Join Our Team

Position: Communications Specialist

Job Start Date: April 28, 2025

Term: 8-16 weeks

Hours Per Week: 35

Hourly Rate: $22-24/hour

Location: Remote or, if in the GTA, optional attendance at our office located at 720 Bathurst Street

Application Deadline: April 14, 2025

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The Communications Specialist will be responsible for supporting strategies that increase EcoSchools Canada’s visibility as a leading environmental education program, strengthen its information sharing capacity with its multiple stakeholders (namely schools and school boards), support the programs team during and after school assessments and ensure the timely, and accurate execution of the organization’s communications strategy. As a bilingual organization, communications will be developed in both French and English therefore fluency in French is considered an asset though not mandatory. Tasks and responsibilities include:

• Content Strategy and Activities Scheduling
• Social Media
• Content Creation and Management
• Story Pitching and Collection
• Press Releases and Public Relations
• Webinar and event support
• Supporting the Programs Team with administrative, research and development
• Working closely with the communications team and perform other duties as assigned

EcoSchools is committed to recruiting, nominating, and supporting skilled candidates that reflect the diversity of our program participants. EcoSchools strongly encourages applications from women, persons of colour, persons with disabilities and members of Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+, and diverse cultural, religious, and linguistic communities. 

Please send a cover letter and resume in a single PDF to jobs@ecoschools.ca by Monday, April 14, 2025 at 11:59pm ET. Please include the position title in the subject line of the email. Position start date will be Monday, April 28, 2025. Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls, please.

Background on EcoSchools Canada

Since 2005, EcoSchools Canada’s award-winning certification framework has provided independent reporting and recognition for schools and environmental education centres. Reaching over 800,000 students each year, from over 140 school boards/districts nationwide, we are the largest bilingual environmental certification program for elementary through to secondary schools in Canada. Our innovative online platform helps bring climate education, outdoor learning, and student leadership into the classroom and incentivizes, rewards, and collects data on school-based impacts across our nationwide network of schools. For more details visit: ecoschools.ca

Our workplace is a dynamic, open, creative and collaborative environment where you will be part of a small, but growing team—a fun and passionate group committed to environmental change.

Position: Board and District Program Manager

Reports to: Co-Executive Director

Status: Full-time, contract until December 2025, with the possibility of renewal (option for a 4 day prorated contract)

Salary: $60,000-$70,000 with an attractive benefits package after probationary period (3 months)

Location: Flexible within Canada, main office is in Toronto (720 Bathurst Street, Centre for Social Innovation)

Application Closing date: Wednesday October 9, 2024 (11:59pm EST)

Interviews: Week of October 14, 2024

Start date: November 11, 2024

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Co-Executive Director, the Board and District Program Manager will be responsible for the oversight and implementation of EcoSchools Canada’s school board and district engagement strategy. This will include collaboration with the EcoSchools team to support the effective development and delivery of our national school-based certification program, as well as our newly developed EcoSchools Board Program that supports Canadian school boards in their climate mitigation, adaptation, and sustainability efforts. Responsibilities will include the creation of resources, delivering workshops/webinars, hosting consultations, providing support services, as well as managing communication and recruitment strategies. The Board and District Program Manager will also support program evaluation, reporting, proposal development, and other duties to advance the program, as needed.

Duties and responsibilities

• Support in the development and implementation of the EcoSchools certification program including certification assessment
• Oversee the EcoSchools Board Program via the EcoSchools Certification Application platform to support Canadian school boards in their climate mitigation, adaptation, and sustainability efforts
• Provide direct support to schools, school boards, and partners through strong relationship management and communication
• Develop, coordinate, and deliver workshops, webinars and consultations to partners and board-level stakeholders (in-person/online)
• Develop support tools, resources, and outreach materials
• Manage recruitment strategies with school boards/districts across Canada
• Work with the EcoSchools team and external partners to deliver in-person conferences and networking opportunities
• Support program evaluation, updates, reporting, and proposal development
• Work closely with the Co-Executive Director and perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ years of professional experience (i.e., program development, project coordination/administration)
• Successful completion of a postsecondary degree in education, environmental studies/sciences or related field, or equivalent experience. 
• Understanding of climate action planning and/or carbon reduction strategies on themes including baselines, scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, buildings, transportation, food services, etc.
• Excellent public speaking, facilitation, relationship management, customer service, and communications skills
• Experience developing learning and communication materials (i.e., guides, factsheets, newsletters, worksheets, workshops, webinars, etc.) 
• Outstanding organizational, research, evaluation, and report writing skills
• Proficiency with Google App Suite (i.e., Email, Drive, Sheets, Slides, etc.)  and other online tools and software (i.e., Zoom, Slack, MailChimp, SurveyMonkey).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to meet tight deadlines
• Resourcefulness, initiative, positivity, and flexibility

Assets

• Experience or familiarity with the EcoSchools program
• Knowledge of the Canadian K-12 education system 
• Experience working within the nonprofit sector
• Fluency in French considered an asset (oral and/or written)
• Experience or training in the area of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) and/or experience working with Indigenous communities

EcoSchools is committed to recruiting, nominating, and supporting skilled candidates that reflect the diversity of our program participants. EcoSchools strongly encourages applications from women, persons of colour, persons with disabilities and members of Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+, and diverse cultural, religious, and linguistic communities. 

Please send a cover letter and resume in a single PDF to jobs@ecoschools.ca by Wedensday, October 9, 2024 at 11:59pm (EST). Please include the position title in the subject line of the email. Interviews will take place during the week of October 14, 2024.  Position start date will be Monday, November 11, 2024. Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls please.

Background on EcoSchools Canada

Since 2005, EcoSchools Canada’s award-winning certification framework has provided independent reporting and recognition for schools and environmental education centres. Reaching over 800,000 students each year, from over 140 school boards/districts nationwide, we are the largest bilingual environmental certification program for elementary through to secondary schools in Canada. Our innovative online platform helps bring climate education, outdoor learning, and student leadership into the classroom and incentivizes, rewards, and collects data on school-based impacts across our nationwide network of schools. For more details visit: ecoschools.ca

Our workplace is a dynamic, open, creative and collaborative environment where you will be part of a small, but growing, team of 13 staff—a fun and passionate group committed to environmental change.

In addition to providing an engaging and dynamic work portfolio, we offer our staff:

• A collaborative and fun work culture
• Opportunities for growth and professional development
• Flexible work schedules
• An environment that supports self-care, openness, balance, and inclusivity
• Staff socials, lunches, and other celebratory activities
• Supplies for your virtual office setup
• Generous health benefits including extended health, vision, dental, and long-term disability package after successful completion of your three-month probationary period
• Paid days off:
  • 15 vacation days per year, to start
  • The ​following ​days ​are ​paid ​statutory ​holidays ​and ​the ​office ​will ​be ​closed: ​New ​Year’s Day, ​Family ​Day, ​Good ​Friday, ​Victoria ​Day, ​Canada ​Day, ​Civic ​Holiday, ​Labour ​Day, Thanksgiving ​Day, ​Easter Monday, ​between ​Christmas ​and ​New ​Year’s ​Day