Project Coordinator, Affordable Energy for Humanity (AE4H) Program

Overview

Term: 1 year

The Project Coordinator (PC) will support the day-to-day coordination and operation of the Affordable Energy for Humanity (AE4H) program, which was initiated by the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy in September 2015. This position is responsible for the successful coordination of projects and delivery of results for a wide range of stakeholders involved in a variety of multi-disciplinary research projects designed to support WISE faculty members and global partnerships. The PC will work on multiple projects with various Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) that are at different stages of completion (i.e. for the full project life cycle or on specific aspects of the project as needed). As many of the projects feature team members, stakeholders and organizations from various disciplines across academia, industry, government and community members, the PC should be comfortable working with teams and individuals reflecting this level of diversity.

The AE4H program is a global consortium of researchers and practitioners committed to ending energy poverty through the sustainable deployment of clean technology. AE4H brings members together on joint projects to scope and develop impactful, interventions, and through supporting student involvement, and other stakeholders in the energy access sector.

Responsibilities

Project Coordination and Program Execution

• Manages the Affordable Energy for Humanity Global Change Initiative, a multi-stakeholder research and action initiative at the intersection of energy research and international development. Roles and responsibilities include:
  • Liaising with partner researchers within and outside of the university
  • Organizing and facilitating workshops and other events that bring project partners together to seed new projects
  • Raising funds for new initiatives
  • Management of the project website
  • Research and writing tasks that effectively communicate project outcomes
  • Assists with the development of global initiatives on low-carbon energy system transitions
• As part of the AE4H initiative, independently manages an ongoing internship program that provides scholarships to UW co-op students who intern at AE4H partner organizations in the global south. Responsibilities include:
  • Recruiting and maintaining relationships with host organizations
  • Coordinating on-campus partners
  • Conducting pre-departure training, promotion, reporting, budgeting, and successfully securing additional funds
  • Frequently travels internationally to recruit host organizations
• Works closely with WISE members to ensure effective management of programs that involve multi-disciplinary research initiatives typically funded through government agencies and with industry partners. This may also involve providing lead technical writing and organizational management skills of group proposals prior to approval
• Assists the WISE team in creating, writing, editing and managing dissemination of on-line and print communications including highlights of project achievements, WISE Annual Report, Research Spotlights (capsule summaries of energy research), Research Bulletins (in-depth features on energy research), promotions, and other materials related to the AE4H program

Collaboration and Outreach

• For specific high impact project results, develops and implements an outreach plan with potential for impact at the global level
• Autonomously adapts technically heavy academic literature to improve understanding of the value of research to a broader audience
• Assists faculty in stewarding existing academic and industry collaborations
• Reports on status of collaborations and new funding opportunities
• Assists Managing Director and Executive Director, WISE in organizing faculty members into active "working groups"
• Presents content and coordinates marketing and distribution of outreach activities
• Guest lectures in undergraduate classes as a means of promoting WISE activities, in particular the AE4H internship program described above

Web Management

• Assists with the strategy, planning and maintenance of the AE4H website and provides support to the WISE Administrative Assistant making day-to-day changes as required
• Evaluates new and emerging e-communication tools for WISE use, develops expert knowledge of collaborative on-line systems and makes recommendations to the Managing Director and Executive Director, WISE
• Assists in the improvement of the AE4H website by including rich program content that is consistent with design, navigation, user interface and functionality

Workshops, Visits, Events

• Provides scientific and organizational support, coordination and management for national and international workshops, visits and events structured around project outputs
• Organizes the event logistics with the WISE Administrative Assistant (e.g. venues, technical, program, transportation, gifts)
• Executes the workshop program and addresses the individual needs of the delegates during the workshop/visit with the WISE Administrative Assistant -Follow-up on post-workshop action items
• Follows up on post-workshop action items
• Works with the WISE Administrative Assistant to organize and deliver regular WISE and AE4H events such as the WISE and AE4H Public Lecture and Seminar Series

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in Engineering/Environment/Business or related discipline; graduate degree preferred
• Must have a minimum of 1 year work experience as a project coordinator in an academic setting
• Ability to work effectively in a team and independently to manage multiple and competing priorities, and to adapt to a changing environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to provide and present timely and relevant feedback/reporting to various stakeholders
• Ability to exercise leadership without formal authority and work in a team environment
• Business maturity and awareness with topics and matters that are confidential and sensitive
• Demonstrated ability to apply new concepts, tools, and processes
• Attitude and aptitude for continuous improvement and change management coupled with a pragmatic and flexible approach to getting things done; independently or in a team setting
• Fluent in English
• Proficient at MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams
• SharePoint, web content management, Adobe software, Outlook calendar and email management, social media, Eventbrite, Unit 4, Concur
• Strong knowledge of energy and sustainable development related innovations and issues is a significant asset
• Proven ability to synthesize scientific and technical literature and ability to produce communications material appropriate to the target audience
• Keen awareness and knowledge of developments in the energy sector worldwide
• Broad understanding of the relationships between energy, economic, socio-cultural and environmental systems and ability to effectively communicate the nuances of these relationships to expert and non-expert audiences
• Exceptional communication skills in written and verbal form including superior presentation skills and technical writing capabilities

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.