Permanent Position – VICE PRESIDENT, ENVIRONMENT & REGULATORY

The Organization 

Our client is an industry association representing the majority of the forest manufacturers in British Columbia. Their members are leaders in the global forest products industry, helping to drive the economy of the province and the communities in which they operate. 

They advocate for the interests of their members, and they work with all levels of government to promote a healthy, diversified, sustainable forest industry. Our client works to ensure policies and regulations are effective and help to maintain forest sector competitiveness in the global marketplace and ensures the highest environmental standards. 

Role Description:

Our client is seeking an experienced environmental leader to join their Vancouver based team in a permanent full-time position. Reporting to the President & CEO, the Vice-President, Environmental and Regulatory (VPER) will be the senior Environment and Regulatory affairs resource in the organization, providing leadership, support and counsel to the executive team and our members.

The VPER will work with their members’ environment teams and collaborate with government(s) to respond, advocate and advise on a wide range of environmental matters related to mill operations and woodlands. The successful candidate should have the capacity to undertake research, lead discussions, identify socio-economic impacts of legislative, regulation and policy change, propose solutions to resolve outstanding issues and advance new opportunities. 

Key Responsibilities:

The VP Environmental and Regulatory is the senior environmental advisor in the organization. Working closely with the President, VP Forestry, VP and Chief Economist, and VP Government and Public Affairs, the successful candidate will provide strategic oversight of key environment and regulatory issues, identify risks, undertake analysis, propose solutions and advance the interests of their member companies. Duties include:

Strategic:

• Monitor and report out on key trends and developments in the environment policy realm both at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. 
• Develop approach and coordinate member input on environmental policy issues that range from climate policy and CleanBC implementation, forest stewardship, biodiversity, and regulatory compliance related to air, water and waste, wildlife, species at risk etc.. 
• Support the development and implementation of their ESG strategy including providing guidance on vision, goals, targets and reporting on performance measures related to the environment.
• Support the public affairs team on analysis to support communications materials regarding sustainable forest management, industry environmental performance and the role of forest products in tackling climate change.
• Engage and work collaboratively with the provincial and federal government, First Nations and stakeholders on policy issues. 
• Work collaboratively with the leadership team to execute the strategic plan for the organization and deliver maximum value to the member companies.

Policy:

• Work with governments at the provincial, and federal level to provide policy advice on environmental and regulatory matters pertaining to their sector. 
• Identify socio-economic impacts of legislative, regulation and policy change, propose solutions to resolve outstanding issues and advance new opportunities.
• Lead discussion with their members’ environmental teams and liaison with the many industry associations they interact with including: Forest Products Association of Canada, Alberta Forest Products Association, Business Council of British Columbia, and others.
• Engage with First Nations, communities and subject matter experts to understand and incorporate perspectives.

Representation:

• Builds strong relationships with regulators, government policy makers and others that oversee the environment within British Columbia.  
• Proactively engage with their member companies; provide support, advice and information on environmental matters.
• Represents the organization on key environmental committees established by governments and other associations, including in public meetings and conferences.
• Work collaboratively with First Nations to guide development and implementation of environmental and regulatory policy.

Knowledge / Experience / Qualifications:

• Minimum 15-years proven track record of success in a senior environmental, sustainability or regulatory role. Preference for candidate who has worked with large, complex natural resource and extraction environment with focused development of strategies and policies - ideally, with a manufacturing focus.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Environmental Science, Engineering, or Law. Preference for a graduate degree and/or professional designation.

• Knowledge of environmental policy and legislation in BC and Canada, including an understanding of the trends effecting policy.

• Strong skills in relationship building.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 

• Outstanding work ethic, strong initiative, and ability to work unsupervised and independently.

• Ability to organize subject specific working groups and develop consensus position to present to government(s).

Please respect the recruiting process.

To apply for this position, please reference position title in subject line and submit a cover letter and resume to mark@talentvault.ca . You may also apply through the job link located at http://ow.ly/tJFY50F3iKe

We thank all applicants in advance for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.