Senior Project Finance Specialist (4-year term)

Where your career meets Canada’s future

At the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the work we do matters. Every day, our people help connect Canada to global markets, strengthen supply chains, support sustainable growth, and shape the future of Canada’s largest port.

If you're looking for purposeful work where your contributions make a difference, you'll find it here - supported by a team that is collaborative, innovative, and committed to excellence.

Why join us

At the port authority, we’re committed to delivering an employee experience that is as rewarding as the work itself. We offer:

• Meaningful work that contributes to Canada’s trade and economic prosperity
• Opportunities for learning, development, and career growth
• A collaborative and inclusive workplace culture
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• Flexible programs that support employee wellbeing and work-life integration

Provide strategic insight and stewardship that enable the organization to invest in people, infrastructure, and the future of Canada’s trade economy.

Build a career with purpose

If you’re looking for work that is meaningful, challenging, and connected to something bigger, we’d love to hear from you. Join us and discover how your career can help shape Canada’s future.

The Senior Project Finance Specialist is responsible for complex financial analysis and services for major infrastructure projects, providing sole financial analytical support to the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) program. Ensures a comprehensive financial model, clearly articulating risks and opportunities while collaborating across the RBT2 team.

What success looks like

• Develop, maintain, update, and improve upon the project financial models with financial consultants to support VFPA’s procurement, investment and project financing decisions with respect to the RBT2 project, and that will withstand due diligence by potential investors and funders to the project. Ensure that additional scenarios are developed and analysis is undertaken to understand potential impacts on the project of changes to the underlying assumptions including but not limited to alternative approaches and value engineering
• Responsible for developing and maintaining the financial model for RBT2 to present an integrated business case considering multiple factors and complexities, developing the model utilizing inputs from a large, multi-disciplinary team. Drive resolution for any assumptions that are inconsistent. Prepare and lead overview presentations to senior VFPA leadership and potential external investors on the financial model development, inputs, outputs, risks and opportunities.
• Ensure assumptions driving the financial model are meticulously documented, thoroughly reviewed, and consistently updated to reflect the latest insights and data. Ensure the basis for any financial model scenarios presented are clearly articulated and properly diligenced. Assess and identify gaps/differing assumptions from varying inputs to ensure consistency in the model.
• Drive the review and approval process for any proposed changes to the assumptions in the financial model, applying critical thinking skills to assess the changes, indicate impacts, risks and opportunities, and work with the multi-disciplinary team to receive, analyse and incorporate approved changes into the model. Take ownership of updates to assumptions in the model and ensure they are done in a timely manner.
• Evaluate reports, data, and models on project capacity, operations, and performance, providing insights to stakeholders and compare against relevant projects to refine and enhance business case inputs and outputs.
• Review cost control and corporate financial models to ensure alignment with capital affordability and project objectives. Liaise with VFPA’s Treasury and Financial Planning & Analysis Departments to update the project financial model to reflect various scenarios on project affordability and funding, to inform significant, multi-billion dollar decision making. Prepare and communicate to senior leadership outcomes and implications of various financing scenarios to support decision making.
• Working with VFPA’s financial advisor, develop and implement the strategy to secure funding sources for the program including preparing and presenting responses to due diligence questions by potential investors
• Work closely with the procurement team to develop the procurement strategy for RBT2 and other capital projects considering financial implications to VFPA and business case implications of various procurement strategies including identifying and assessing risks and opportunities, as assigned.
• Assess, analyse and communicate risks, opportunities, and financial impacts for complex, multi-billion-dollar projects.

What you bring:

• A Bachelor of Commerce or Business Administration degree specializing in finance, accounting or similar discipline.
• A Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Project Finance Analyst or other similar designation is required.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ of progressively advanced experience in financial analysis and business case assessment for infrastructure projects valued at $100M+. Preference for candidates with diverse expertise in large-scale, multi-billiondollar capital projects spanning multiple phases in complex regulatory environments.
• Proficient computer skills, especially in spreadsheets, are essential.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise effectively and positively with both staff, senior management and outside contacts including advisors, potential financing and funding partners.
• Demonstrated aptitude and ability for tactful and diplomatic interaction, along with solid analytical abilities.
• Must be detail oriented and committed to a high level of accuracy with a high level of curiosity in order to identify and drive changes to the business plan and clearly summarize and articulate risks and opportunities thereto.
• Must be able to apply critical thinking to consider implications of different assumptions made and ensure assumptions deliver a comprehensive and cohesive financial model. Must be a highly motivated and proactive individual with a strong orientation to customer service. Must be committed to a philosophy of continuous improvement in all work processes.

What we offer:

• Market-competitive base salaries and variable incentive plan
• Generous and inclusive benefits offering including retirement benefits plan
• Flexible remote work program
• Earned time off program
• Paid vacation and personal care leave
• Learning, development, and advancement opportunities
• Onsite gym with towel service in a national landmark in the heart of Vancouver’s waterfront
• Friendly, unique, and respectful workplace

Salary: The starting rate for this position is $62.94 per hour, with scheduled wage progression in accordance with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 517 collective agreement. Based on a 40 hour work week.

Location: Vancouver, Canada

Job type: Bargaining Unit, Full-Time, Temporary, Hybrid

Working environment: Normal working office conditions and may be required to occasionally respond to off-hour calls for system critical issues.

MARINE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CLEARANCE

The incumbent must obtain and maintain a valid Marine Transportation Security Clearance as this position is required to access restricted areas/information as defined by the Marine Transportation Security Regulations.

At theVancouver Fraser Port Authority, we are dedicated to employment equity and a workplace reflective of the diversity of our port community. We believe our strength comes from the diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of our people. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, racialized individuals, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and other equity-deserving groups.

Reasonable accommodation can be provided in the selection process and while working with the port authority. If you require assistance with applying to our openings or are seeking accommodations to apply in an alternative format, please contact us through a confidential, secure inbox at [email protected]. We are committed to supporting your needs and will do our best to provide the necessary assistance.

We recognize and acknowledge that we are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. To learn more about our First Nation relations and commitment to reconciliation, please visit our website.