Corporate Sustainability Advisor

The core of this role is owning the mechanics of FortisBC's sustainability story: pulling together GHG inventories, tracking performance against decarbonization targets, and preparing the reports and disclosures that go to leadership, regulators and the public. You would likely be the person who knows where every sustainability number comes from and whether it can withstand scrutiny. That means maintaining data systems, improving reporting processes, and making sure FortisBC stays compliant with evolving requirements. Beyond the numbers, the advisor acts as an internal translator. You would take technical carbon data and shape it into narratives that work for different audiences, an executive briefing, a public disclosure, a community conversation. The role also carries a continuous-improvement mandate; it is not just about producing the same report every year, but about finding where data quality, governance or stakeholder feedback can be strengthened. Sitting within the Gas branch of a large utility, the position is deeply cross-functional. You are not running a standalone sustainability programme but supporting one that has to sync with engineering, finance, operations and Indigenous relations. Success looks like sustainability becoming a routine input to business decisions rather than a periodic reporting exercise.

The role offers a rare chance to learn sustainability reporting inside a regulated utility, where disclosure standards, GHG accounting protocols and performance metrics carry real compliance weight. You would likely deepen your command of frameworks such as the GHG Protocol and emerging Canadian climate disclosure rules, and get hands-on with data management systems that underpin credible ESG reporting. Because FortisBC is a gas and electricity provider navigating the energy transition, the learning curve extends beyond reporting mechanics. You would absorb how a utility actually plans decarbonization, how capital cycles, infrastructure lifespans and regulatory approvals shape what is possible. That context is hard to gain in a consultancy or a pure-play ESG software role. You can also expect to grow your stakeholder engagement skills, working with First Nations communities, municipal governments and internal leaders who each have different stakes in the sustainability agenda. The frequent travel mentioned in the posting suggests exposure to operational sites, which builds practical literacy in how sustainability targets land on the ground.

FortisBC is looking for someone with three to five years in sustainability, ESG or reporting who can hit the ground running on data. A bachelor's degree in a relevant field is expected, but the more telling requirement is demonstrated experience with GHG accounting and sustainability reporting, likely someone who has prepared or contributed to public disclosures before. You do not need to be a carbon accountant by training, but you should be comfortable enough with the numbers to defend them. The soft skills are equally load-bearing. The role description emphasises relationship-building and managing competing priorities, which in a utility context means persuading busy operational teams to hand over data and then keeping multiple reporting deadlines straight. Strong written communication matters too, since you would be drafting everything from leadership presentations to public-facing material. A valid driver's licence and willingness to travel are practical must-haves. Ideal candidates might come from another utility, an energy consultancy, a government climate office or a large company's ESG team. What ties them together is an ability to work inside a complex organisation without losing sight of the external audience, regulators, communities and customers who scrutinise FortisBC's climate claims. Familiarity with Indigenous engagement or British Columbia's energy policy environment would be a meaningful differentiator.

Lead with evidence of reporting you have actually delivered. FortisBC's posting is specific: sustainability reporting, GHG accounting, performance measurement, governance and stakeholder engagement. Your résumé should mirror that vocabulary and show concrete outputs, a disclosure you contributed to, an inventory you built, a process you improved. Quantify where possible, but avoid padding with generic ESG language; this is a role where precision is part of the job. In your cover letter, connect your motivation to the tension FortisBC actually faces. This is a gas utility with decarbonization goals in a province that scrutinises both. Showing that you understand the difference between reporting for a consumer brand and reporting for a regulated energy provider will set you apart. If you have worked with Indigenous communities, regulated industries or public disclosures, name it explicitly. For interviews, prepare to discuss how you handle data that is incomplete or inconsistent, because that is the daily reality of utility sustainability reporting. Think through examples of influencing colleagues who do not report to you, and be ready to talk about how you would translate a carbon metric for a non-technical executive audience. Because the posting mentions travel and occasional evening or weekend work, signalling flexibility and genuine interest in seeing operations firsthand would help.

This role sits squarely on the reporting and measurement side of FortisBC's sustainability agenda. The province's largest energy provider has committed to reducing emissions while continuing to deliver reliable gas and electricity, so the advisor's work would focus on tracking progress against those commitments, likely through GHG inventories, decarbonization performance metrics and increasingly rigorous public disclosure. It is the accountability function that gives credibility to the broader strategy. The energy transition angle is unavoidable. FortisBC is investing in renewable natural gas, hydrogen and electrification while still operating extensive fossil gas infrastructure, which makes its sustainability reporting a delicate balancing act. The advisor would help ensure the company's disclosures are accurate and defensible, particularly as Canadian and provincial reporting requirements tighten. That could include aligning with frameworks like the GHG Protocol or emerging climate disclosure standards. Social and governance dimensions are also in scope. FortisBC operates across 150 Traditional Territories and has a formal Statement of Indigenous Principles, so stakeholder engagement and reconciliation-related reporting are likely part of the picture. The role supports governance by strengthening data quality and internal controls around sustainability information, ensuring that what FortisBC says publicly is backed by systems it can stand behind.

The central challenge is the inherent tension of a gas utility pursuing decarbonization. FortisBC's core business still depends heavily on natural gas, so the advisor may find themselves reporting on emissions reductions that are incremental relative to the scale of the challenge. Navigating that narrative honestly, without either greenwashing or undermining the company's genuine efforts, requires judgement and resilience. External stakeholders, from environmental groups to regulators, will scrutinise every disclosure. Inside the organisation, data is rarely clean. Sustainability metrics depend on inputs from operations, finance and engineering teams who have their own priorities and deadlines. Chasing accurate numbers across a 2,700-person company, often during reporting season, can be frustrating. The posting's mention of managing competing priorities and frequent travel hints at a workload that demands strong organisation and stamina. There is also the moving-target problem. Sustainability reporting standards are evolving quickly in Canada, and FortisBC operates in a politically charged energy environment. The advisor will likely need to adapt reporting processes repeatedly while maintaining continuity, and to manage stakeholders who may disagree about what should be measured or disclosed. Comfort with ambiguity is essential.

A typical day would likely blend analytical work with coordination. You might start by reconciling emissions or performance data that has come in from different parts of the business, checking it against previous periods and flagging gaps to the relevant teams. Spreadsheets, data systems and reporting templates would be constant companions, especially in the lead-up to a disclosure deadline or quarterly performance review. Much of the role is relational, so meetings fill the calendar. You could be briefing a director on sustainability metrics, working with finance or operations colleagues to source data, or aligning with communications on how a disclosure is framed. Because FortisBC engages First Nations and municipal stakeholders, some days might involve preparing materials for external conversations or travelling to an operational site to see how sustainability commitments translate into practice. Variability is high. During reporting cycles the work intensifies, with tighter deadlines and more senior review. In quieter periods, you might focus on process improvement, researching evolving standards or supporting ad hoc sustainability initiatives. The posting notes possible evening and weekend work, suggesting occasional crunch periods around reporting or operational needs.

FortisBC is a large, established utility, which means internal mobility is a realistic path. A successful advisor could grow into a senior or lead sustainability role, or move laterally into related functions such as regulatory affairs, corporate strategy or Indigenous relations. The cross-functional nature of the job builds a network across the organisation that makes such moves easier. The reporting and GHG accounting skills developed here are highly transferable. As climate disclosure requirements expand in Canada and internationally, professionals who can produce credible, auditable sustainability data are in demand across energy, finance and government. This role could serve as a credentialing ground for more specialised positions in carbon markets, assurance or ESG strategy. There is also the visibility that comes with working on high-stakes public disclosures. If you help FortisBC strengthen its reporting during a period of intense energy transition scrutiny, that track record travels with you. The role's exposure to executive leadership and external stakeholders offers a platform to demonstrate impact well beyond the sustainability team.

Internally, the advisor would work most closely with the sustainability team and likely report to a manager or director responsible for strategy and reporting. But the job reaches across the utility: you would interact with finance and accounting teams for data validation, operations and engineering staff who generate performance data, regulatory affairs colleagues who manage compliance filings, and communications professionals who shape public messaging. Executive leaders are also stakeholders, since the role prepares leadership presentations and supports decision-making. Externally, the stakeholder map is broad. FortisBC serves 135 cities and towns and 58 First Nations communities, so engagement with Indigenous governments and municipal officials is part of the environment. Regulators and industry bodies influence what must be reported and how. Community organisations, customers and environmental groups may scrutinise disclosures, making clear communication essential. The nature of these interactions varies. With internal colleagues, it is often collaborative problem-solving under deadline pressure. With external stakeholders, it leans toward transparency and trust-building. The advisor is a connective tissue, gathering information from many sources and ensuring that FortisBC's sustainability commitments are understood and credible to everyone who has a stake in them.