Education and Relations Assistant

International Institute for Sustainable Development; Northwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental research organization located in Northwestern Ontario is seeking a motivated Education and Relations Assistant. The role involves coordinating educational programs, developing materials, and engaging with the community. Ideal candidates have a degree in education or related fields, strong communication skills, and experience in outreach. Opportunities to work in diverse conditions and collaborate with local partners are integral to this position. Join us to inspire future freshwater enthusiasts.

Qualifications

• Enrolment in or a completed degree/diploma in education, communications, science, environment, or related discipline.
• Experience in communications, outreach, event planning, public speaking, interpretation, and/or public education.
• Strong interest or experience in communicating science and environmental topics to the public or youth.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Experience operating small motorized vessels is an asset.
• Ability to do fieldwork involving manual labour, such as hiking and lifting heavy objects.
• Willing to work long hours in diverse weather conditions.
• Willing to live in shared accommodations in a remote location.
• Knowledge of French or Anishinaabemowin is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating education events and programs at the IISD-ELA facility.
• Supporting coordination and delivery of Indigenous relations programming.
• Communicating IISD-ELA goals and research during tours and events.
• Developing educational content and materials.
• Delivering presentations to schools and First Nations communities.
• Building relationships with teachers and the public.
• Working with IISD Communications on public engagement materials.
• Providing research support, including field sampling and data entry.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job description

IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is the world’s freshwater laboratory. A series of 58 lakes and their watersheds in northwestern Ontario, Canada, IISD-ELA is the only place in the world where scientists can research on and manipulate real lakes to build a more accurate and complete picture of what human activity is doing to freshwater lakes. The findings from over 50 years of ground‑breaking research have rewritten environmental policy around the world—from mitigating algal blooms to reducing how much mercury gets into our waterways—and aim to keep fresh water clean around the world for generations to come.

IISD-ELA is operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)—an independent think tank headquartered in Winnipeg situated on Treaty 1 Territory—the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininiw (Cree), Anisininew (Ojibwe Cree), Dene, and Dakota Nations, and the homeland of the Red River Métis Nation. The IISD-ELA field station is situated on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

About the position

The unique nature of the IISD-ELA facility and our whole‑ecosystem approach to freshwater science provides an opportunity to deliver a different kind of educational programming and community relationship building for a wide variety of audiences. IISD‑ELA aims to inspire and train the general public and the next generation of freshwater enthusiasts, providing a platform for science education, collaboration, and innovation. This season, IISD‑ELA is seeking a motivated individual to help attain that goal through work on various projects with our education, Indigenous relations, and communications teams.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating education events and programs at the IISD-ELA facility.
• Supporting the coordination and delivery of education and Indigenous relations programming at ELA including tours, field courses, ceremonies, presentations, etc.
• Communicating IISD-ELA goals, current and past research, initiatives, impact, history, etc., during tours, community events, and other opportunities.
• Developing content and materials with support from the Education and Relations Officers to be used for education related to ELA science and its relevance to the broader public.
• Developing and delivering presentations to local schools and First Nations communities.
• Networking and relationship building with teachers, partners, and the general public.
• Working with IISD Communications staff on public engagement materials related to ELA science, as well as promoting ELA through various social media platforms.
• Providing general research support to various teams as needed, including through field sampling and/or data entry and analysis.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The Education and Relations Assistant position is competitive, and the qualifying candidate must have the following qualifications:

• Enrolment in or a completed degree/diploma in a university or college program leading to a degree in education, communications, science, environment, or related discipline.
• Experience in the field(s) of communications, outreach, event planning, public speaking, interpretation, and/or public education.
• A strong interest or experience in scientific communications and the value of communicating science and environmental topics to the general public and/or youth audiences.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Experience operating small motorized vessels with an outboard motor is an asset.
• Ability to do fieldwork involving manual labour, such as hiking and lifting heavy objects (up to 20 kgs).
• Willing to work long hours in diverse weather conditions.
• Willing to live in shared accommodations in a remote location.
• Knowledge of French or Anishinaabemowin is an asset.

Must possess or be willing to obtain a valid

• First Aid/CPR certificate
• Pleasure Craft Operators card
• Driver’s license
• ATV/UTV certification
• Valid criminal record check and vulnerable sector verification.

Work Conditions

The IISD-ELA research site is located remotely in