Sustainability Specialist

Smith + Andersen; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Sustainability Specialist to support impactful sustainability initiatives across Canada. This role involves collaborating with a dynamic team to develop project-specific strategies, manage green building certifications, and contribute to the design of sustainable, low-carbon buildings. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented and possess strong technical expertise in sustainable design principles. Join a forward-thinking company that values mentorship and quality work, and be part of a collaborative culture recognized as one of Canada's Best Workplaces. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the field of sustainable architecture.

Benefits

Flexible hours

Health Benefits Program

Retirement Savings Plan

Employee Share Ownership Program

Purchase Time Off Program

Transit Subsidy Program

Community and social events

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience in sustainability or related fields.
• LEED Accredited Professional designation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sustainability strategies for projects.
• Coordinate green building certifications and documentation.

Skills

Sustainable Building Design

Project Management

Life Cycle Analysis

Collaboration

Critical Thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture

Diploma in Environmental Science

Tools

OneClick LCA

Tally

Athena

Arc Skoru

LEED Online

Revit

Bluebeam

Job description

Role: Sustainability Specialist
Location: Toronto, ON
Job Type: Hybrid – WFH + In Office

Who We Are

Footprint is a consulting practice comprised of a highly-specialized team of professionals dedicated entirely to sustainability and is part of Smith + Andersen, a trusted, Canadian, multi-disciplinary engineering firm with ten offices in five provinces and approximately 700 employees.

At Footprint, our employees contribute to some of the most sustainable building design projects in Canada. The work we do has a meaningful impact on the community by contributing to landmark projects such as hospitals, transit stations, parks, federal and provincial government buildings, and post-secondary institutions.

Our values drive and define everything we do, demonstrating a deep commitment to sustainability, mentorship, and quality work that spans nearly six decades in business. In addition, we are proud to have been certified as a Great Place to Work and selected as one of Canada’s Best Workplaces for the highly collaborative culture we’ve built and for empowering employees to do great work!

This Opportunity

The Footprint Sustainability Specialist will play a key role in supporting sustainability initiatives on projects across Canada. Working closely with senior team members, you will help develop and implement project-specific sustainability strategies, coordinate green building certifications, and contribute to the design of high-performance, low-carbon, and resilient buildings. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable managing multiple tasks while collaborating with internal and external teams. Their technical expertise in sustainable building design, materials, and life cycle analysis will support our mission of creating healthier, more sustainable spaces.

Why Choose Footprint?

In addition to an exciting career filled with meaningful work, we offer:

• Flexible hours and half-day Fridays (all year round)
• Comprehensive Group Health Benefits Program, including a Health Spending Account
• Group Retirement Savings Plan (Employer and Employee Contributions)
• Employee Share Ownership Program (ESOP)
• Purchase Time off Program
• Transit Subsidy Program
• Wide variety of community and social events
• Great Place to Work-Certified
• Best Workplaces for Mental Wellness

What You'll Do:

• Collaborate with a dynamic and ambitious team delivering sustainability projects across Canada.
• Work closely with senior team members to develop project-specific sustainability strategies and recommendations.
• Support senior team members on a variety of projects including LEED, WELL, Fitwel, and Municipal building standards providing coordination, documentation, and green building strategies.
• Liaise with internal and external design teams to establish project strategies and coordinate documentation for certification.
• Review and interpret architectural, mechanical, and electrical design drawings and shop drawings as well as other technical and statistical information relating to LEED and other sustainability projects.
• Conduct life cycle analysis and Embodied Carbon Emissions Assessments using applicable tools such as OneClick LCA, Tally, and Athena.
• Support senior team members on climate resiliency projects including LEED resiliency credits, Climate Lens Assessments, GICB incentive assessments, climate risk and vulnerability assessments, and other projects pursuing climate adaptation and resiliency.
• Coordinate and prepare documentation and submittals as required by the project.
• Assist with project tracking, reporting, documentation, and communication related to sustainability objectives.
• Support the creation of presentations, reports, interactive workshops, and sustainability planning documents.

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in architecture, engineering, building science, sustainability, environmental science, or a related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in sustainability, architecture, engineering, real estate, or construction, with a focus on sustainability project management.
• LEED Accredited Professional designation with specialty preferred (or commitment to obtaining within 6 months).
• Strong understanding of sustainable building principles, including energy performance, material selection, and integrated design.
• Familiarity with green building certifications including LEED Green Building Rating System, WELL Building Standard, Fitwel, CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard, and other sustainable design rating systems.
• Familiarity with project specifications and ability to understand architectural, mechanical, electrical, and structural drawings.
• Familiarity with digital platforms such as Arc Skoru, LEED Online, and Green Globes Questionnaire.
• Familiarity with LCA tools including OneClick LCA, Tally, Athena, and others to support embodied carbon performance modelling.
• High proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Bluebeam, and familiarity with Revit is desirable.
• Ability to think critically and strategically and be able to conduct self-directed research and analyses.
• Eager to expand knowledge and technical skills while proactively pushing for higher levels of performance.
• Ability to work on multiple projects and prioritize and plan work effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members.

About Footprint

Founded in 2011 with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto, and Ottawa, the Footprint team draws extensively from our technical background on a diverse range of projects – many of which are leading national examples of sustainable design. Our team has earned the trust of public and private clients across Canada, and we consider it our responsibility to provide reliable and unparalleled service through every stage of a project. Footprint is a proud member of Smith + Andersen, a trusted, Canadian, multi-disciplinary engineering firm with ten offices in five provinces and approximately 700 employees.

Accommodation

Appropriate accommodations will be provided to candidates upon request throughout the recruitment and hiring process. Successful applicants will be advised of Smith + Andersen’s accommodation policies at the time the employment offer is extended. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Diversity

Smith + Andersen is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates of any age, culture, subculture, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationality, race, ethnicity, family status, religion, mental or physical status, or veteran status.

Recruitment Agencies

Smith + Andersen welcomes interest by individual applicants. For resumes or applications submitted by agencies or recruiters with which Smith + Andersen does not have an agreement in place, Smith + Andersen will not pay any referral fee. Unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies or recruiters will be deemed to have been referred without fee or other charges.

Smith + Andersen is an equal opportunity employer.