Start date: mid-March, 2023
Salary: Salary commensurate with level of education and experience
Duration: Two-year renewable term
Location: Montreal, Canada
Deadline for application: February 3rd, 2023, 5 pm (EST)

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated individual to fill the roles of Executive Director for Sustainability in the Digital Age (SDA) and Canada Hub Director for Future Earth. The successful candidate will lead the continued development of the strategic direction for SDA and the Future Earth Canada Hub, overseeing a diverse team operating out of our Montreal office. Critical components of this position include engaging and building relationships with collaborators, partners, and funders around the world, increasing the visibility of SDA and Future Earth, identifying new opportunities, advancing key initiatives, and overseeing office finances. The position is for an initial two-year term, with the expectation of fundraising for longer-term sustainability.

This position will report to the Sustainability in the Digital Age Board as well as the Board of  Future Earth’s Canada Hub.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Continue to develop and realize a strategic long-term vision for Sustainability in the Digital Age (SDA), a think tank at Concordia University
• Network with potential collaborators around the world, identifying strategic avenues for increasing the impact and visibility of both SDA and the Future Earth Canada Hub
• Advance partnerships for SDA and Future Earth across sectors and around the world
• Identify, pursue, and maintain funder relationships and funding opportunities for SDA and the Future Earth Canada Hub
• Oversee all staff and finances for SDA and Future Earth Canada Hub activities
• Liaise with and manage relationships between SDA and the Future Earth Canada Hub and with external strategic partners
• Work with the Future Earth Secretariat Global Hub Directors, Governing Council, and General Assembly to ensure that the work of the Canada Hub contributes to Future Earth global priorities
• Engage with Canadian stakeholders (science, technology, innovation policy) to raise the profile of sustainability science in Canada as it relates to the AI and digital sector and to other sectors
• Oversee the collection of national contributions and core funds and distribution to Future Earth Global Research Programs

Candidate qualifications and key competencies

• 5-10 years of experience in providing strategic guidance on issues related to science, technology, policy, and society
• Strong knowledge of current issues in sustainability science and digital transformations
• Deep understanding of the international science-policy interface and the public, private, and non-profit sustainability science landscape
• Significant experience with fundraising for and promotion of action-oriented scientific research
• An established network of individuals and institutions actively working on sustainability science and digital transformations
• Experience in managing and leading a team
• Excellent spoken and written English and French
• PhD and research experience in a relevant domain an asset
• Experience in building out smaller initiatives or start-ups an asset
• This position is based in Montreal

Application Procedure

As the position is based in Montréal, the applicant must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Applicants are requested to submit a curriculum vitae and a cover letter describing their vision for Sustainability in the Digital Age as well as how their skills and experience meet the requirements of the overall role. Please also include the name and contact details for two references. Documents should be combined in a single PDF file. Applications should be sent via email with ‘SDA Executive Director and Canada Hub Director’ in the subject line to montrealhub@futureearth.org by February 3rd, 2023, 5:00 pm EST. Interviews will be held online. Only selected candidates will be contacted.

About the Organizations

Sustainability in the Digital Age (SDA) grew out of a Future Earth Canada Hub initiative to explore how digital innovation can be used to support healthy people and a healthy planet, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In 2022, SDA became the first sustainability think tank at Concordia University, and now hosts the Future Earth Canada Hub.

Concordia University is a next-generation university, continually reimagining the future of higher education. Located in the vibrant multicultural city of Montreal, Concordia is the top-ranked university in North America founded within the last 50 years and annually registers some 51,000 students through its innovative approach to experiential learning and cross-functional research.

Future Earth is an international research program with a mission to accelerate transformations to global sustainability. A key part of Future Earth’s work occurs through our networks that generate research at the forefront of sustainability science and facilitate highly integrative sustainability research on key societal challenges.

The Secretariat for Future Earth encompasses 9 Global Hubs located in Canada, China, France, India, Japan, South Africa, Sweden, Taipei, and the United States. The Future Earth Secretariat provides coordination, facilitation and enabling services to Future Earth’s community.

One key focus of the Future Earth Canada Hub is to work through its partnership with SDA to leverage the digital age to advance sustainability science to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and build an equitable society in support of Future Earth’s global priorities. Other priority areas may develop through consultation with core constituencies throughout Canada.