IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is one of the world’s most influential freshwater research facilities. It features a collection of 58 small lakes and their watersheds in northwestern Ontario, Canada. For over 50 years, scientists at IISD-ELA have conducted whole-ecosystem experiments and made significant scientific discoveries related to issues such as acid rain, mercury from air pollution, algal blooms, and pharmaceutical chemicals in water. The facility is operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, an independent think tank headquartered in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory—the traditional land of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and homeland of the Métis Nation. 
IISD-ELA acknowledges that the research facility is located on Treaty 3 lands, and the care of these lands during experimentation and restoration to their original state is implicit in its mission. Many regional schools come to the facility to learn more about the science of aquatic ecosystems and how humans serve a role in sharing and working with one another to protect these resources. We encourage candidates to visit our website (https://www.iisd.org/ela/) to find out more about our organization.
Scope
IISD-ELA is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced individual to be responsible for the day-to-day operational management and the smooth and efficient functioning of the program. They will provide strategic operational advice and guidance on resource utilization, financial management, fundraising support, and general program management matters related to IISD-ELA.
Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director, the IISD-ELA Program Manager will be responsible for carrying out the following functions:
- Assist with the sound financial management and realization of committed outputs in compliance with IISD’s policies and procedures, as well as specific donor requirements.
- Monitor program finances to ensure they remain within budget.
- Coordinate the development of annual budgets.
- Tabulate contractual commitments and monitor their fulfilment.
- Act as the focal point for key performance indicator (KPI) tracking for the program.
- Be the program’s liaison with IISD’s accounting department.
- Act as corporate secretary for the IISD-ELA Board of Directors.
- Contribute more broadly to institutional functions and
Key Responsibilities
A) Coordinate human and financial resources for the IISD-ELA Program:
- Coordinate the annual budget planning process, including yearly targets, human resource planning, and recommending adjustments as needed.
- Maintain regular contact with human resources, finance, information technology, communications, and administration in the head office to ensure a common understanding of operational processes.
- Implement project management and support tools as these evolve and contribute to their evolution and improvement within the organization.
- Facilitate planning for the IISD-ELA Board of Directors and act as corporate secretary for the board.
- Perform project administration tasks for IISD-ELA framework agreements, including cost template, budget revision, and preparation and monitoring of consultant/associate contracts.
- Coordinate timelines, budgets, deliverables, and communications with project funders and partners.
- Identify and assist with the development of new projects through writing proposals, preparing the budget, liaising with donors, and collaborating with partner organizations in the development of joint proposals.
- Develop processes/standards to comply with funder requirements in terms of reporting when such processes do not yet exist. While doing so, always escalate first issues to various IISD working groups or committees with a view to favouring IISD-wide practices and integrated
- Participate in recruitment and selection committees as
B) Track and maintain organizational policies and procedures
- Keep up to date with current IISD policies in areas related to project management/delivery, expenditure management/control, and records management.
- Apply existing policies in project
- Provide consistent messaging to support an understanding of IISD policies when dealing with subordinates, associates, and consultants.
- Participate in IISD’s Project Managers Working Group.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in project management, including financial management, outcomes tracking, and funder reporting.
- Strong project management and demonstrated organizational and planning skills, including an ability to coordinate complex multi-partner projects in diverse contexts.
- Capacity to develop budgets and oversee the tracking of financial performance.
- A high level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other project management tools.
- Bachelor’s or higher degree, preferably with a focus on economics, mathematics, sustainable development, natural resource management, or accounting.
- Knowledge of contracting systems and deliverables management.
- Results focused with an ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and work quickly and accurately under tight deadlines.
- Strong networking and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrable skills in tracking project outcomes and deliverables.
- Experience working in fast-paced, multi-project environments.
- Strong organizational skills, including time management, task management, and scheduling.
- Fluent in written and spoken English; the ability to work in French is an asset.
- Must be currently eligible to work in Canada.
For more details on what we are looking for in our candidates, please refer to the IISD competencies on our website.
Location: Winnipeg preferred but will consider candidates from across Canada
Salary: $58,600 – $80,000 (salary commensurate with experience)
Employment Type: Full-time position, 1-year contract with possibility of indefinite renewal
Start Date: ASAP
Closing Date: February 24, 2023, or until filled.
The candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will be closed on February 24, 2023, or once filled.
Application Procedure
All submissions must be in English. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities are available on request.
Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.
Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR.
Please include the following:
- A CV (no longer than two pages)
- A cover letter (one page)
- IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional)
Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.
IISD has implemented a COVID-19 vaccination policy that requires employees who are required or choose to be at an office or participate in in-person team events or in-person meetings/events to be fully vaccinated. Anyone unable to be fully vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or a disability that prevents them from being fully vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.
IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.
