Executive Director, Lawson Climate Institute

University of Toronto•Toronto, ON

1d•CA$132,351 - CA$220,587•Onsite

About The Position

The Lawson Climate Institute (LCI) at the University of Toronto is a multidisciplinary research hub dedicated to accelerating U of T’s capacity to advance the technologies, policies, and incentives needed to make the global transition to net zero. Launched in April 2025 through a transformative $60-million donation from Brian and Joannah Lawson, the institute serves as a central catalyst for climate-related research, innovation, and collaboration across the University. Its activities are organized around four strategic pillars: Sustainable Innovation and Technology; Climate Policy and Sustainable Finance; Leaders for a Sustainable Future; and Campus as a Living Lab. Through these interconnected areas of focus, the Institute advances practical, effective, and equitable climate solutions while creating new opportunities for knowledge sharing, partnership, and impact. The Lawson Climate Institute (LCI) was established in 2025 in recognition of a generous donation from Brian and Joannah Lawson Foundation. It will deliver high class training for the leaders of the future and provide multi- and inter-disciplinary research in technology, innovation, sustainable finance and climate policy. Reporting to the Academic Director, the Executive Director drives the development and execution of strategic initiatives and programs to achieve the Institute’s mission to accelerate U of T’s capacity to advance the technologies, policies, and incentives needed to make the global transition to net zero. The Executive Director takes primary responsibility for stakeholder engagement and scaling the Institute to achieve its global ambitions. As the senior administrative leader of the Institute, the incumbent has a pivotal leadership role, helping to shape the growth and direction of the Institute, providing advice to the Academic Director, and collaborating with faculty and senior staff in the academic divisions and in relevant vice-presidential portfolios. The Executive Director works in close partnership with the Office of Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI), with a dotted-line reporting to ISI to support coordination, oversight, and alignment across priorities. The roles also partners with the Office of the Vice President, Research & Innovation and other University units to support strategy, funding initiatives, institutional partnerships and operational alignment. An especially critical responsibility will be developing and executing an efficient plan for significant growth and number of initiatives within the Institute. The incumbent will be responsible for developing a work plan to stay focused on the achievement of the Institute’s mission in a demanding start-up environment. The Executive Director provides strategic leadership for Institute initiatives, and fosters and supports partnerships both within and external to the University in support of the Institute’s mandate. Responsibilities include: establishing clear short (1 year) and longer term (3-5 years) performance objectives for the Institute, external funding opportunities; developing mechanisms to identify, support and prioritize potential funding and initiatives, and monitor and assess progress; liaising with senior colleagues in the academic divisions and central portfolios; developing and managing strategic partnerships across institutional, governmental, sectoral and geographic borders; developing thematic research, policy and solutions strategies; oversight of strategic communications plans; preparation of key documents including internal and external progress/impact and financial reports; supporting and managing the Institute’s governance; and implementing research and collaboration funds, allocating budgets, and hiring and managing staff.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree and training in financial management or business administration.
Ten (10) years’ experience working in strategy development and implementation and external relations.
Knowledge and experience in organizational governance.
Demonstrated experience in financial, human resources and communications management.
Experience leading teams and managing people in complex organizational settings.
Proven ability assessing opportunities in a variety of disciplines as well as interdisciplinary opportunities.
Excellent research, analytical, negotiation, partnership development, project management, organizational and interpersonal skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Creative problem solving and decision making.
Mentorship abilities.
Computer competency with knowledge of spreadsheet, database, and word processing applications.
Ability to work at the highest strategic levels.
Ability to gain and maintain the respect of senior administration.
Ability to take strategy and move it through to tactics and action.
Ability to work with senior University Officers and external stakeholders in a manner that facilitates cooperation and consensus building.
Ability to lead communications efforts and strategy and to speak for and about the Institute’s mission.
Ability to be comfortable, credible, and persuasive within academic, government or business environments.
Ability to initiate, build, and nurture academic and research partnerships.
Demonstrated effective leadership, motivational, and planning abilities.
Excellent political acuity, tact, judgment, and discretion.
Ability to interpret and evaluate policy and procedural requirements.
Must be highly self-motivated and sustain a high degree of initiative.
Must be a talented and fluent writer, able to concisely summarize information and provide a rationale for action.
Must be able to identify and understand emerging issues as well as set and manage priorities.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in business will be considered an asset.
Experience in a senior administrative role managing complex relationships, preferably in a University environment or other large organization, is desirable.
Experience in a high-growth unit is an asset.
Experience in a unionized environment is an asset.

Responsibilities

Drives the development and execution of strategic initiatives and programs to achieve the Institute’s mission.
Takes primary responsibility for stakeholder engagement and scaling the Institute to achieve its global ambitions.
Helps to shape the growth and direction of the Institute.
Provides advice to the Academic Director.
Collaborates with faculty and senior staff in the academic divisions and in relevant vice-presidential portfolios.
Works in close partnership with the Office of Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI).
Partners with the Office of the Vice President, Research & Innovation and other University units to support strategy, funding initiatives, institutional partnerships and operational alignment.
Develops and executes an efficient plan for significant growth and number of initiatives within the Institute.
Develops a work plan to stay focused on the achievement of the Institute’s mission in a demanding start-up environment.
Provides strategic leadership for Institute initiatives.
Fosters and supports partnerships both within and external to the University in support of the Institute’s mandate.
Establishes clear short (1 year) and longer term (3-5 years) performance objectives for the Institute.
Identifies and prioritizes external funding opportunities.
Develops mechanisms to identify, support and prioritize potential funding and initiatives, and monitor and assess progress.
Liaises with senior colleagues in the academic divisions and central portfolios.
Develops and manages strategic partnerships across institutional, governmental, sectoral and geographic borders.
Develops thematic research, policy and solutions strategies.
Oversight of strategic communications plans.
Prepares key documents including internal and external progress/impact and financial reports.
Supports and manages the Institute’s governance.
Implements research and collaboration funds, allocating budgets, and hiring and managing staff.