Senior Specialist

Job Posting:

Location: 100% Remote

Position Type: Full-time

Salary Range: $75,000 to $95,000

Level of Experience: 7+ years

Who is the Climate Risk Institute?

The resilience workforce is the single most important investment any country can make on climate. Building the workforce for climate and nature resilience, in Canada and globally, is CRI’s reason for being. We are building it, and making climate and nature positive decisions normal practice along the way.

The Climate Risk Institute (CRI) is a non-profit, academically affiliated organization whose mission is to equip practitioners with training, tools, and systems to make climate and nature resilience part of everyday practice.

CRI supports all levels of government, Indigenous communities, sector and professional associations, and private sector companies to enhance the consideration of climate and nature in various planning and management processes, including hazard identification and risk assessment, risk management, corporate planning, infrastructure planning and renewal, and policy and program development and implementation.  

Join Us and Be a Catalyst for Change!

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Senior Specialist to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will contribute your technical knowledge of climate and nature resilience, your expertise in project management and delivery, and your experience of capacity building, as a pivotable member of CRI’s dynamic team.

For the right candidate, there may also be the opportunity to move into an acting Lead role to cover a planned absence.

You will join our team at a time of considerable opportunity. CRI is just completing a strategy update that combines climate resilience, nature and finance. We are already supporting several flagship initiatives, including: the PIEVC Protocol, national CoastAdapt platform development, the Infrastructure Resiliency Professional (IRP) Training and Credentialling Program, and ongoing partnerships with international development agencies and organizations. In this role, you’ll have an opportunity to help shape CRI’s growth, lead exciting and challenging projects, and serve a growing audience of resiliency practitioners across a range of sectors in Canada and abroad.

Role Description:

The Senior Specialist is a senior delivery and technical role within CRI, combining deep subject matter expertise with strong project management capability. Senior Specialists lead complex, multi-partner projects from planning through delivery, manage project teams and workstreams, and contribute substantive technical expertise. They are expected to operate with a high degree of independence, manage competing priorities across multiple concurrent projects, and deliver consistently to meet the quality and timelines required by CRI’s clients and funders.

Senior Specialists also contribute to CRI’s business development efforts and are expected to grow their professional networks, nurture relationships, identify opportunities aligned with CRI’s strategy, and contribute to proposals. As CRI’s needs evolve, Senior Specialists may be assigned to projects and initiatives across divisions and sector clusters.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Leadership and Delivery:

Project Leadership and Delivery. Lead the delivery of complex, multi-partner projects from initiation through completion. This includes developing and managing work plans, timelines, and budgets; coordinating project teams that may include CRI staff, subcontractors, and partner organizations; managing client and funder relationships at the project level; ensuring deliverables meet quality standards and contractual requirements; and proactively identifying and managing project risks. The Senior Specialist is expected to run projects with a high degree of autonomy, escalating to their supervisor when issues arise that require organizational-level decisions.

Technical Expertise:

Provide technical expertise on CRI projects, drawing on the Employee’s professional background and knowledge of climate and nature resilience. This may include risk assessment, adaptation planning, tool application, training delivery, practitioner network development, or other applied work as assigned. Senior Specialists are expected to stay current in their areas of expertise and contribute to the evolution of CRI’s practices, tools, and methodologies through their project work.

Business Development:

Contribute to CRI’s shared business development outcomes. This includes identifying opportunities through project delivery and professional relationships, contributing to proposal development, supporting client and funder relationship building, and ensuring delivery excellence that generates follow-on work and strengthens CRI’s reputation.

Mentorship and Team Contribution:

Support the development of analysts and specialists team members through project-based mentorship, knowledge sharing, and collaborative work practices. While this role does not include formal people management responsibilities, Senior Specialists are expected to contribute to a culture of learning,
quality, and accountability within their project teams and the broader organization.

Institutional Knowledge Development:

Ensure that project work generates reusable institutional assets for CRI – whether training content, improved methodologies, case studies, practice guides, or content for CanAdapt, a digital platform and initiative to advance practice and workforce development in the climate and low carbon resiliency
space.

Organizational Contribution:

Contribute to section and organizational priorities as they arise, including cross-divisional collaboration, process improvement, and participation in CRI’s communities of practice. Specific expectations are set through the annual goal-setting process.

Qualifications, Skills and Attributes

Minimum 7 years combined experience in climate resilience.
Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in fields related to climate and nature. Preferred: Advanced degree in climate and nature-related discipline or equivalent experience.
Demonstrated experience in project management and delivery, including projects involving coordination of multiple parties.
Proven track record in financial and progress reporting, budget, workplan, and change
management.
Exceptional organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks.
Strong technical knowledge of climate risk assessment and adaptation planning. Knowledge of nature-based solutions, climate mitigation and other related fields is a bonus.
Stellar communication and interpersonal skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); project management tools
Bi/multi-lingualism would be an asset.
Legally entitled to work in Canada.

Salary & Benefits:

$75,000 – 95,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Annual cost-of-living and performance-based increments.
Annual vacation allotment beginning at 14 days, plus CRI closure between Dec 24 and the
New Year.
Free access to all CRI training programs and courses.
Work from home and be connected to our global work.

Location:

100% remote (work from home). CRI staff work from many regions of Canada.

How to Apply:

Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Apply now and be part of a team that’s making a tangible impact on climate resilience, in Canada and around the world!

Please submit your resume and a one page cover letter detailing your relevant experience. Applications should be sent to info@climateriskinstitute.ca by June 12, 2026

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. Don’t delay in submitting your application!