TEA is hiring a Summer Student for the position of INHALE Outreach Coordinator in Toronto.

Duration: 8 weeks
Hours: 30 hours per week
Pay: $11.00 per hour
Start Date: as early as Monday May 11th
End Date: Friday July 3rd

 

Application Due: Sunday May 3rd - submit earlier if possible

View or download PDF version of job posting

Who We Are

Since 1988, the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) has campaigned locally to find solutions to Toronto's urban environmental problems. A not-for-profit organization, TEA advocates on behalf of all Torontonians for a green, healthy and equitable city. We rely on our members to help us work with communities and we act as an environmental watchdog at City Hall.

The Position

We are hiring one (1) summer student for the position of Outreach Coordinator to engage local residents and businesses in Etobicoke Lakeshore on an exciting new air quality project called INHALE, Initiative for Healthy Air & Local Economies. Candidates must be prepared to do outreach work in the Etobicoke Lakeshore community including tabling at events, speaking at schools and community organizations, as well as training and organizing volunteers to collect local air quality data. Candidates must be available to start as soon as May 11^th.  Our community partner for this position is the LAMP Community Health Centre.

Learn more about the INHALE Project by visiting: inhaleproject.ca

Learn more about TEA by visiting: torontoenvironment.org

Duties and Responsibilities

This individual will: 

• Help to raise public awareness about urban air quality, sources of air pollution and solutions to improve public health and the local environment.
• Attend annual summer festivals, events and community celebrations in Etobicoke Lakeshore
• Respond to requests for TEA to attend events as well as seek out events/organizations in Etobicoke Lakeshore that TEA should connect with.
• Organize TEA events and public talks in Etobicoke Lakeshore to engage more people in environmental issues that relate to air quality and promote the INHALE Project.
• Liaise with community members and organizations in Etobicoke Lakeshore such as residents’ associations and businesses on behalf of TEA.
• Recruit local residents as volunteers and keep them engaged in TEA’s INHALE Project. Volunteers are of all ages and from various language communities in Etobicoke Lakeshore.
• Train interested volunteers to be ‘citizen scientists’ for the INHALE Project, so they can collect air quality data in their neighbourhood and engage in solution oriented discussions.
• Coordinate volunteers to attend events in Etobicoke Lakeshore that promote the INHALE Project, air pollution findings, and environmentally friendly solutions to improve local air quality
• Put together the necessary materials (pamphlets, sign-up sheets, facts on the environment, etc.) for community outreach.
• With assistance from the Project Manager, use online outreach tools to connect with Etobicoke Lakeshore community members via email, social media and web-based news sources.
• This job involves working with newcomers, visible minorities, children and youth, seniors, and is related to both environmental protection and public health.

Qualifications

• Candidates must meet the requirements of Canada Summer Jobs (see below) 
• Able to begin work as early as Monday May 11^th and complete 8 weeks of work by early July.
• Able to work some evenings and weekends, in place of working during the day (this is needed to attend community events and meetings)
• Excellent communication skills and organizational skills
• Enthusiastic and outgoing with the confidence to engage the public
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team
• A passion for environmental and social justice issues
• Demonstrated experience coordinating volunteers and events
• Candidates who live in Etobicoke Lakeshore or are very familiar with the riding, will be strongly considered. Find out what riding you live in at www.elections.ca
• Candidates who can communicate in one or more of the predominant languages spoken in South Etobicoke will be strongly considered: English, Polish, Italian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Portuguese, Russian, and Tagalog.

This is a position funded by Canada Summer Jobs and requires that the candidate be:

(a) between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the start of employment;

(b) registered as a full-time student during the preceding academic year and intend to return to school on a full-time basis during the next academic year;

(c) a student in a post-secondary program;

(d) a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and

(e) legally entitled to work.

Learn more about Service Canada's Canada Summer Jobs Program.

What to expect

After the first few weeks of becoming familiar with the organization, this will be a fairly independent position. Due to the nature of the job, the candidate will be provided with two workspaces. Predominantly, the candidate will work from the local community partner office located in Etobicoke Lakeshore: LAMP Community Health Centre (185 Fifth Street). They will also work one day per week from the Toronto Environmental Alliance headquarters (30 Duncan Street).

Various forms of training will be provided by Toronto Environmental Alliance to ensure the candidate has the skills, tools and firm knowledge of TEA’s initiatives to confidently do their outreach work in the community. The candidate will develop clear work objectives in consultation with the Project Manager and regular check-ins will keep the candidate on track to accomplish their goals. This is an excellent opportunity to network with other environmental non-profit organizations, community groups, neighbourhood associations, and residents of the Etobicoke Lakeshore community. This is an opportunity to practice communication skills, organization skills, event organizing skills, managerial skills, and presentation skills. The candidate will also learn about many local environmental issues and events happening throughout Toronto, as well as have the opportunity to interact with Torontonians on those issues.

This position will be of interest to post-secondary students in both the physical sciences and social sciences. Students studying environmental science, the life sciences, nursing and other health related fields would benefit from this position because they will deepen their understanding of environmental issues and impacts on human health. Students studying public relations, public policy, sociology, urban studies, community development, communications and political science will benefit because TEA works closely with the public, the media, Toronto City Hall staff and elected officials.

Students will learn about the policy making process, civic engagement, municipal government and how to improve the quality of life for residents in the City of Toronto. Related to all fields is the opportunity to practice communication and teaching skills as students undertake outreach activities in the local community.

Application Procedure

Submit a cover letter and resume by email to [email protected] to the attention of "Heather Marshall". Please include "Outreach Coordinator - Etobicoke Lakeshore" in your application.

Application Due Sunday May 3rd - submit earlier if possible.

TEA hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer. Unfortunately, TEA’s office is not in a wheelchair accessible building.

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.