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Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) is a multi-partner initiative accelerating the global push for resilient and equitable clean energy solutions through local, community-based collaborations. You can learn more about us here or through our stories.

We're looking for talented, motivated and value-driven professionals to help advance our mission. See below for our current employment opportunities!

Corporate Operations Officer

Number of positions: 1
Location: University of Victoria
Salary: $115,274.00 - $165,707.00
Deadline for application: July 6, 2025

Position summary

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, Accelerating Community Energy Transformations (ACET), the ACET Corporate Operations Officer (COO) position offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the operational excellence of this world-class, interdisciplinary initiative by managing the day-to-day operations and administration of ACET, and providing strategic advice. The COO will develop operations and organizational strategies to ensure that the ACET initiative is properly and successfully implemented in alignment with ACET objectives and funders’ policies. The COO maintains and directs the daily operations of ACET, including project management, accounting, reporting. The COO will provide leadership in effective team management and implementation into practice the ideals equity, diversity and inclusion as well as embedding best practices for Indigenous engagement in ACET.

This position will work in partnership with researchers, managers and staff in departments throughout the University, including the Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation (OVPRI), Research Accounting, Human Resources, and Equity and Human Rights. In addition, the position works with the five collaborating partner institutions, external research funding agencies and other partners contributing in-kind and cash to ACET.

The COO will have experience managing large-scale projects and associated business development including budgeting, writing and reporting for technical, funding agency and public-facing audiences; developing risk assessment and management strategies; tracking project and program metrics and key performance indicators; co-managing ACET’s grants and project management team.

The candidate must have a track record of successful operational experience within a vibrant and adaptive organizational context that values diverse forms of knowledge spanning the natural and social sciences as well as Indigenous knowledge and other ways of knowing. The COO may periodically be required to work outside of regular office hours to support ACET events and to meet project reporting deadlines. This position may also be required to travel nationally and internationally to support ACET.

For more information about this role, including application requirements, please see the full posting at

Community Coordinator – Northern Regional Energy Dialogues

Number of positions: 1
Location: Northern British Columbia 
Reports to: Dr. Sinead Earley (UNBC), with support from Drs. Tamara Krawchenko and Karena Shaw (UVic)
Salary: $4,833.60/month + 4% vacation pay (full-time, with potential for renewal)
Deadline for application: June 25, 2025

Position Summary

The Community Coordinator will play a pivotal role in accelerating community-driven energy transitions across northern BC. This position supports regional energy dialogues, fosters relationships, and engages communities in identifying and pursuing their unique energy needs and ambitions as part of the project. The role requires adaptability, collaborative spirit, and a commitment to shaping the future of energy innovation in the region.

Mandate

To build and strengthen partnerships with communities, rightsholders, and stakeholders in northern BC, supporting the co-design and implementation of community-centered energy dialogues, research, and capacity-building initiatives.

Objectives

• Advance community-driven energy transition efforts in northern BC.
• Facilitate meaningful engagement and knowledge exchange between communities, research teams, and external partners.
• Support the development and delivery of community energy profiles, regional workshops, and research initiatives.
• Foster inclusive, transparent, and responsive project coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Forge and strengthen connections with community members, rightsholders, stakeholders, and key partners to foster trust and collaboration.
• Develop comprehensive community energy profiles using diverse data sources, ensuring insights reflect local contexts and priorities.
• Serve as the primary communications link between the research team and external partners, ensuring timely information flow and collaborative problem-solving.
• Co-design and implement engaging community-level dialogues, regional workshops and research initiatives, adapting approaches to meet evolving community needs.
• Document project milestones, successes, and lessons learned, providing transparent and regular updates to community partners.
• Track, analyze, and report on outreach activities, using data to inform engagement strategies and project improvements.
• Address inquiries from community members and partners, providing accurate information and connecting them with appropriate resources.
• Collaborate with the research team and communities to assess needs, contribute to research goal setting, and identify opportunities for capacity building and innovation.

Skills and Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related field.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a flexible, inclusive, and adaptive team environment.

Experience

• Experience in project management and research.
• Experience with community-based research is an asset.
• Previous work in northern BC or similar regional contexts preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of energy transition strategies and best practices.
• Ability to synthesize and communicate complex information to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated capacity for strategic planning, documentation, and progress tracking.

Assets or Preferences

• Preference for candidates based in Northern BC.
• Familiarity with Indigenous and rural community contexts is an asset.

Accessibility and Equity Statements

Information about our accessibility and equity policies can be found below and/or accessed using the navigation menu on the left.

How to Apply

Please submit your application, including a cover letter and CV, to Sinead.Earley@unbc.ca with the subject line “Community Coordinator” by June 25, 2025, at 11:59 AM.

Post-Doctoral Fellow: Business Survey of Energy Transitions in Western Canada

Location: University of Victoria (hybrid)
Reports to: Dr. Katya Rhodes
Salary: $70,000 (plus 10% benefits in the form of employer contributions)
Deadline for application: June 30, 2025

Position Summary

The led by Dr. Katya Rhodes at the University of Victoria and the led by Dr. Basma Majerbi are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to join an interdisciplinary research team conducting climate and energy transition policy and transition finance research in Western Canada, on a one year term starting September 2025.

The position will focus on the design, implementation, and analysis of a survey of Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), examining their perceptions, decision-making processes and operational realities in relation to the energy transition. The survey will investigate barriers and enablers for SME decarbonization, the adoption of clean energy technologies, and engagement with emerging climate and transition finance instruments. This work sits at the intersection of climate policy, business strategy, and sustainable finance.

Co-supervised by experts in climate and energy policy and sustainable business and finance, the postdoctoral fellow will be responsible for leading the research, which aims to provide critical insight into how SMEs navigate uncertainty, assess transition-related financial risks and opportunities, and respond to evolving climate- and transition-related regulation and policy. The role involves close attention to sector-specific constraints, capital access, and innovation dynamics, with the aim of informing the design of policies and financial mechanisms that are both effective and equitable — especially in regions and sectors more dependent on fossil fuels. The successful candidate will contribute to a broader research agenda focused on aligning public policy, financial tools, and business capacity to accelerate a just and inclusive energy transition for the SME sector, which account for over 99% of all businesses in Canada.

The position is a fellowship with the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) initiative at the University of Victoria (UVic). The ACET postdoc will be part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of public policy, energy technology, business and finance, and community engaged research.

Key Responsibilities

• Co-design a national business survey instrument focused on SME perspectives on decarbonization, climate risk, and transition finance
• Collaborate with community, industry and policy partners to ensure the survey addresses real-world constraints, sectoral diversity, and financial realities of SMEs
• Oversee survey fielding and logistics in collaboration with a professional survey firm, ensuring broad sectoral and regional representation
• Analyze survey data using appropriate quantitative methods and contribute to interdisciplinary academic, policy and business-oriented outputs
• Prepare policy briefs, practitioner reports, and peer-reviewed publications based on research findings to inform policy, financing programs, and business support mechanisms
• Present findings in academic, policymaking, industry, and public engagement forums
  Qualifications:
• PhD (or near completion) in public administration, policy studies, business economics, sociology, political science, or a related field
• Experience with survey design, implementation, and quantitative analysis in applied policy or business contexts
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while actively contributing to a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment
• Proficiency in statistical software and data analysis methods relevant to business and policy research
• Strong writing and communication skills, as demonstrated through academic publications, policy outputs and public presentations
• Expertise in climate policy, SMEs business strategy and decision-making, sustainable finance or just transition framework

Accessibility and equity statements

Information about our accessibility and equity policies can be found below and/or accessed using the navigation menu on the left.

How to apply

Please send the following documents to Dr. Katya Rhodes at krhodes@uvic.ca and Dr. Basma Majerbi at majerbi@uvic.ca by June 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PST):

• CV
• Motivation letter (max 2 pages) with 3 names of potential references.

Research Culture and Learning Officer

Number of positions: 1
Location: University of Victoria 
Salary: $75,755.00 - $98,528.00
Deadline for application: June 22, 2025

Position summary

The Research Culture and Learning Officer supports the advancement of equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation within ACET by leading the implementation of the ACET EDI Action Plan. Reporting to the Manager/Director, the Research Culture and Learning Officer designs, delivers, and tracks cross-institutional EDI and Indigenous-focused training, contributes to inclusive recruitment and retention strategies, and ensures alignment with CFREF, UVic, and partner university EDI frameworks.

Objectives

• Lead the design and coordination of EDI and Indigenous training across ACET.
• Support equitable recruitment, retention, and research practices.
• Implement and monitor ACET’s EDI Action Plan in alignment with institutional and funder requirements.
• Track and report on EDI initiatives and their impact.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation.

For more information about this role, including application requirements, please see the full posting at 

Strategic Research Area Manager: Indigenous Community Energy Systems

Number of positions: 1
Location: University of Victoria
Reports to: ACET Partnerships Manager
Salary: $89,541 - $111,800
Deadline for application: open until filled

Position Summary

The Strategic Research Area (SRA) Manager: Indigenous Community Energy Systems position is a hybrid research and project/people management role responsible for leading coordination of activities for ACET Strategic Research Area 5: Integrated Energy Systems - Indigenous community energy systems.

A primary component of the SRA Manager’s role is to support the delivery of ACET research projects within their SRA. This includes ideating and co-designing transdisciplinary research projects, establishing project work plans, preparing budgets, developing communications plans, pursuing potential funding and developing research partnership opportunities.

Within the ACET project lifecycle, there will be close collaboration with the ACET core team to translate engagement with partners into research projects. The SRA Manager will also regularly coordinate with other SRA Managers, including those based at other institutions (e.g. Yukon University, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and Cascade Institute/Royal Roads University) and SRA Leads in the ACET SRA Council, to identify synergies that will help develop innovative, impact-oriented research. They will then help to coordinate and carry out the research activities during the course of project execution and close-out.

The SRA Manager will have an understanding of both scientific and technical stages of their  SRA and be able to support the mobilization of key partners from government, industry, First Nations, public organizations and NGOs, both nationally and internationally. They will provide some research oversight and mentoring to research associates, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, and will build research partnerships within and beyond the University of Victoria and collaborating academic institutions.

This role requires demonstration of leadership, prioritization and collaboration, and fluidity of internal and external communications. 

General responsibilities

• Road-mapping activities within this SRA and coordinating activities together with the SRA Council, ACET Executive Director and broader ACET core team
• Leading ACET project co-design with members of the ACET core team, researchers, SRA Leads, and project partners with a focus on interdisciplinarity, EDI, knowledge mobilization and other project criteria for eventual funding approval by SRA Council
• Managing multiple research projects including budgets, timelines, and KPIs
• Collaborating across the SRA Manager and core teams to support strategic project development and interdisciplinarity
• Working with SRA Leads, ACET core team and institutional partners to recruit researchers as necessary
• Initiating and maintaining relationships with partners in communities
• Supporting ACET project publicity and storytelling in collaboration with ACET’s Communications Strategist
• Participating in ACET engagement events (e.g. conferences, seminars, etc.) to support knowledge mobilization
• Upholding ACET values related to EDI and safe and healthy workplaces

Key responsibilities & expectations

Strategic planning

• Work with ACET Executive Director, SRA Leads, Partnerships Manager and other ACET leaders to carry out strategic planning within and across ACET SRAs
• Work within the ACET core team to ensure activities align with ACET’s overall strategic priorities
• Develop new strategic partnership opportunities for ACET

Project co-design and curation

• Lead ACET project development through co-design, wherein multiple perspectives are present and community-goals and aspirations are centered. This requires nuanced communications skills and subject-matter expertise
• Help manage ongoing research projects, including the management of project timelines, deliverables, budgets, funder relationships, collaborator relationships and project evaluation
• Evaluate the impact of changes to project scope, schedule and budget.
• Taking direction from the ACET Strategic Lead People & Culture, ensure that projects apply an equity lens and follow best practices in project team management throughout their lifecycles
• Taking direction from the ACET Strategic Advisor Indigenous, ensure that researchers are properly trained and screened prior to working with Indigenous communities
• Help to maintain a CRM, tracking instruments and partnership opportunities to curate and prioritize project development and ongoing execution

Communications, knowledge mobilization and reporting

• Ensure that communications and knowledge mobilization is embedded in project design and tracking
• Contribute to the tracking of project evaluation metrics and help to fulfill project reporting requirements
• Ensure formal on-boarding of personnel and researchers onto ACET projects is completed in a timely fashion
• Contribute to ACET reporting to CFREF
• Help to plan for and facilitate communications, publicity and storytelling opportunities as they arise within projects in close collaboration with the Communications Strategist

Preferred qualifications

The SRA Manager position requires education (Bachelors degree or above) and experience working with Indigenous communities, including a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in project management and development. The SRA Manager will have knowledge and experience in energy systems and/or climate change area, from any perspective (technical, social sciences, policy, business, governance, etc.).

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Demonstrated expertise within the relevant Strategic Research Area (e.g. work experience, writing, publications and/or other research/analysis outputs)
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively while managing a wide range of relationships
• Experience in project management, including project timelines, deliverables, and budgets
• Experience managing funder relationships and relationships with project collaborators
• Experience tracking project evaluation metrics and meeting project reporting requirements
• Demonstrated ability to write with exceptional analytical clarity
• Demonstrated ability to effectively tailor outputs for different types of knowledge users
• Experience communicating research/analysis findings beyond journal articles and academic conferences
• Demonstrated ability to present research/analysis findings orally in a clear and compelling manner— and to engage critically and constructively with other experts in a meeting/workshop/webinar setting
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain broad networks of other experts and practitioners
• Demonstrated ability to leverage networks to improve the quality of research/analysis outputs and maximize the impact of knowledge mobilization
• Agility to move between disciplinary boundaries in service of comprehensive solutions and to work in an integrated manner
• Demonstrated commitment to impact-oriented research bridging between academia and organization and individuals outside academic to create real-world impact
• Understanding and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, in particular implementing equitable processes and developing effective working relationships with anyone regardless of background or discipline

Assets or preferences

• Experience working at a university, research institute, think tank, or research-focused NGO
• Background in research skills, methodologies, program evaluation and academic disciplines
• Specific training and/or experience in energy systems
• Understanding and experience working with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities and leadership

Accessibility and Equity Statements

Information about our and policies can be found below and/or accessed using the navigation menu on the left.

How to Apply*

Please submit your application, including a cover letter and CV to contactacet@uvic.ca with subject line "ACET SRA 5 Manager: Indigenous." This position will remain open until filled.

 * Note:

In accordance with the university’s equity plan and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, preference for the SRA 5 Manager: Indigenous Community Energy Systems position will be given to Indigenous Peoples. Candidates from this group who wish to qualify for preferential consideration must self-identify in their cover letter.

The Office of the Vice-President Indigenous (OVPI) at the University of Victoria is in the early phases of drafting a policy and developing a process to affirm declarations of Indigenous identity, citizenship and membership at UVic where these claims result in material advantages, such as employment in an Indigenous-specific position. While the forthcoming policy cannot be retroactively applied to this opportunity, the successful candidate(s) will be required to complete the Indigenous Citizenship Declaration (ICD) process should they apply for, or access, future opportunities resulting in material gain. 

Equity Statement

ACET and the University of Victoria are committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and  in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who are eager to actively participate in that shared responsibility. We actively encourage applications from members of historically and systemically marginalized groups.

Read UVic's full equity statement at www.uvic.ca/equitystatement.

Accessibility Statement

 If you anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process contact uviccareers@uvic.ca. Any personal information provided will be maintained in confidence.

Territory Acknowledgement

We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples, the Musqueam people, the fourteen Yukon First Nations, Atikamekw and other Indigenous People on which ACET partner institutions stand, whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.