Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Executive Director

Deadline: May 6, 2022 5:00pm

ORGANIZATION

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (“CEC”) was established in 1994 by the governments of Canada, the United Mexican States (Mexico), and the United States of America (United States) through the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, a side agreement concluded in connection with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The CEC is comprised of a Council, a Secretariat and Joint Public Advisory Committee.  The Council is comprised of the highest cabinet-level environmental officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and receives administrative, operational, and technical support from a Secretariat located in Montreal, Canada.

As of 2020, the CEC operates in accordance with the Environmental Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force at the same time as the new trade agreement known as CUSMA, T-MEC and USMCA in each of these three countries, respectively. The CEC brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including the general public, Tribes, Indigenous people, youth, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and the business sector, to seek solutions to protect North America’s shared environment while supporting sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations.

The CEC Secretariat not only supports the CEC Council, but also committees and working groups established by the Council. It comprises 41 staff and manages an approximate annual budget of $8 million dollars, including Parties’ contributions and any additional resources.

LOCATION

The CEC Secretariat is located in Montreal, Canada and the Executive Director role will require relocation to Montreal, Canada.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Executive Director is the principal officer of the Secretariat and reports directly to the CEC Council via its Alternate Representatives and General Standing Committee members.  The Executive Director will be employed under a three-year appointment commencing July 17, 2022.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director is responsible for leading and managing the Secretariat in support of the CEC Council, as well as the committees and working groups established by the Council.  The Executive Director is a manager, consensus-builder, and skilled facilitator who can build relationships and strengthen a collaborative approach to deliver on the CEC’s strategic priorities and activities. This is an outstanding career opportunity in a highly visible role for an executive to lead the only trinational environmental organization in the region and contribute to the improvement of the common North American environment.

Below are the ongoing duties and responsibilities.

• Ensure the continued delivery of the Council’s priorities through the efficient management of the Secretariat’s human and fiscal resources.
• Collaborate with and build consensus across the trinational and multicultural Council and extended constituents to obtain buy-in and resolve issues. Interact with political acuity and diplomacy to serve as a credible representative between Parties.
• Lead and manage the Secretariat to ensure that its activities are aligned with CEC’s strategic priorities and objectives. This includes the resolutions undertaken at Council meetings and other interactions between Council members on substantive and administrative issues.
• Develop and maintain a substantial knowledge and understanding of environmental, sustainable development and environmental justice issues in North America, including climate change, and trade-and-environment issues.
• Effectively deal with complex international matters involving international commissions, financial institutions, governmental and varied non-governmental organizations.
• Work effectively with and perform outreach to governments, industry, the private sector, varied non-governmental and non-profit organizations, the academic community, and the public.  Leverage resources and create partnerships with third parties, as well.
• Work collaboratively with CEC’s established committees and working groups to collectively make a visible difference in the environment and public health of communities across the continent.
• Lead, manage, develop, and mentor a high-performance team with an engaged culture and work environment, including a commitment to transparency, integrity, and diversity.
• Maintain and continually enhance the visibility of the CEC through regular and effective communications.
• Regularly report to the Council on Secretariat administration and operations, environmental issues and projects, goals and objectives achievements, and other items as requested.
• Maintain a belief in and full support of the mission of the CEC.
• Maintain bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

As a prerequisite, the successful candidate shall support the mission, vision, and values of CEC. The candidate should demonstrate a drive for breaking new ground to lead environmental initiatives across the US, Mexico, and Canada.  The ideal candidate will also have experience with and a passion for addressing multinational and multicultural environmental issues. The required qualifications for the Executive Director are:

• Be a U.S. National or a permanent resident and bilingual in English and Spanish. Spanish fluency required.
• Have an advanced degree in finance, economics, law, environmental studies, international affairs, engineering, or other-related field.
• Have at least 15 plus years of experience with the requisite leadership and operational management track record of experience and success, and professional gravitas for the role.
• Have experience working or a demonstrated capacity to work with a trinational and multicultural context such as the CEC.
• Knowledge of environmental issues and challenges in the North America region.
• Possess excellent stakeholder management, relationship and partnering skills.
• Have excellent communication skills- well spoken, well-written, effective with all audiences, engaging and reliable.
• Possess the political acuity and diplomatic savvy required to work effectively with the highest levels of multinational governments.
• A strategic thinker with excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to travel as required locally, regionally, and internationally and work flexible hours in line with the needs of an international organization.

COMPENSATION

This is an outstanding opportunity to help lead a highly effective international organization. The candidate will be employed under a three-year, non-renewable contract.  CEC offers a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits. The position is based in Montreal, Canada and will require the successful candidate to relocate to that area.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For additional information, to make a recommendation, or to be considered confidentially, contact: