Vice President, Sustainability

Job summary

Lead the organization’s sustainability, ESG, environmental, permitting, Indigenous relations, and community engagement functions, advancing major projects through development, financing, construction readiness, and operational transition. Build and lead the sustainability team, ensure regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship, support investor and lender requirements, and integrate sustainability commitments into project planning and execution.

Job details

IMMEDIATE INTERIM OPPORTUNITY Vice President, Sustainability Reports to: CEO Location: Sudbury, Ontario (Preferred) Duration: 12-18 months (possibility of permanent) Hybrid Position Summary The Vice President, Sustainability will lead the organization's sustainability, environmental, permitting, Indigenous relations, community engagement, and ESG strategy functions. This executive leadership role will play a critical part in advancing major mining and resource development projects from development and permitting through financing, construction readiness, and operational transition The successful candidate will serve as a strategic business partner to the executive team, responsible for balancing environmental stewardship, stakeholder relations, regulatory compliance, project development objectives, and long-term value creation. Key Responsibilities Sustainability & ESG Leadership · Develop and execute enterprise-wide sustainability and ESG strategies. · Establish governance frameworks, policies, standards, and reporting processes. · Ensure sustainability initiatives support corporate objectives, financing requirements, and stakeholder expectations. · Lead ESG disclosures and sustainability reporting initiatives. · Drive continuous improvement in ESG performance and risk management. Permitting & Regulatory Leadership · Lead environmental assessment, permitting, and regulatory approval strategies. · Manage relationships with federal, provincial, and regulatory agencies. · Anticipate regulatory risks and implement mitigation strategies. · Ensure environmental compliance and successful progression through project development milestones. · Align permitting activities with engineering, project controls, and development schedules Indigenous & Community Relations · Lead Indigenous engagement strategies and relationship development initiatives. · Support the negotiation and implementation of partnership agreements and community development frameworks. · Foster meaningful consultation and engagement with communities and stakeholders. · Develop programs that support community participation, workforce development, and long-term partnerships. · Ensure social responsibility considerations are integrated into project planning and execution Project Development & Construction Support · Support projects through development, permitting, financing, construction, and operational readiness phases. · Ensure sustainability requirements are embedded into project planning and execution. · Collaborate with engineering, operations, construction, finance, and corporate development teams. · Contribute to project controls, scheduling, budgeting, forecasting, and risk management activities. · Review and challenge project plans to ensure sustainability commitments are achievable and aligned with business objectives. Environmental Stewardship · Oversee environmental monitoring, baseline studies, and mitigation programs. · Lead initiatives related to water management, land stewardship, biodiversity, and closure planning. · Ensure environmental considerations are integrated into project design and operational planning. · Maintain compliance with environmental regulations and industry best practices. Project Finance & Investor Support · Support financing initiatives by ensuring environmental and social requirements meet lender and investor expectations. · Contribute to financing processes involving ESG due diligence and sustainability disclosures. · Support alignment with frameworks such as IFC Performance Standards and Equator Principles. · Present ESG strategies and sustainability performance to leadership, investors, lenders, and external stakeholders. Team Leadership & Organizational Development · Lead, coach, and mentor a growing sustainability team. · Build organizational capabilities, processes, and performance standards. · Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. · Develop succession plans and talent development strategies. · Work closely with executive leadership to support organizational growth and transformation Qualifications/Education · Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, Engineering, Sustainability, Law, Public Policy, Business, or a related field. · Advanced degree (Master's or MBA) considered an asset. · Relevant professional designation (P.Eng., R.P.Bio.) or certifications (PMP, AACE, or equivalent) are assets Experience · 15+ years of progressive experience in mining, natural resources, infrastructure, energy, or major project development environments. · Significant experience leading sustainability, environmental, or community relations functions (ESG). · Demonstrated success advancing large-scale projects through development, permitting, financing, construction, and operational stages. · Experience building and developing teams. · Strong track record working with executive leadership teams and boards. · Experience within Canada and mining project development environments strongly preferred. · Exposure to critical minerals, base metals, or large industrial projects is preferred. · Experience dealing with IBAs · Negotiation and conflict resolution skills · Experience with planning software such as Oracle Primavera P6 or similar Required Competencies · Strategic Sustainability Leadership · ESG Governance and Reporting · Project Development Expertise · Environmental Permitting and Regulatory Compliance · Indigenous and Community Engagement · Stakeholder Management · Project Planning, Budgeting, and Cost Control · Cross-Functional Integration · Team Building and Mentorship · Risk Assessment and Mitigation · Executive Communication and Influence · Project Financing · Change Management and Organizational Development Travel & Work Environment · Travel to project sites and stakeholder meetings expected, generally on a quarterly basis or as project needs require. · Periodic travel during permitting, consultation, financing, and construction activities PLEASE SEND YOUR CV (AS A WORD DOC) TO: Interim.Applications@LHHknightsbridge.com (Subject: Job Title) LHH Knightsbridge Interim Management is a service to help our clients address a wide range of scenarios including leadership support due to sudden departures, driving key change initiatives or leading transformation projects. Our interim executives step in with minimal downtime to meet specific objectives and deliver results. All have held senior positions in the past and have now chosen to offer their unique depth and breadth of experience to organizations on a limited engagement basis. Follow the LHH Knightsbridge LinkedIn page and set up a job alert to learn about new Executive Interim opportunities. Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge Corp. is committed to providing equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure a barrier-free recruitment process. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and our AODA policy, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the hiring process. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please provide your accommodation needs in advance to the Recruitment Lead for this opportunity. We thank all interested candidates in advance; however, only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted. October 2026

What you’ll do

Lead the organization’s sustainability, ESG, environmental, permitting, Indigenous relations, and community engagement functions, advancing major projects through development, financing, construction readiness, and operational transition. Build and lead the sustainability team, ensure regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship, support investor and lender requirements, and integrate sustainability commitments into project planning and execution.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 15 or more years of progressive experience in mining, natural resources, infrastructure, energy, or major project development, including leadership of sustainability, environmental, or community relations functions. Demonstrated success advancing large-scale projects, developing teams, working with executives and boards, and experience with Canadian mining projects, IBA negotiations, conflict resolution, and planning software such as Oracle Primavera P6 are sought; an advanced degree and relevant professional designations or certifications are assets.

Listed skills

• Regulatory Compliance · Preferred
• Stakeholder Management · Preferred
• Change Management · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Sustainability Leadership
• ESG Governance and Reporting
• Environmental Permitting
• Regulatory Compliance
• Indigenous Relations
• Community Engagement
• Stakeholder Management
• Project Development
• Project Financing
• Environmental Stewardship
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation
• Project Planning and Cost Control
• Team Leadership and Mentorship
• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• Executive Communication
• Change Management

Job areas

• Environmental & Sustainability
• Management & Leadership
• Engineering
• Energy
• Finance & Accounting

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