of the screening and evaluation process of applications, including intake and due diligence activities.
- Provides leadership in the preparation, quality and delivery of materials to the Project Review Committee and Board. Manage, maintain and ensure consistent and fair use of applicant evaluation parameters and make improvements as necessary and ensure quality and consistency in their use by the team.
- Manage the selection assignment and performance of the roster of experts that support the screening and evaluation process.
- Lead contracting and project management activities.
- Build and maintain an understanding of portfolio and company progress against targeted outcomes and results.
- Establish, track and deliver on organizational goals such as portfolio disbursements, contracting and disbursement timeframes and portfolio health/risk analysis, etc.
- Liaise regularly with recipients to assess project progress, track issues, and monitor other related developments such as the recipients' business activities and forward plans.
- Review, approve and present contracts and modifications, as well as milestone claims and disbursements.
- Trouble-shoot project issues and challenges to keep projects progressing towards delivering results while managing/mitigating financial, governance and reputational risks to the organization.
- Manage project close-outs and post-project reporting processes.
- Ensure company and project data for portfolio and project-specific reporting requirements is collected and updated as required.
- Lead and model integrative decision making, strategic thinking in line with SDTC's mandate, collaborating and working effectively with the executive team to foster a high performing culture within SDTC.
- Motivate, coach and inspire the team to embrace our values, and grow their capabilities while fostering a learning culture.
- Lead, build and develop a high performing team inviting and promoting collaboration and cultivating diverse views and backgrounds
- Ensure employees and team members have the support and coaching they need to successfully deliver on their responsibilities and to meet their career expectations.
- Lead change initiatives that support the execution of our strategy and the continual improvement of our processes, policies and tools.
Travel will be expected to visit the potential and existing applicants and project sites. It will vary and is estimated at approximately 25%.
Skills and Knowledge Required
Education:
- Degree in Sciences and/or Engineering, or equivalent experience working with technology innovation/scale up and/or product development. An MBA or equivalent business experience is highly valued.
- At least 10 years of experience in technology development and/or commercialization combined with at least 2-3 years of management experience.
- Experience evaluating and managing investments is an asset.
- Demonstrated experience and/or ability in leading/managing team(s) of knowledge professionals working remotely.
- Project/program management experience, including the development, implementation and continuous improvement of processes and tracking frameworks.
- Demonstrated skill in building and sustaining relationships with client groups or customers.
- Experience in one or more clean technology sectors is an asset.
- Collaboration: Ability to work cooperatively with others to achieve shared goals. Takes responsibility for outcomes, personal commitment to knowledge sharing, process innovations, and appreciation of different perspectives.
- Critical Thinking: Ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking, and a demonstrated ability to understand and make logical connections between ideas.
- Communication: Ability to actively listen with a focus on inquiry and asking the right questions. Communicates effectively to address and resolve conflict in order to build trust and to manage multiple, diverse relationships and stakeholders.
- Results Orientation: Ability to focus efforts on achieving results within SDTC's vision.
- Partnership Orientation: Consulting and relationship development to establish partnerships with stakeholders within SDTC and/or with other agencies/departments, and partners.
- Service Orientation: Ability to focus efforts on understanding and meeting stakeholder needs, and responding to their priorities, feedback, and concerns with a sense of urgency and empathy.
- Change Management: Ability to embrace and support ongoing change and in applying a SDTC discipline of change management.
- Change Leadership: Ability to build a culture of engagement to support the execution of SDTC's vision.
- Knowledge of sustainable development, and environmental issues.
- Ability to understand a broad range of technology and business-related metrics.
- Ability to synthesize key messages from large content of information into presentations, reports and briefings.
- Well organized, detail oriented, and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work productively with numerous stakeholder groups.
- Initiative and the ability to work with minimum supervision.
- Team oriented individuals who can collaborate across the organization.
- French language skills are an asset.
- 4 to 5 weeks' paid vacation leave plus an office closure between Christmas and New Year inclusively
- 12 Personal Wellness days annually
- Employer paid health, dental, vision and life insurance
- Tuition reimbursement and growth development opportunities
- Remote first work philosophy with flexible working practices
- RRSP matching
- Parental leave top-up
To support our search, we encourage candidates to apply by February 14, 2023.
Sustainable Development Technology Canada ("SDTC'') embraces diversity and inclusion in our workforce and workplace. We are committed to building inclusive teams and an equitable environment for people to be themselves. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate needs under human rights legislation throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please let us know of any accommodations through hr@sdtc.ca. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.
SDTC is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees and the communities where they live and work across Canada. All SDTC employees must be fully vaccinated. As a condition of employment, all potential new hires will be required to provide proof of compliance with the Policy upon acceptance of an offer of employment. This requirement applies whether you are working remotely or at an SDTC office space.
