Climate Adaptation Solutions Senior Specialist

Arcadis • Vancouver, BC

65d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Climate Adaptation Solutions Lead will join the Disaster and Climate Resilience Solutions Team and will report to the Climate Adaptation Solutions Director for Canada. This role focuses on leading certain aspects of Arcadis climate resilience strategy and provides technical leadership and guidance on those topics. As climate adaptation is a systemic issue, there is a wide range of topics that are of interest, including: hazard and risk modeling, water resource management, risk informed asset management, resilient transportation planning, emergency management and evacuation planning, decision making and pathways planning under uncertainty, risk financing, resilient investment planning, etc. Understanding quantitative and qualitative risk assessment methods, their applications and limitations, and climate adaptation measures in one or more sector is required.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Director to develop and execute the Arcadis Canada Climate Adaptation Strategy and will work with the project teams across the organization to deliver innovative solutions aligned with emerging market trends, client needs, and regulatory drivers. They will actively collaborate across sectors and geographies to ensure the successful delivery of projects and the growth of Arcadis’ climate adaptation portfolio.

This position emphasizes project execution and team mentorship, requiring strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills. The Senior Specialist will also play a role in fostering knowledge-sharing within Arcadis.

About the Disaster and Climate Resilience Solutions Team
We work on impactful projects that require innovative approaches while building on existing best practices in science, engineering, urban planning, digital solutions, and policy design in Canada and internationally. We think of ourselves as creative artists in disaster and climate risk management. We like complex challenges, we ask big questions, and we work with great people across Arcadis and external community of experts to find solutions. Disaster and climate resilience is our passion, and we do it with a sense of duty and activism.

Requirements

• A PhD or Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Planning, Geography, Economics, Public Policy, Emergency Planning, or a related field, with a professional designation such as P.Eng. highly desired, plus 15+ years of experience in environmental consulting, engineering, climate adaptation, or resilience planning, including a demonstrated track record as a trusted advisor to public and/or private sector clients who translate technical analysis into strategic, actionable guidance.
• Proven leadership in managing and delivering large, complex projects, overseeing technical teams, budgets, schedules, and client relationships, paired with a strong understanding of Canadian climate policy, regulatory frameworks, and funding programs related to climate adaptation and infrastructure resilience.
• Established network within Canada’s climate adaptation and resilience community, with a track record of industry engagement and thought leadership, complemented by demonstrated success in business development—leading proposals, contributing to win strategies, and supporting growth of service areas or practices.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary and geographically distributed teams, with the ability to integrate diverse technical inputs into cohesive solutions, coupled with excellent communication and presentation skills to engage senior stakeholders, facilitate workshops, and represent organizations in public forums.
• A commitment to continuous learning and advancing technical practice, including familiarity with emerging methodologies, standards, and tools in climate risk and resilience.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic business development initiatives by identifying growth opportunities, shaping market positioning, and cultivating long-term client relationships within the climate adaptation sector.
• Guide market intelligence efforts and competitor analysis to inform service offerings and contribute to thought leadership that aligns with global climate priorities.
• Maintain a deep understanding of client needs and risk contexts across Canada, leading proposal development and client presentations with strategic and technical expertise.
• Represent at industry events and forums to enhance the firm’s visibility and influence in climate adaptation.
• Lead in delivering complex climate risk assessments and resilience projects, ensuring technical excellence and innovation aligned with regulatory expectations.
• Oversee tailored solutions by guiding multidisciplinary teams through system-level challenges while setting high technical standards and mentoring staff.
• Foster teamwork, accountability, and performance across projects.
• Champion knowledge sharing and capacity building within the organization, promoting consistency, innovation, and continuous improvement in climate adaptation practices.
• Develop and execute the Arcadis Canada Climate Adaptation Strategy
• Work with project teams across the organization to deliver innovative solutions aligned with emerging market trends, client needs, and regulatory drivers.
• Actively collaborate across sectors and geographies to ensure the successful delivery of projects and the growth of Arcadis’ climate adaptation portfolio.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees