Background

The Community Housing Transformation Centre was founded by a pan-Canadian network of organizations that represent and serve the needs of Canada’s community housing sector. The Community Housing Transformation Centre works with housing organizations across the country to drive transformation, sustainability and growth in community housing. 

Regional energy coaching

The Community Housing Transformation Centre is working with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to support the Regional Energy Coach (REC) program.

The REC program seeks to improve an affordable-housing provider’s ability, to launch, build and operate projects that reduce their environmental footprint. Coaches increase their understanding of “sustainable housing” and assist with applying for funding and financing.

The SAH fund is an initiative that offers both grants and loans to municipal, not-for-profit and co-operative housing providers to retrofit existing affordable housing units, or to construct new, energy-efficient builds. This represents an opportunity for organizations to access funding for construction. RECs guide organizations through the application process to ensure that providers are as prepared as possible with their submissions. 

Position description

The purpose of the Regional Energy Coach (REC) is to increase the capacity and capability of community housing providers to initiate, build, and operate sustainable housing.

The position provides technical services related to building renovations and retrofits, by coaching non-profit housing providers through funding programs such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) fund in three ways: 

1. By providing coaching on energy-smart ideas and opportunities: RECs provide clear, plain-language information about energy efficiency.

2. By guiding providers in how to identify and evaluate the feasibility of energy-efficient retrofits:

• RECs provide providers with a self-assessment tool, the E-SAT to complete followed by discussion with a REC about the potential for improvements in their organization.
• RECs provide virtual walk-through energy assessments—free of charge—to community housing providers. They accompany providers on a tour of their building(s) to compile information about energy-saving opportunities. From there, they direct providers to appropriate resources and suggest follow-up steps, such as funding and incentive programs.

3. By assisting providers in applying for and accessing funding and financing opportunities, particularly the Federation’s Sustainable Affordable Housing fund

Key responsibilities

Program/Services and Support

• Develop tools and resources
  • Connecting monthly for peer exchange and knowledge sharing, RECs will co-develop and distribute capacity-building tools and resources, such as the E-SAT, throughout the community housing sector.
• Work with sector partners
  • Attend meetings with colleagues at the FCM, BCNPHA, CHF-Canada and others
  • Participate in program evaluation, review and enhancement strategies
• Conduct Energy Audits
  • Conduct virtual energy audits, collect building information, process information, and write reports
• Benchmark non-profit buildings
  • Support data entry into the Centre’s data base
  • Support sector wide building benchmarking initiatives
• Project Coaching non-profit existing building retrofit projects
  • Provide support and coaching for new build, renovation and retrofit projects for non-profit providers – working with property managers and boards, consultants, contractors, utility companies, and funding bodies.
• Provide technical support to non-profit housing providers to identify, plan, and implement capital and energy efficiency in new builds and retrofits.

Data Management and reporting

• Collect qualitative and quantitative feedback about the program
• Collect relevant resources to add to the Centre’s resource inventory
• Generate monthly/quarterly reports describing performed activities
• Ensure completion of tracking and reporting structures/processes
• Lead the completion of grantee reports

Communications and outreach

• Engage with providers through sector events and communications (webinars, newsletters, etc.) as per the communications plan
• Update and inform other Centre staff and Board members about project scope, activity, and progress

Qualifications

Education, Experience and Skills

• Knowledge of building construction, building systems, and sustainability is required
• Working knowledge of energy conservation measures in buildings, building control systems, building envelope design would be an asset
• Working knowledge of renewable energy retrofits would be an asset
• Post-secondary education in a relevant field; a graduate degree would be an asset
• A working knowledge of non-profit organizations and operations would be an asset
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to a changing environment are a must to be successful in this changing sector
• Strong professional verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient computer (MS office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and database skills
• Experience and a high level of proficiency in preparing and delivering presentations
• Working knowledge of English and French an asset

Compensation & Working Conditions

• Benefits package, vacation, defined benefit retirement plan
• 35 hours per week
• Telework from anywhere in Canada with occasional travel
• Salary $65K

Interested? 

Please send us your resume and cover letter in PDF format to info@centre.support, indicating that you are applying for the Regional energy coach. Please note that we will carefully study all the files submitted to us, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Centre is committed to diversity and inclusion. We particularly encourage applications from candidates who are Indigenous, Black, Persons of Colour, persons from the LGBTQIA2S+ community and individuals living with disabilities.