Join PLT Canada, advancing environmental education and forest literacy nationwide! Lead our dynamic team to expand our reach and impact. Develop innovative strategies, foster partnerships, and shape the next generation of environmental stewards. Enjoy competitive benefits and the opportunity to make a difference! Apply now to grow with us!

Summary

Position: Director, Education and Forest Literacy

Supervisor: VP, Education or VP, Career Pathways

Location: Ottawa, Ontario (hybrid) or Flexible within Canada (remote)

Status: Regular, Full-Time, Exempt from Overtime

ABOUT US:

Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT Canada), a non-profit charity in Canada, works to advance environmental education, forest literacy and career pathways using trees and forests as windows on the world. We offer a lifetime of learning from early childhood through adulthood through our award-winning curriculum resources, programs for young adults to explore forests and green careers, and professional development for educators. Together, we are growing future forest and conservation leaders. PLT Canada is an initiative of SFI.

We are proud to provide our employees with a collaborative, dynamic, and rewarding professional experience, with a competitive compensation and benefits package and growth opportunities. Our benefits include (but are not limited to):

Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
Retirement plan with generous employer contribution and additional matching contribution, up to 11% of your salary, provided you also contribute 4%.
Paid Time Off: generous vacation policy, ranging from 2 weeks to 5 weeks increasing with experience, all 13 federal holidays, plus 4 floating holidays annually that may be used to observe additional religious, cultural, or traditional occasions that are meaningful to you, and 12 sick days annually.
Educational assistance and investment in professional development.

ABOUT YOU:

As the Director of Education, you will collaborate with a diverse and multidisciplinary team to grow PLT Canada’s environmental education and forest literacy program. You will lead the implementation of the national program, growing our reach and impact through our high-quality environmental education and forest literacy resources and professional development programming for formal and nonformal educators working with students from kindergarten to post-secondary levels. As part of that, you will work to grow PLT Canada’s reach to educators and school counselors and nurture relationships with school districts and other strategic partners. This position offers the opportunity to tailor our programs to address the unique circumstances of youth from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous youth, new Canadians, members of visible minorities, and youth living with a disability. Your work will ensure that our programs meet real needs and are delivered effectively and inclusively. Above all, your passion for environmental education will be the driving force behind the development of the next generation of environmental stewards.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Environmental Education (75%)

Lead and grow the reach of PLT Canada’s environmental education professional development programming and curriculum materials, especially the “Explore your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide”, in Canada at all levels of formal education: teachers in training, current educators, schools, school boards, and superintendents. (See latest materials in the picture below.)
Develop and implement innovative strategies to introduce pre-service teachers to PLT Canada curriculum and professional development programs, fostering an appreciation for environmental education from the beginning of their careers.
Lead implementation of online, hybrid and in-person professional development programming, including workshops and webinars, for formal and nonformal educators to help them incorporate environmental education and PLT Canada into their classroom or program, integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge as appropriate.
Design and implement hybrid train-the-trainer programming to grow a network of trainers that can expand our ability to deliver professional development programming throughout Canada.
Align PLT Canada’s resources to provincial/territorial curriculum, UN ESGs, and Council of Ministers of Education Global Competencies.
Build and leverage a strong network of key decision makers within the provincial and territorial government, educational institutions, corporate partners, and community organizations to expand program awareness of PLT Canada’s Lifetime of Learning curriculum resources, hands-on learning activities, and professional development offerings.
Develop and execute innovative strategies to engage school boards and ensure their leadership values the contributions of PLT Canada’s to learning outcomes and relevance to professional development.
Contribute to the development of grants and sponsorship proposals or other funding initiatives, as needed.
Contribute to Canadian government relations, advocacy for nature-based education and for integrating PLT into education, forest literacy, and career pathways initiatives and programs. Secure long-term partnerships and compete for funding through alignments with government programs and priorities.
Establish metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact of PLT Canada resources and professional development partnerships and programs.
Leverage and collaborate with existing SFI/PLT Canada partners, including but not limited to, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Earth Rangers Outward Bound, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Forest Ontario, Inside Education, , and various forestry associations to identify opportunities for joint initiatives, grant funding, and knowledge-sharing.
Establish new partnerships that strengthen PLT Canada’s environmental education and forest literacy program and grow our reach and impact.
Provide training to youth leaders and others who work with children and young adults in nonformal settings to help them incorporate environmental education and PLT Canada into their programming.

Forest Literacy/ Career Pathways (25%)

Working with career pathways team, under the leadership of our VP of Career Pathways, expand the uptake of PLT Canada’s career pathways resources and programs, by building relationships with career counselors and others who guide youth in their careers.
Establish action-oriented relationships with organizations across the country, prioritizing outreach to Indigenous and newcomer youth, visible minorities, urban and rural Canadians, and youth living with disabilities.
Implement the delivery of PLT/PLT Canada's Forest Literacy Framework, ensuring effective communication and partnership strategies.
Collaborate with SFI's education teams in Canada and the U.S. to effectively deliver educational programs and resources, promoting forest literacy and career pathways to guidance counselors and educators.
Provide support for PLT and SFI teams as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position will supervise and support the Senior Coordinator, Forest Education. This position will also manage various consulting relationships. This individual will consistently interact with about a dozen of our lifetime of learning team, and our communications and marketing team.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Physical requirements include working from a desk at a computer for prolonged periods of time. This position requires occasional travel mostly throughout Canada and occasionally to the U.S., up to 30% of the time.

WORK LOCATION

PLT Canada has an office in Ottawa, Ontario. Individuals that work elsewhere in Canada will be considered, provided they are in close proximity to major commuting hubs. Employees located within commuting distance of the Ottawa office are required to work 2-3 days per week in the office.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in education, forestry, natural resources, business, or a related field. MBA or master’s degree in education preferred
Minimum 8 years of relevant work experience required, with 5+ years’ experience leading educational programs (environmental education, conservation education, experiential learning, or STEM program experience preferred)
A strong network of strategic partners, including in government and district school boards, and highly skilled at managing a diverse network
Experience and a working knowledge of the forest sector preferred. Respect for the role of sustainable forest management in sustaining community, our environment, and our economy
Deep respect for Indigenous rights and contributions to environmental sustainability, and experience integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into educational programming
Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively address and influence a wide variety of audiences and decision-makers
Deep knowledge of the needs and priorities of formal, nonformal, and pre-service educators, the education sector, and conservation and environmental education
Demonstrated experience implementing high-quality professional development programming for educators
Demonstrated experience with youth-focused programs, projects, resources, tools, and concepts related to environmental education
Strong knowledge of the Canadian education system, policies, and challenges faced by underserved communities
Proven track record of building and managing successful partnerships with educational institutions, ENGOs and other stakeholders

QUALIFICATIONS/PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

The ideal candidate will bring:

Passion for design and implementation of environmental education programs and career pathways, with working knowledge of environment, science, and forest-focused curriculum
Track record for project management of concurrent, multiple projects including prioritizing activities and managing timelines
Experience collaborating with diverse audiences, including Indigenous communities, and creating differentiated learning designs to ensure accessibility and relevance
Positive attitude, high energy, and a sound work ethic, with the ability to both act independently and work cooperatively in a team environment
Demonstrated ability to be a problem solver and a utility player
Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to effectively plan, analyze, and meet deadlines
Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (particularly Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
Proficiency with group collaboration tools like Asana and ClickUP
Bilingualism (English and French) an asset

APPLY:

Applications DUE March 22, 2024. Early applications encouraged.

Apply on our website at https://forests.org/jointhesfiteam/

We strive to be a diverse and inclusive organization that strongly supports the growth and development of its people. As such, we realize that not every candidate will perfectly meet all the requirements outlined in this (or any) posting. If you believe you bring the “must have” experiences, skills, and qualifications, and are confident that you can learn the rest, we encourage you to go ahead and apply for a position with us.

The salary range for this position is $90,000 to $130,000; the successful candidate’s actual salary will be dependent upon a number of factors, including geography, education/training, experience, time-in-role, management qualifications (as applicable) and skillset.

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SFI is proud to provide our employees with a collaborative, dynamic, and rewarding professional experience, with a competitive compensation and benefits package and growth opportunities. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and being an equal opportunity employer. Our team represents a broad range of cultures, education, disciplines, and work and life experiences, and we strive to leverage these differences in our daily work. We will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We believe in creating an empowered and supportive team that is committed to advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations.

Learn more about SFI Staff Culture, read our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy, and review our Indigenous Relations Commitment.

Compensation Information