Lead - Contracts, Project Management, and Partnerships

Position: Lead - Contracts, Project Management, and Partnerships

Organization: NGIF Accelerator

Program: Industry Grants

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Calgary

Reporting: Senior Manager, Contracts

NGIF Capital is hiring for its subsidiary organization NGIF Accelerator a Lead - Contracts, Project Management, and Partnerships to oversee and manage the NGIF portfolio of projects. The Lead will be responsible for reporting on the progress of individual projects as well as the overall portfolio, ensuring that all contractual obligations are met, and fostering strong partnerships with stakeholders. This role will involve significant interaction with stakeholders to communicate challenges and work collaboratively to resolve them through effective decision-making processes.

This position requires strong project management skills, a deep understanding of contract management, and the ability to build and maintain relationships with various partners. The Lead will play a crucial role in ensuring that NGIF’s projects are executed efficiently and that the outcomes align with the organization's goals.

About NGIF 

NGIF comes from the Natural Gas Innovation Fund, a program created by the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) in 2017 to fill an innovation gap in the gas sector. Jan 2021, NGIF Capital Corp. was established as a subsidiary of CGA Enterprises and operates its investment funds. In Apr 2023, NGIF Capital created a subsidiary non-profit, NGIF Accelerator and operates its technology and innovation programs. 

About NGIF Capital 

NGIF Capital is a venture capital firm with a dedicated team of professionals that operates current and future investment funds. NGIF Capital is unique in how it brings energy industry leadership to every investment with strong connections to every part of the value chain. NGIF Capital currently operates Cleantech Ventures Fund I. 

About the NGIF Accelerator  

NGIF Accelerator is the not-for-profit arm of NGIF Capital and operates all technology and innovation programs. The NGIF Accelerator mandate is to de-risk and accelerate technology development by supporting startups through their pilot projects, field trials, and industry validation. It will coordinate with federal and provincial governments to co-fund projects to advance market commercialization. NGIF Accelerator currently operates the Industry Grants program and administers the NGIF Emissions Testing Centre program. 

About the Industry Grants program  

The Industry Grants program is industry-led and offers non-dilutive grants to fund early-stage startups for technology development and field demonstration. The program specifically de-risks pre-commercial technology solutions that have the potential to increase the environmental performance of the natural gas sector. Each project in the program will accelerate technology readiness level progressions through controlled pilot testing and field trials to advance commercialization. The Industry Grants program is operated by the NGIF Accelerator. 

Responsibilities

·        Lead Contracting and Project management activities, coach recipients, trouble-shoot project issues and challenges to keep projects progressing towards delivering results while managing/mitigating financial, governance and reputational risks to the organization.

·        Continuously review and improve processes with the aim of increasing efficiency, maintaining good governance and assuring accountability taking responsibility for their respective projects and delivering results.

·        Establish, track and deliver on performance goals such as portfolio disbursements, contracting and disbursement timeframes and portfolio health/risk analysis, etc.

·        Coordinate and align internally on portfolio goals.

·        Support project-level negotiations/interactions within the team, legal and financial auditors.

·        Review, approve and present contracts and modifications, as well as milestone claims and disbursements.

·        Ensure project data for portfolio and project-specific reporting requirements is collected and updated as required.

·        Summarize and present portfolio updates to the Executive Team.

·        Manage project close-out and Post-project reporting processes including financial audits.

·        Support the stage 2 Investment Evaluation stage.

·        Lead assessment of contract readiness of Investment Proposals.

·        Present portfolio status to Innovation Committee and Investment Committee

·        Ensure that all relevant project data (including Environmental Benefits reporting) to support internal and corporate reporting requirements are collected and updated regularly.

·        Support development of the NGIF Annual Report.

·        Manage trusted partner relationship with external organizations a view to seek strategic and additional financial support for the projects.

Travel:

Travel will be expected to visit new applicants, portfolio companies and project sites. It will vary and is estimated at approximately 15%.

Education:

·        Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences or chemical engineering or mechanical engineering or equivalent.

·        Project Management experience is essential.

Who you are:

·        3-5 progressive years in contract management, project management, and/or building partnerships in the energy or cleantech sectors.

·        Exceptional project management skills.

·        Experience in one or more of the following: contract negotiation, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, project management in the natural gas or energy sectors.

·        Proven ability to manage complex projects and extract key messages from large volumes of information.

·        Experience in the oil & gas industry is considered an asset.

·        Demonstrable decision-making and problem-solving abilities.

·        Strong verbal, presentation, written, and interpersonal skills.

Legally entitled to work in Canada without sponsorship.

The successful candidate will be joining a team composed of technical, business, and energy professionals. The NGIF Capital team is composed of intellectually curious individuals who work with integrity, professionalism, and a strong work ethic and are very results-driven.

How to apply

·        Please send your resume and cover letter with attention to Ali Tarar with the subject line “Lead - Contracts, Project Management, and Partnerships” to: atarar@ngif.ca for consideration by Sep 20, 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline.

·        Successful candidates will be contacted for interviews as soon as possible.

·        The position has an immediate start (respecting notice time when needed).

NGIF Capital values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We offer an inclusive work environment and encourage applications from all qualified individuals. If you are invited for an interview, please notify us of any particular adaptive measures you may require. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, upon request, accommodation will be provided by NGIF Capital throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.