Director, Environmental Protection & Waste Management in Yellowknife

The Government of the Northwest Territories is seeking a Director, Environmental Protection and Waste Management to join the Department of Environment and Climate Change in Yellowknife. This role provides strategic leadership for some of the NWT’s most significant environmental protection programs, including contaminated sites, hazardous waste, spill response, waste reduction and diversion, air quality and the Giant Mine Remediation Project. You will help shape policy, legislation and programs that protect the NWT’s air, land and water while balancing environmental, economic and community priorities.

About the Role

Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Management, Monitoring and Climate Change, you will lead a multidisciplinary division responsible for environmental protection and waste management programs across the territory. As a member of ECC’s senior management team, you will provide strategic advice to senior government decision-makers, oversee complex regulatory and remediation initiatives, manage financial and human resources, and represent the GNWT with Indigenous governments, other governments, industry and national organizations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for environmental protection programs related to air quality, hazardous waste, spill response, contaminated sites, waste management and greening government.
• Direct the development and implementation of legislation, regulations, policies, programs and standards within the Division’s mandate.
• Provide strategic advice and briefings to the Minister, Deputy Minister, Assistant Deputy Minister, Cabinet committees and other senior decision-makers.
• Oversee contaminated sites assessment, remediation and monitoring, including the GNWT’s role in the Giant Mine Remediation Project.
• Build and maintain relationships with Indigenous governments and organizations, federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments, industry and other partners.
• Lead the Division’s professional staff, budgets, work planning and program delivery while contributing to the broader strategic direction of the Department.

Qualifications

Typically, the above qualifications would be attained by:

• A graduate degree in a relevant Engineering, Geoscience or Science discipline, combined with a minimum of 10 years of progressive, directly related experience, including at least seven years in a managerial position.
• Relevant disciplines may include Environmental, Chemical or Mining Engineering; Geology, Geochemistry or Hydrogeology; Environmental Science; Chemistry; or a related field.
• Directly related experience may include contaminated sites assessment, remediation and monitoring; spill response; waste reduction, diversion and waste management, including hazardous waste; and air quality.
• Equivalencies may include:
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant Engineering, Geoscience or Science discipline with a minimum of 12 years of progressive, directly related experience, including at least seven years in a managerial position; or
• A PhD in a relevant Engineering, Geoscience or Science discipline with a minimum of eight years of progressive, directly related experience, including at least seven years in a managerial position.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

The GNWT offers a competitive salary, an annual northern living allowance, a generous defined benefit pension plan, and health/dental benefits in addition to relocation assistance.