The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. FCM is dedicated to improving the quality of life in all communities by promoting strong, effective, and accountable municipal government. FCM aspires to be an organization that is deeply respectful, collaborative, empowering and transparent in our work. We have a commitment and passion for strengthening Canada by achieving results for our communities, our cities, and our workplace, and by sharing our knowledge and experience on the world stage, so that others may improve the quality of life in their communities.

The cornerstone FCM Program is the Green Municipal Fund™ (GMF), a $1 billion permanent endowment from the Government of Canada. GMF helps local governments switch to sustainable practices faster. Our unique mix of funding, resources and training gives municipalities the tools they need to build resiliency — and create better lives for Canadians.  As a leading catalyst for innovation, GMF offers funding (loans and grants) and knowledge for sustainable municipal initiatives designed to support communities to improve air, water, soil quality, and to protect the climate. Through GMF, municipalities have built better transportation assets; constructed efficient and resilient buildings; diverted waste from landfill; made previously unusable land available for development; and improved soil and water quality.  

Major Purpose

Reporting to the Manager, Capacity Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, the Project Officer (PO), Capacity Development will provide project management, coordination, administrative and logistical support to build municipal capacity, with a central focus on delivering the FCM-ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program. With a membership of about 500 municipalities and growing, PCP is focussed on guiding communities through a 5-step milestone program to support their efforts to reduce GHG emissions.

Work will also be specifically focused Capacity Development programming related to the GMF program streams of local climate action, energy, transportation, waste, and water. The Project Officer will oversee the design, logistics and delivery of a number of municipal-oriented learning events (both online and in person) to mobilize best practice from within GMF’s funding program and the Canadian municipal sector. The role helps build the capacity of municipal staff, elected officials and key stakeholders to understand, undertake, deliver and scale-up successful practices and approaches. 

Major activities include the development and delivery of learning and capacity building activities (online and in person), convening and facilitating peer learning and networks, supporting the development, delivery and measurement of capacity building for funded projects and collaboration municipalities and partners. The Officer also assists with the integration and coordination of knowledge management, exchange and mobilization across other units of GMF and other FCM Programs.

Key Responsibilities

Partners for Climate Protection Program:

• Leads on delivering the program in partnership with ICLEI Canada, Local Governments for Sustainability:
  • Leads the PCP secretariat (combination of program staff delivering PCP at both FCM and ICLEI Canada);
  • Collaborates with the ICLEI Canada team for program service delivery and support of member inquiries;
  • Leads development of the annual program workplan in collaboration with the ICLEI team and Manager. GMF Capacity Development (M&E) and monitors progress of the annual workplan milestones and budget providing reports to Manager, GMF Capacity Development (M&E);
  • Hosts regular meetings with ICLEI Canada team for delivery of the program workplan;
  • Collaborates on production of the annual reporting.
• Manages PCP member recruitment, relations and engagement:
  • Develops engagement strategies (including ways to increase francophone engagement);
  • Tracks and maintains up to date membership information using the FCM CRM system, assisting and processing milestones, issuing recognition, etc.;
  • Provides timely response to current or prospective member inquiries by phone, e-mail, etc.
• Leads development of PCP knowledge resources and communications;
  • Oversees the operation, development and delivery of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) milestone tool, quarterly PCP newsletter, media releases, e-bulletins, inquiry response and Hub;
  • Manages the PCP website in collaboration with ICLEI team to ensure regular content updates, performance tracking and quality control;
  • Develops and improves delivery of resources and tools (including transferring the milestone workshops to online learning format);
  • Delivers workshops and presentations (including at Council) and represents the program at workshops and events;
• Coordination of PCP Program with GMF Capacity Development team:
  • Monitors and evaluates data on program status for FCM reporting and other needs as required;
  • Contribute to PCP program development and renewal;
  • Administers the program according to FCM- GMF processes (e.g. managing PCP vendors - assessment, contract updates and invoicing.
  • Helps to “right size” the PCP program making it more efficient.
• Develops and delivers awareness raising and capacity building activities and programming (both online and in person) for municipal staff, elected officials and partners in assigned GMF sectors.
• Leads the development and delivery of information resources, guidebooks, tools, online courses, and activities to promote uptake of lessons learned from GMF projects and climate/sustainability leadership in the Canadian municipal sector. Develops and deploys strategies for optimal impact and reach.
• Supports the development, delivery and measurement of capacity building for GMF-funded initiatives and for the broader municipal sector based on lessons learned from funded initiatives.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of effective and innovative capacity building tools and approaches.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of best practice in assigned GMF sectors.
• Provides strategic and operational advice to management to inform the development of the direction, objectives and plans for the GMF Capacity Development unit and the Core Program Team.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the GMF team and in other FCM programs, including the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), to ensure a coordinated and complimentary approach to FCM initiatives that support sustainability with external partners and in our membership.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of 3 - 5 years of professional experience designing and delivering initiatives which connect diverse stakeholders (e.g., government, not-for-profits, private sector, etc.) to deliver training, workshops, webinars, guides, case studies, etc...
• University degree in environmental studies, public administration, or a related discipline with strong background in organizational change and adult education.
• Strong knowledge and experience in the area of sustainable municipal development, environmental issues, and program management.
• Knowledge of the Canadian municipal sector structure, needs, and capacity.
• Experience in group facilitation and workshop design.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (written and oral). Includes the ability to coordinate and work with multi-disciplinary teams, lead meetings and make formal presentations to high-level audiences
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills with the ability to establish support and credibility at all levels within and outside the organization.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Ability to spearhead and work independently on projects using excellent judgement.
• Excellent project management skills with strong ability to multi-task.
• Ability to administer small budgets, allocating funds for events or travel support, correcting for variances as needed.
• Strong political acumen and diplomacy.
• Capacity to work in a changing environment and willingness to take on new or evolving responsibilities.
• The ability to work in both official languages (English and French) is required.

The benefits to joining the FCM team include summer hours (Fridays off between July 1^st and Labour Day); office facilities located in the ByWard Market, FCM’s commitment to employee development and a competitive range of employee benefits and services. FCM encourages flexible work arrangements to support the wellbeing and productivity of employees.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is committed to fostering an organizational culture that embraces equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, where individuals from diverse racial and ethnic identities, nationalities, social economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and physical and mental abilities can thrive and be fully engaged at their best level.

FCM welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.

The future of work at FCM includes a hybrid work model; therefore, this role will be a combination of virtual and on-site work. The successful candidate is required live in and be authorized to work in Canada. They are also required to be able to work from home/remotely, from within Canada.  All in-office work and in-person meetings for work that take place inside and/or outside of the offices located in Ottawa will be subject to FCM’s Safe Workplace Vaccination Policy, as well as its health and safety procedures.

It is a mandatory condition of employment at FCM that the successful candidate be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with vaccines that have been approved by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to their start date and will be required to provide proof.  If accommodation is required in relation to this condition of employment for any reason pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code, please contact us at directly. 

For additional information on this posting, or for further information on FCM, access our website at www.fcm.ca.

Visit the careers section of our website to apply. Deadline for applications February 2, 2023.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, we will only contact those selected for an interview. All the applications will be kept for six months following the completion of the hiring process