Summer jobs, Student jobs

Summer positions: Community Engagement Coordinator
Project: Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup
Locations: Barrie-Innisfil / Whitby-Cobourg / Hamilton / Bruce Peninsula/Georgian Bay, Ontario

About Us

Pollution Probe is a Canadian charitable, environmental organization founded in 1969 by University of Toronto students and faculty. Over the past five decades, we have been at the forefront of progress on a range of environmental issues. We pursue environmental gains by working productively with governments, industry, and the public, with a steadfast commitment to Clean Air, Clean Water, and a Healthy Planet. We use a systems approach, which embraces three principal drivers for progress: technology and innovation, policy, and behavioural change.

About the Position

Pollution Probe is looking for Community Engagement Coordinators in various communities in Ontario, primarily to support the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, a joint initiative with the Council of the Great Lakes Region. The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup is the largest initiative of its kind in North America, using innovative capture technology to prevent and remove plastic and other waste at sites throughout the Great Lakes. Through research, collaboration, outreach and education, we are identifying sources of plastic entering our waterways and highlighting how government, industry, and communities can work together to end plastic pollution in our Great Lakes.

We are currently seeking Community Engagement Coordinators in the following areas:

• Barrie-Innisfil (Lake Simcoe)
• Whitby-Cobourg (Lake Ontario)
• Hamilton (Lake Ontario)
• Bruce Peninsula/ Georgian Bay (Georgian Bay)

Candidates should be located in one of these areas with the ability to travel to select partner locations (typically two sites per area) for the purpose of data collection and local community engagement efforts. This season, our initiative will be unveiling new mobile plastic capture technologies that may require additional support and/or the ability to transport to various sites.

Duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Collecting data from plastic capture devices at local marina(s) and other sites (e.g. beaches) and reporting on findings. This will include organizing waste characterizations (i.e., waste audits sorting and determining different plastic types based on a standard set of protocols) at least once a week. This may also involve support for daily device maintenance where located in close proximity to the site(s).
• Establishing relationships with local partners in support of the effective use of plastic capture technology within the community.
• Recruitment of local volunteers, groups, businesses or other communities to get involved, either with waste audits or other Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup engagement activities.
• Developing educational and promotional materials for waste characterization results (e.g., creatively communicating the data, interesting findings, content of specific interest to the local community).
• Organizing and/or hosting regularly scheduled local events in support of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup and plastic pollution prevention. These may include:
• Leveraging local events, festivals, markets or opportunities to be visible in the community
• Local beach cleanups or other opportunities to contribute to plastic pollution reduction and the goals of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup
• Convening webinars or workshops
• Developing materials related to event promotion (e.g., social media content, content for local newsletters or websites
• Communications activities associated with promoting other local community efforts (e.g., video content, social media takeover day, community spotlight/interest stories, blogs)
• Training and support for transportation of mobile plastic capture technology, as required in discussion with the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup team
• Other duties/activities as required to contribute to the objectives of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup

Qualifications

We are looking for individuals who are willing to get their hands dirty (literally!), while generating excitement about the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup and educating communities and the public about the importance of addressing plastic waste in our waterbodies.

The ideal candidate(s) will be ambassadors for the initiative and should possess demonstrated professionalism, judgment, and discretion in dealing with the public.

Additional qualifications include:

• Strong interest and background in community engagement and a desire to contribute to keeping the Great Lakes free from plastic pollution.
• Willingness and ability to operate plastic capture technology, including proficiency with basic controls and functionalities (training will be provided). Knowledge or eagerness to learn how to use common tools for minor repairs of equipment, as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to show initiative and share new ideas to grow the initiative in local Great Lakes communities.
• Adaptability to new skills, tasks and changes in equipment and/or procedures.
• Willingness to handle debris found in the water (e.g., organic material, garbage, etc.) using appropriate equipment and to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Ability to travel to locations within the area to conduct site-visits, carry out cleanup activities and/or attend events. This may require access to a personal vehicle.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks and complete deliverables on time and with a high degree of quality and care.
• Ability to perform heavy lifting up to 10 kg.
• Ability to work independently, with exceptional planning and organization skills.
• Preference will be given to those pursuing, or who have completed, a degree in environmental studies, community engagement, or a related field.

Details:

The position offers a rate of $18.50 per hour, commensurate with experience, plus related travel expenses.

The candidate will be expected to work approximately 35 hours per week and be willing to commit until the end of the summer.

We are committed to ensuring this position is accessible, inclusive and welcoming, regardless of ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender or identity. We aim to appropriately support diverse forms of experience over specific credentials.

How to Apply:

Please send your cover letter and resume to hr@pollutionprobe.org with the reference GLPC 2025 Community Engagement Coordinator – (AREA/location you are applying for) in the subject line.

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

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