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Climate and Sustainability Manager

EllisDon • Canada • Added on Sep 17, 2026
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This role bridges the gap between high-level environmental targets and the grit of active construction sites. You will serve as a central expert, guiding project teams across Canada to embed decarbonization and climate resiliency into the entire building lifecycle, from initial bids to long-term operations. Your day-to-day involves translating technical carbon accounting and certification requirements into actionable strategies that fit the realities of complex infrastructure builds.

The construction industry accounts for a massive portion of global emissions, making this role a high-impact opportunity to drive tangible change. By tackling embodied carbon and construction site efficiency, you are not just checking boxes but actively steering one of Canada’s largest builders toward a low-carbon future. It is about proving that large-scale infrastructure can be both high-performance and environmentally restorative.

This suits someone who possesses a deep technical understanding of the built environment and the persuasive power to lead diverse teams. You should be comfortable navigating both the boardroom and the job site with ease.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

As a Climate and Sustainability Manager, you are tasked with acting as a centre of excellence within the firm. Your primary responsibility is to ensure that sustainability commitments are not just theoretical but are integrated into project planning and delivery across the country. This includes providing expert guidance on embodied carbon, operational energy, and climate risk resiliency. You will also be heavily involved in the pre-construction phase, supporting pursuit teams to define credible sustainability approaches for new bids. Beyond individual projects, you will play a key role in tracking and reporting corporate emissions, helping to implement the broader Corporate Climate Change Strategy and ensuring EllisDon remains a leader in sustainable building practices.

Key learning opportunities for this job

This position offers profound exposure to the technical side of green building certifications such as LEED, WELL, and Envision. You will likely deepen your expertise in the Toronto Green Standard and Zero Carbon Building Certifications, which are becoming benchmarks for the industry in North America. The role provides a front-row seat to how large-scale infrastructure adapts to emerging climate regulations. Furthermore, you will gain experience in carbon accounting and emissions tracking at scale. Working within a fully integrated firm allows you to learn about the entire building lifecycle, offering a unique perspective on how decisions made during design impact long-term operational sustainability and maintenance.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings between 5 to 8 years of experience specifically focused on integrating sustainability into the built environment. A background in Engineering, Architecture, or a related construction discipline is essential to establish credibility with site teams and project managers. You need to be someone who can speak the language of construction while advocating for environmental targets. Technical proficiency in carbon accounting and familiarity with major sustainability frameworks is a prerequisite. Equally important are your soft skills; you must be an effective communicator who can influence stakeholders with differing priorities, helping them find practical solutions that align project constraints with climate goals.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, your application should demonstrate a clear understanding of the lifecycle of a construction project. Don't just list certifications; explain how you have successfully navigated the friction between rigid project budgets and ambitious sustainability targets in the past. Highlight specific examples where your intervention led to measurable carbon reductions or improved resiliency. Since EllisDon emphasizes its Cradle-to-Grave services, showing that you understand how sustainability affects post-construction operations will be highly valued. Tailor your resume to show you are a pragmatist who understands 'construction realities' rather than just a theorist. Mentioning your comfort with regional travel across Canada also signals your readiness for the role's logistical demands.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role is primarily focused on the decarbonization of the built environment. This includes a heavy emphasis on reducing embodied carbon—the emissions associated with manufacturing and transporting building materials—and improving the energy efficiency of completed structures. You will be a key driver in the firm's transition to a low-carbon economy. Social governance and inclusive diversity are also core to EllisDon’s mission. While your technical focus is on the climate, you will be expected to operate within a framework that values indigenous relations and community impact. Your work will directly support the public-facing Impact Report, ensuring that environmental claims are backed by rigorous data and site-level performance.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges is balancing sustainability with project constraints such as cost and schedule. Construction is a high-pressure industry where green initiatives can sometimes be viewed as secondary to delivery. You will need to be resilient and persuasive to maintain the priority of climate goals when budgets get tight. Additionally, the geographic diversity of projects across Canada means you will be dealing with varying provincial regulations and environmental conditions. Translating evolving standards like the Toronto Green Standard into practical site actions for teams that may be less familiar with these frameworks requires patience and clear communication.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day could start with a collaboration session with a pursuit team, helping them draft a sustainable building strategy for a new bid. Mid-day might involve analyzing carbon tracking data from an active site or providing technical guidance on a specific certification requirement for a project in a different province. You will likely spend time in meetings with project managers to troubleshoot sustainability delivery challenges, followed by administrative work related to the Corporate Climate Change Strategy. The role involves a mix of high-level strategy and granular technical support, requiring frequent shifts in focus between different projects and stakeholder groups.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Growth in this role is tied to the increasing importance of ESG reporting and climate strategy in the construction sector. As you establish yourself as a subject matter expert, you could move into more senior leadership roles within the Climate and Sustainability team or transition into strategic business unit management. There is also the opportunity to become a thought leader in the industry by representing EllisDon at national industry events. As the company continues to redefine the future of construction through innovation and technology, being at the intersection of climate science and building operations puts you on a high-visibility path for executive development.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your most frequent interactions will be with project teams and business leaders, where you act as a consultant and guide. You will work closely with pursuit teams during the bidding process and with site managers during the construction phase to ensure follow-through on sustainability commitments. Externally, you will interact with clients and industry regulators to align on expectations and compliance. You may also engage with sustainability certification bodies and industry associations to stay updated on emerging standards, ensuring EllisDon remains at the forefront of the sustainable infrastructure market.

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