Environmental education, Science teaching

Position: Lead Environmental Educator
Organization: EcoSpark
Location: This position is based out of EcoSpark’s office in Toronto, ON, with extensive travel throughout the GTA. Some workdays may be hybrid.

Main Functions: The Lead Environmental Educator will work with the Citizen Science Program Manager to implement EcoSpark’s community science programs and provide support to EcoSpark’s day-to-day operations.

EcoSpark programs engage students, schools and volunteers in community science activities that support environmental monitoring for conservation.

Programs focus on communities with the greatest needs, including schools lacking access to environmental programs.

Participants gain STEM skills and learn how to support local greenspaces, biodiversity, and climate resiliency.

The Lead Environmental Educator supports a small team of part-time and seasonal Environmental Education Assistants facilitating workshops for students, teachers, and community members. The Lead Environmental Educator co-facilitates sessions on-site across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and provides training, mentorship, and coordination for the team. In addition to program delivery and scheduling/logistics support, the Lead Environmental Educator will manage workshop details and correspondence with teachers and schools.

Position Responsibilities/Tasks:

Community Science Programs 80%

• Lead community science sessions multiple days per week, primarily for students grades 6-12, grounded in EcoSpark’s existing School Watch content. Typically schools book 2 sessions (classes) per day, each session 2.5 hours duration.
• Lead some adult community science sessions for teachers and the general public (including volunteer and corporate group sessions) at parks and work places.
• Introduce environmental concepts through engaging land-based education practices.
• Guide participants in environmental monitoring activity protocols such as tree measurements and bird surveys, supporting data collection, accuracy, and access.
• Train and support a team of interns, recent graduates, retired teachers, and other seasonal program facilitators. Schedule biweekly staffing assignments, accounting for shifting availability, transportation, and equipment needs.
• Flexibly adapt to outdoor program delivery and some indoor program delivery at school grounds, classrooms, offices, and park locations across the GTA, plus occasional virtual sessions.
• Provide ongoing team support and coaching (for example, relaying special needs in consultation with teachers, adapting content for various delivery circumstances), and responding to situations as they arise in dynamic school environments. Elevate concerns to managers as needed.
• Assist with equipment organization, inventory and maintenance.
• Assist in curating participant-entered data from the various community science platforms (for example, iNaturalist) for use in advancing research and conservation.
• Lead communication with each booking contact before and after sessions by consulting on logistics and curriculum alignment, providing resources, and sharing session results.
• Assist the Citizen Science Program Manager in program promotion, content development and research as needed.
• Assist in writing and editing foundation grants and reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Organizational Support 20%

• Assist with EcoSpark’s meetings and events.
• Assist the Executive Director and other core staff with equity and inclusion development, partnership development, and other policies and strategies aligned with the mission.
• Help to support and mentor student intern(s) and volunteers on an ongoing basis.
• Work with the Executive Director and Citizen Science Program Manager to plan and review program budgets.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• University degree or college diploma in environmental science, education, or related field. Ontario Certified Teachers (OCT) encouraged to apply.
• 2-3 years experience teaching, facilitating outdoor engagement, or delivering workshops for youth and community members.
• Non-profit experience is an asset.
• Experience with or knowledge of environmental community science monitoring projects such as following protocols for scientific fieldwork tasks.
• Good identification skills of Southern Ontario flora/fauna, or land-based skills, or ability to provide field naturalist interpretation using identification keys.
• Excellent customer service, time management, team building, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Comfort working in various weather conditions year-round.
• Have or willing to acquire First Aid Certification - Standard First Aid – CPR-C or higher.
• Valid G Ontario Drivers’ Licence and regular access to a reliable vehicle is required to support program delivery.
• Ability to pass Vulnerable Sector Checks.

Working Conditions: This position is based out of EcoSpark’s office at 601 Christie St, Suite 174, Toronto, ON M6G4C7, with extensive travel throughout the GTA, especially during the primary program delivery seasons (fall and spring). On days without scheduled programs, the working location may be hybrid.

The Lead Environmental Educator is entitled to use EcoSpark’s Enterprise CarShare membership as eligible.

The Lead Environmental Educator may from time to time be required to work more than 7.5 hours per day and occasionally on weekends with in lieu hour compensation.

Reports to: Dana Buchbinder - Citizen Science Program Manager

Application Deadline: August 23rd at 11:59pm

Dates and Duration: 12 month full-time contract beginning around September 1st, 2026

Compensation: 37.5 hours per week at $20 to $23/hour, commensurate with experience.

Application Process: To apply, please email a cover letter and resume in a single PDF to: jobs@ecospark.ca

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

About EcoSpark

The EcoSpark mission is to empower communities to take an active role in protecting and sustaining their local environments. We do this by giving people tools for education, monitoring and influencing positive change. For 30 years, EcoSpark has engaged volunteers, youth and their communities with hands-on programs to build skills for environmental monitoring and conservation. We have a strong reputation in the areas of education, community science, community engagement and collaboration. To date, we have directly worked with over 100,000 youth and adults from across southern Ontario in over 20 watersheds.

EcoSpark collaborates with local school boards and community partners to deliver programs across the GTA. Approximately 60% of sessions are delivered to school and community groups that lack equal access to greenspace and STEM programming.

EcoSpark has been expanding our land-based learning, digital mapping, and science communication formats to help program participants apply their environmental monitoring results for conservation. We mentor young environmental leaders to map and share key indicators of environmental health in their communities. For more information, visit ecospark.ca.

About School Watch

School Watch is a program where classes learn to conduct community science projects on school grounds. Students engage in real scientific research and learn to assess and support biodiversity and climate resiliency for local ecosystems. We deliver grade 6-12 activities on curriculum-linked environmental projects such as tree inventories, soils, and bird surveys. EcoSpark partners with school boards to reduce barriers for program participants. School Watch allows students to contribute meaningful data while learning about ecosystem health, STEM skills, and positive environmental leadership actions in our communities. Ecosystem findings are used by schools, individuals, communities, researchers and policy makers to plan conservation actions. For more information, visit ecospark.ca/school-watch .

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