image/svg+xml
Loading Image
   Saving...
   Loading...
  Loading...

Manager, Capacity Development, Adaptation in Action

  • Ottawa, Ontario

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the national voice of municipal governments, representing the interests of cities and communities with the federal government. 

Position Manager, Capacity Development, Adaptation in Action
Department Green Municipal Fund (GMF) - Growth and Development
Classification  Level 7
Salary

Our salaries generally range from $99,470 - $111,650 and are based on qualifications and experience

Languages Bilingual English required, French is an asset
Term Permanent Full-Time (Replacement)
Location Hybrid (Ottawa)

 

Why GMF is the place for you

At the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), we create change where it matters most—in Canada’s municipalities. As the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ flagship program and backed by a $2.4 billion endowment from the Government of Canada, GMF helps Canadian municipalities, big and small, invest in their future by supporting homegrown sustainability and resilience projects that work for Canadians by creating jobs, lowering costs, and strengthening local economies.  

Through our unique mix of funding, resources and training, GMF is enhancing the quality of life for people in Canada by accelerating a transformation to sustainable and resilient communities. Since 2000, GMF has invested over $1.6 billion in local projects helping communities avoid 2.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, while also contributing $1.24 billion to the national GDP and creating more than 13,000 person-years of national employment.

 

Purpose of the role

In November 2022, the Government of Canada awarded FCM (via the Green Municipal Fund) $530M to deliver the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) program as an implementing partner to deliver tools and resources to Canadian communities, specifically to support a minimum of 1400 community-based climate adaptation initiatives over 8 years beginning in 2024/25, protecting Canadians and their communities, as well as minimizing costs associated with climate impacts through three broad areas of work (“tracks”):

  1. Adaptation planning, capacity building and institutional mainstreaming (Climate-ready Plans and Processes ); 
  2. Accelerating local-level implementation of adaptation solutions (Adaptation in Action); and, 
  3. Financing adaptation projects to attract greater private sector participation in adaptation financing (Financing Adaptation). 

The LLCA program is intended to be efficient, impactful and accessible to all municipalities across Canada enabling equitable action towards resilient communities.

Reporting to the Project Director, Adaptation in Action and supporting Track 2 of the LLCA program, the Manager, Capacity Development, Adaptation in Action leads the development, implementation and impact reporting of a portfolio of capacity development initiatives for municipalities that raises awareness, accelerates transformation and enhances the impact of municipal climate adaptation projects.

In a manner consistent with FCM’s values and employment philosophy, you will manage and support a team delivering client-focused capacity building programming focused on equitable municipal climate adaptation projects.  Key target audiences for this programming include municipal staff, elected officials and their partners. The Manager will be responsible for the general management and coordination of resources, activities and results focused primarily on the following:

  • Capacity building activities and programming to support LLCA’s Adaptation in Action activities, including project cohorts, communities of practices, awareness raising materials and activities, skills development, and technical coaching.
  • Mobilization of lessons learned from LLCA funded projects broadly within the municipal sector and where possible, in partnership with Indigenous communities.
  • Develop and maintain links with relevant external organizations and networks to support, enable and accelerate program delivery and impact.
  • Oversee and continually improve impact measurement and reporting.
  • People management to foster high performance  and professional development among all team members.

 

Key Responsibilities
  • This role requires a strong people manager with extensive experience delivering a portfolio of client-focused initiatives in complex organizational environments. Key responsibilities include:
  • Lead the design and delivery of a portfolio of LLCA capacity development initiatives, including awareness raising, skills development and technical training, delivered through internal teams and external partners.
  • Develop annual work plans aligned with the GMF Strategic Plan, LLCA Performance Management Framework, and LLCA Capacity Development Strategy, including financial and results reporting.
  • Manage program resources and budgets for LLCA-Adaptation in Action Capacity Development activities, ensuring alignment with program objectives and timely delivery. 
  • Report to and ensure alignment with strategic direction of the Project Director, Adaptation in Action. Ensure the Project Director is engaged on emerging issues, relationships, team workplan and budget.
  • Identify emerging sector needs, trends and opportunities to continually improve the effectiveness and uptake of capacity building initiatives.
  • Liaise and collaborate closely with Managers across programs and functions to ensure effective collaboration, alignment, coordination, and complementarity of teams’ priorities and activities.
  • Represent LLCA and FCM in high priority seminars, conferences, events and meetings with municipal officials and other key stakeholders.
  • Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with external stakeholders and networks to ensure relevancy of program approaches and continual sharing of knowledge and information on capacity building related activities and stakeholder needs. 

People Leadership

  • Lead, motivate and support a team of professionals delivering capacity building to municipal staff, elected officials and their partners.
  • Responsible for oversight, objective setting, performance evaluation, performance management, succession planning, recruiting and onboarding of all direct reporting staff.
  • Responsible for ensuring work-life balance is maintained while achieving program objectives.

 

Your skills make us better 

  • Master’s degree in environment, public administration, urban planning, program management, education or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Minimum 10 years of progressively senior professional experience in capacity building, climate adaptation, program management, financial management and/or people management, including responsibility for developing and delivering a portfolio of initiatives or services
  • Demonstrated experience managing and supervising teams, including leadership, teambuilding, mentoring and coaching skills, ability to optimize staff capacities across a team with a range of experience levels and consultant support, and lead a highly collaborative team with clear performance expectations and in an outcomes-focused client service environment.
  • Experience related to capacity building approaches, adult education, facilitation, and the transfer of skills and knowledge.
  • Strong verbal and written communication, interpersonal, negotiation, representation and influencing skills.
  • Experience working in or with municipalities, municipal partners, or municipal-sector organizations 
  • In-depth knowledge of climate adaptation, particularly in the municipal context is an asset.
  • Familiarity with program monitoring and evaluation approaches, frameworks, and tools is an asset.
  • Network of key stakeholders in Canada who are strategic for skills building and policy development related to climate adaptation, environmental justice and municipal-indigenous relations is an asset.
  • Capacity to work in a changing environment and willingness to take on new or evolving responsibilities.

Language: 

  • The ability to work in both official languages (English and French) is a strong asset

 

Why working here rocks 

We prioritize work-life balance with our flexible model:

  • When we say flexible work model, we mean that in collaboration with your manager and based on what your team needs, you have the flexibility to determine when you work so that you can enjoy a healthy balance between work and personal demands.
  • While you do need to live in Canada for this role, you can primarily work from home. Travel may be required to Head Office in Ottawa periodically.  The majority of the GMF team operates from the National Capital Region.
  • We do like to visit the areas we are impacting and it allows us to see unique and wonderful parts of our country. You may find yourself traveling nationally no more than 10% of the time. 

We don’t just talk about employee wellness, we live it:

  • Summer hours between July 1 and Labour Day:
    - 7-hour workdays rather than 7.5
    - Every Friday off in the summer
  • Flexible work arrangements to support productivity and well-being
  • Commitment to employee development
  • Competitive range of employee benefits and services
  • Office facilities located in the Byward Market and Ottawa’s downtown core

We’re 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.

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

 

How to apply

If this role speaks to you and the impact you want to make, we’d love to hear from you! Apply today.

The deadline to apply is March 1st, 2026, or until the position is filled.

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 within 80kms of downtown Ottawa and be authorized to work in Canada.

For additional information on this posting, or for further information on FCM, access our website at www.fcm.ca. Learn more about the Green Municipal Fund at https://greenmunicipalfund.ca/