Q: What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The manager will take ownership of integrating climate considerations into the organization's enterprise risk management frameworks and investment methodologies. This involves translating complex climate data into decision-useful insights for asset class teams to ensure portfolio resilience. Beyond risk, the role involves leading quantitative tool development and sustainability due diligence for potential target companies. You will also be responsible for participating in the ongoing enhancement of internal climate policies and overseeing third-party sustainability advisors. Knowledge transfer is a key pillar, as you will design and deliver climate-related training programs. This ensures that climate literacy is embedded across the organization, enabling various departments to independently assess environmental impacts within their specific domains.

Q: Key learning opportunities for this job

Working at a major pension board provides deep exposure to advanced transition frameworks such as SBTi and CRREM. You will learn how to apply these technical standards within a high-stakes capital markets environment, bridging the gap between scientific climate targets and financial performance. There is significant opportunity to master multi-asset class risk assessment . Since PSP invests across public markets, real estate, and infrastructure, the candidate will gain a holistic understanding of how sustainability metrics vary across different types of global investments. You will also gain experience in global stakeholder management , interacting with international offices in London, Hong Kong, and New York. This provides a unique perspective on how regional regulations and market expectations influence global ESG reporting and strategy.

Q: Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Focus your application on your ability to quantify climate risk . Instead of listing general ESG activities, provide specific examples of where you have translated climate data into financial or operational risk models that influenced business decisions. Highlight your familiarity with investment terminology and asset management. Demonstrating that you understand how a pension fund operates will distinguish you from candidates coming from purely NGO or consultancy backgrounds who may lack commercial acumen. Given the 18-month duration, emphasize your ability to hit the ground running . Mention specific tools or methodologies you have implemented in the past that align with PSP’s focus on climate integration and reporting standards.

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

The role is primarily focused on Climate Risk and Transition Planning . This means moving beyond high-level strategy to the granular work of assessing how physical and transition risks impact specific sectors and geography-specific assets within the portfolio. There is a strong emphasis on reporting and transparency . You will likely contribute to the public-facing sustainability and climate reports, ensuring data integrity and alignment with rigorous global standards expected by public sector stakeholders. Governance and internal policy evolution also play a role. You will be at the forefront of updating PSP’s internal procedures to reflect the rapidly changing regulatory landscape in Canada and internationally regarding ESG disclosures.

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

One significant challenge is data fragmentation across diverse asset classes. Consolidating sustainability metrics from private equity, real estate, and public markets into a cohesive portfolio-wide view requires high analytical rigor and patience. You may also face the challenge of influencing various investment teams . Sustainability professionals must often act as internal consultants, persuading seasoned investors to adopt new risk methodologies that might initially seem like additional hurdles to the deal-making process. Lastly, the temporal nature of the role (18 months) requires managing high-impact projects within a fixed window. Successfully delivering on long-term initiatives like policy enhancement while maintaining day-to-day assessments will require excellent time management.

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

A typical day might start with a deep-dive due diligence session on a new infrastructure investment, evaluating the asset’s decarbonization potential against industry benchmarks. This is usually followed by collaborative meetings with the Risk team to refine quantitative modeling tools. Mid-day, you might shift to stakeholder engagement , perhaps drafting a training module for the private equity team or discussing sustainability reporting requirements with third-party advisors. You'll likely spend time analyzing GHG emissions data to track progress toward portfolio-wide climate goals. The afternoon could involve global coordination , taking calls with colleagues in London or New York to ensure the climate strategy is being applied consistently across all geographic regions and asset classes managed by the board.

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

Despite being a temporary contract, this role offers high-level visibility . Reporting to the Senior Director and working within the Chief People and Corporate Development Officer’s mandate provides exposure to executive-level decision-making and strategic planning. The technical expertise gained here is a major career accelerator . Managing climate risk for a $299 billion fund places you in an elite tier of sustainability professionals, making you highly sought after for future leadership roles in institutional investment or ESG consultancy. You will build a prestigious professional network . Interacting with some of the world’s top companies and financial experts during due diligence and monitoring activities can open doors to various sectors within the global sustainable finance ecosystem.

Q: The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Internal stakeholders include the Investment and Risk teams , with whom you will collaborate daily to integrate climate insights into their decision-making processes. You will also work closely with the Senior Director of Sustainability and Climate Strategy. External stakeholders often include third-party ESG advisors and consultants who perform specialized work that you will oversee and review. You may also interact with representatives from target companies and investment partners during the due diligence phase. Finally, the role serves the pension plan members indirectly. By ensuring the long-term sustainability of the fund, you are ultimately accountable to the federal public service, Canadian Forces, and RCMP members whose retirement security depends on PSP's prudent risk management.

Question 1

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

Accepted Answer

The manager will take ownership of integrating climate considerations into the organization's enterprise risk management frameworks and investment methodologies. This involves translating complex climate data into decision-useful insights for asset class teams to ensure portfolio resilience. Beyond risk, the role involves leading quantitative tool development and sustainability due diligence for potential target companies. You will also be responsible for participating in the ongoing enhancement of internal climate policies and overseeing third-party sustainability advisors. Knowledge transfer is a key pillar, as you will design and deliver climate-related training programs. This ensures that climate literacy is embedded across the organization, enabling various departments to independently assess environmental impacts within their specific domains.

Question 2

Key learning opportunities for this job

Accepted Answer

Working at a major pension board provides deep exposure to advanced transition frameworks such as SBTi and CRREM. You will learn how to apply these technical standards within a high-stakes capital markets environment, bridging the gap between scientific climate targets and financial performance. There is significant opportunity to master multi-asset class risk assessment. Since PSP invests across public markets, real estate, and infrastructure, the candidate will gain a holistic understanding of how sustainability metrics vary across different types of global investments. You will also gain experience in global stakeholder management, interacting with international offices in London, Hong Kong, and New York. This provides a unique perspective on how regional regulations and market expectations influence global ESG reporting and strategy.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The ideal candidate brings six to eight years of experience, characterized by a strong technical focus on climate rather than general corporate social responsibility. A background in finance, engineering, or sustainability management with an advanced degree is highly preferred to handle the quantitative aspects of the role. You should demonstrate clear proficiency in greenhouse gas emissions standards and transition planning. A results-oriented mindset is essential, as the team focuses on quantifiable outcomes rather than just qualitative policy drafting. Soft skills are equally important; the candidate must be a persuasive communicator capable of building trust with investment professionals. Proficiency in both English and French is vital for collaborating effectively within the Montreal and Ottawa offices and across the global network.

Question 4

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Accepted Answer

Focus your application on your ability to quantify climate risk. Instead of listing general ESG activities, provide specific examples of where you have translated climate data into financial or operational risk models that influenced business decisions. Highlight your familiarity with investment terminology and asset management. Demonstrating that you understand how a pension fund operates will distinguish you from candidates coming from purely NGO or consultancy backgrounds who may lack commercial acumen. Given the 18-month duration, emphasize your ability to hit the ground running. Mention specific tools or methodologies you have implemented in the past that align with PSP’s focus on climate integration and reporting standards.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The role is primarily focused on Climate Risk and Transition Planning. This means moving beyond high-level strategy to the granular work of assessing how physical and transition risks impact specific sectors and geography-specific assets within the portfolio. There is a strong emphasis on reporting and transparency. You will likely contribute to the public-facing sustainability and climate reports, ensuring data integrity and alignment with rigorous global standards expected by public sector stakeholders. Governance and internal policy evolution also play a role. You will be at the forefront of updating PSP’s internal procedures to reflect the rapidly changing regulatory landscape in Canada and internationally regarding ESG disclosures.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

One significant challenge is data fragmentation across diverse asset classes. Consolidating sustainability metrics from private equity, real estate, and public markets into a cohesive portfolio-wide view requires high analytical rigor and patience. You may also face the challenge of influencing various investment teams. Sustainability professionals must often act as internal consultants, persuading seasoned investors to adopt new risk methodologies that might initially seem like additional hurdles to the deal-making process. Lastly, the temporal nature of the role (18 months) requires managing high-impact projects within a fixed window. Successfully delivering on long-term initiatives like policy enhancement while maintaining day-to-day assessments will require excellent time management.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A typical day might start with a deep-dive due diligence session on a new infrastructure investment, evaluating the asset’s decarbonization potential against industry benchmarks. This is usually followed by collaborative meetings with the Risk team to refine quantitative modeling tools. Mid-day, you might shift to stakeholder engagement, perhaps drafting a training module for the private equity team or discussing sustainability reporting requirements with third-party advisors. You'll likely spend time analyzing GHG emissions data to track progress toward portfolio-wide climate goals. The afternoon could involve global coordination, taking calls with colleagues in London or New York to ensure the climate strategy is being applied consistently across all geographic regions and asset classes managed by the board.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Despite being a temporary contract, this role offers high-level visibility. Reporting to the Senior Director and working within the Chief People and Corporate Development Officer’s mandate provides exposure to executive-level decision-making and strategic planning. The technical expertise gained here is a major career accelerator. Managing climate risk for a $299 billion fund places you in an elite tier of sustainability professionals, making you highly sought after for future leadership roles in institutional investment or ESG consultancy. You will build a prestigious professional network. Interacting with some of the world’s top companies and financial experts during due diligence and monitoring activities can open doors to various sectors within the global sustainable finance ecosystem.

Question 9

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Accepted Answer

Internal stakeholders include the Investment and Risk teams, with whom you will collaborate daily to integrate climate insights into their decision-making processes. You will also work closely with the Senior Director of Sustainability and Climate Strategy. External stakeholders often include third-party ESG advisors and consultants who perform specialized work that you will oversee and review. You may also interact with representatives from target companies and investment partners during the due diligence phase. Finally, the role serves the pension plan members indirectly. By ensuring the long-term sustainability of the fund, you are ultimately accountable to the federal public service, Canadian Forces, and RCMP members whose retirement security depends on PSP's prudent risk management.

Manager, Sustainability & Climate Innovation

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