Manager, Environmental Approvals

About CarbonFree

CarbonFree Technology Inc and its affiliates (“CarbonFree”) is one of the most successful solar developers in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto and active across Canada and the Americas for over two decades, we develop, finance, construct and operate utility-scale solar and battery storage projects. We hold a contracted portfolio of 484 MWp now heading into construction, won in Ontario’s competitive long-term procurement, with a further 1.5 GW of development pipeline behind it across Ontario and British Columbia. We are growing the team to match, and we are looking for talented people who want to help build and scale the next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

About the role

We are seeking a Manager, Environmental Approvals to build and lead our in-house permitting capability. This is a Toronto-based role with the potential for travel to our project sites across Ontario, including Northern Ontario.

We have projects in all stages of environment approvals, which in Ontario follow the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) process, including REAs through submission and into the Ministry comment stage, additional projects in seasonal field studies, and additional projects that will need approvals through 2027 and 2028.

This is an exciting opportunity: you would be building a function rather than joining one, with a defined pipeline of projects in front of you and the opportunity to personally and meaningfully advance renewable energy projects through permitting. You will be supported by our development, engineering and legal teams. This is a place for doers who roll up their sleeves, adapt quickly, and take pride in creating clarity, rigor, and trust through their work.

Position summary

You will drive the environmental approvals program across our Canadian portfolio: the REA process in Ontario under O. Reg. 359/09 end to end, the supporting technical studies, the relationship with the Ministry, and the appropriate consultant scope. The measure of the role is straightforward. You will efficiently deliver approvals on the schedule the projects need to a standard that survives Ministry review and lender diligence.

Key responsibilities

Renewable Energy Approval delivery

• Drive the REA process for each project, from screening and pre-consultation through submission, Ministry comment response and issuance.
• Prepare or direct the core REA documentation, including the project description report, construction plan report, design and operations report, decommissioning plan report, consultation report and the project summaries prepared for Indigenous communities.
• Manage the natural heritage and water body assessments, including the seasonal field survey program, and make sure the timing of those surveys is built into the project schedule rather than discovered late.
• Meaningfully participate in our engagement with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and manage comment response through to approval.

Technical program and consultant management

• Help us decide what we do in house and what we procure, and have your views and opinions be heard and make a difference.
• Manage and support our consultants, across geotechnical, ecological, archaeology and cultural heritage, and supporting engineering, including task orders, fees and deliverables.
• Bring constraints (species at risk, wetlands, watercourses, cultural heritage, etc.) into layout decisions early enough to shape them rather than delay them.

Permitting beyond the REA

• Manage other environmental and land use approvals as they arise, including municipal approvals, conservation authority permits, Endangered Species Act matters and federal fisheries requirements.
• Support our British Columbia projects with environmental permitting strategies and execution and identifying the unique regulatory regime requirements.

Budget, schedule and reporting

• Manage the environmental permitting budget across the portfolio and report on spend.
• Own the permitting schedule and flag risk to it early and plainly.
• Assist the SVP Project Development in optimizing overall project economics and opportunity for success.
• Report to the SVP Project Development and provide regular updates to the executive team.

Qualifications

Education & experience

• Experience in environmental permitting or environmental consulting in Ontario, including at least 3 years leading projects rather than contributing to them.
• Full understanding of Ontario’s Renewable Energy Approval process under O. Reg. 359/09, including approvals taken through to issuance.
• Strong background in natural heritage assessment, ecology or a closely related technical discipline.
• Experience preparing and delivering public consultation for a permitting process, and responding to regulator comments.
• Degree in environmental science, ecology, biology, environmental engineering or a related field.

Skills & competencies

• Excellent technical writing, and the ability to produce documentation that stands up to regulatory scrutiny and to lender and independent engineer review.
• Sound commercial judgement about scope, fees and where money is genuinely well spent.
• Comfortable managing several approvals in parallel across projects at different stages, against fixed construction dates.
• Constructive working relationships with regulators, built on being straight with them.
• Willingness to travel to project sites across Ontario, including Northern Ontario, particularly during field survey seasons.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office. Familiarity with GIS tools such as QGIS or ArcGIS is an asset.

Compensation

A competitive salary depending on experience, together with participation in our annual bonus program. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package.

How to apply

If you have taken Renewable Energy Approvals through to issuance and you would rather own a portfolio than bill against it, we would like to hear from you. Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and why you are the ideal candidate for this role to careers@carbonfree.com

CarbonFree is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Accommodations are available on request at any stage.