Status: full-time, permanent (dependent on funding)
Location: Bathurst and Bloor, CSI Annex, Toronto, ON
Closing date: January 24, 2016 (midnight)
Background on Ontario EcoSchools
Ontario EcoSchools is an environmental education and certification program for grades K-12 that helps school communities develop both ecological literacy and environmental practices to become environmentally responsible citizens and reduce the ecological footprint of schools. Ontario EcoSchools is administered by York University. Please visit our website for more information at http://www.ontarioecoschools.org.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Director will be responsible for the oversight and implementation of the Ontario EcoSchools program in support of its strategic objectives. The Program Director will lead the programs team to ensure the effective development, delivery, and ongoing evaluation of certification assessments, workshops and webinars, events, program resources, and support services to a network of over 1,750 schools and 53 school boards. The Program Director will also collaborate with the leadership team in overall strategic and operational planning, partnership development, community engagement, reporting, and fundraising. The ideal candidate is passionate about environmental education and demonstrates a strong track record in project management, change management, team leadership, and stakeholder relations.
Duties and Responsibilities
Program Planning & Administration
Develop and implement an annual program planning cycle
Lead the development of project operating plans that are aligned with overall strategic directions and annual program goals
Ensure the highest standards of delivery of all programs and services (certification assessments, workshops and webinars, events, program resources, and network support)
Stay current with trends in environmental education and implement new and innovative methods for student and school community engagement
Develop, monitor and evaluate key performance indicators to support increased participation, staff growth and success
Develop strategic collaborations with stakeholders to increase support and resources to schools and school boards participating in the program
Report weekly, monthly, and quarterly objectives and performance to the leadership team
Document best practices and develop program policies and procedures
Work closely with communications team to capture best practices, program feedback, newsletter features, school stories, and program images in outreach strategies
Ensure fulfillment of all contractual obligations with funders in collaboration with leadership team
Team Management
Support the growth and development of 3+ staff through coaching, training, feedback, and evaluation
Oversee the recruitment, selection, training, and supervision of program staff, including 25+ temporary staff
Liaise with York University on program staff-related HR matters
Financial Management & Budgeting
Manage the program operating budget, including regular reporting on actuals and projections
Ensure program-related expenses are allocated to appropriate cost centres according to funding agreements
Liaise with York University on program-related finance, accounting, and procurement matters
Community Engagement and Outreach
Manage outreach to new school boards and maintain relationships to strengthen the Ontario EcoSchools provincial network
Promote the Ontario EcoSchools program to senior/central school board staff to facilitate and increase participation
On occasion, facilitate Ontario EcoSchools workshops and webinars engaging students, staff, and school communities in the program
Work closely with communications team to create effective outreach and engagement strategies and campaigns
Manage collaborations with like-minded organizations to facilitate sharing of environmental education tools and resources to the Ontario EcoSchools community
Work with government ministries to ensure alignment between the Ontario EcoSchools program and the government’s guidelines and policies
Support the collection and analysis of feedback from the Ontario EcoSchools community to ensure success and continuous improvement
Strategic Planning & Fundraising
Support the development of long-term strategic goals and annual operating plans
Provide recommendations for program innovation and development based on performance data and external trends
Support revenue generation through proposal writing, delivering presentations, relationship management, and reporting
Qualifications (required)
Successful completion of a post-secondary degree in education, environmental science/studies, business administration, or related field
5-7 years of relevant professional experience, with a minimum of 2 years in a senior management role (experience with environmental education programs preferred)
Experience in budgeting and financial management
Experience working with educators and/or school board officials
Strong team leadership and managerial skills
Working knowledge of project management tools and methodologies
Excellent public speaking, facilitation, relationship management and communication skills
Excellent organizational, research, evaluation, and report writing skills
Resourcefulness, initiative, and flexibility to function collaboratively as part of a small team
Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Valid Ontario Class “G” driver’s license
Well-developed knowledge of environmental issues and environmental education, particularly as they occur in Ontario’s formal education system
Asset (desired)
Experience working within the nonprofit sector
Experience or familiarity with the Ontario EcoSchools program
Fluency in French
Experience in partnership development and stakeholder relations
Experience working with WordPress, Salesforce, Google Apps, Adobe Connect, and/or Adobe Creative applications
Access to vehicle
We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume in a single PDF document to:
hiring@ontarioecoschools.org
by midnight January 24, 2016. Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls please.