Environmental Equity, Justice & Health

Position: Community Outreach Worker - Clean Water
Organization: Canadian Environmental Law Association
Location: in-person at CELA’s Toronto office at 55 University Avenue, with the potential for arranging up to one to two days per week remote work

Full-Time, Term contract (January 2025 to June 2026), Toronto
Application Deadline – Monday, December 2nd at 5 pm

Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a legal aid clinic dedicated to environmental equity, justice, and health. Founded in 1970, CELA is one of the oldest environmental advocates for environmental protection in the country. With funding from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), CELA provides free legal services relating to environmental justice in Ontario, including representing low-income and vulnerable or disadvantaged communities in litigation. CELA also works on environmental legal education and reform initiatives.

CELA is currently hiring a full-time Community Outreach Worker for 18 months to advance our Healthy Great Lakes program. CELA encourages applicants from equity‐seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are of Indigenous descent, members of LGBTQI2S, persons with disabilities, members of racialized communities, and women.

As part of CELA’s Healthy Great Lakes program, the Community Outreach Worker will focus on empowering vulnerable communities to protect their drinking water. They will represent CELA in communities across Ontario, providing legal education to both impacted communities and decision-makers. In response to community questions and concerns, they will research and produce accessible communication materials. And, in addition to representing CELA through media and presentations to both the public and municipal governments, they will also collaborate with a broad network of individuals and organizations concerned about threats to our drinking water.

Reporting to the Deputy Executive Director, and working collaboratively with the Engagement and Communications Coordinator, the Community Outreach Worker will be responsible for achieving the deliverables and overseeing the strategic objectives in CELA’s Healthy Great Lakes program, which seeks to ensure safe drinking water for everyone by encouraging law and policy reform to restore the waters of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence basin.

Experience and Competencies Required:

• Commitment to public health and environmental justice as well as the protection and restoration of the waters of the Great Lakes and St Lawrence River basins.
• Strong written and oral communication skills to support engagement with different audiences, including government decision-makers, impacted communities, clients, media, and partner organizations.
• Knowledge of policy frameworks related to protecting human health and the environment. Experience with water policy is a significant asset.
• Research and analytical skills to respond to policy developments, evaluate law reform opportunities and ensure factual accuracy of organizational positions.
• Ability to work independently, managing individual priorities, while collaborating with a team is essential.
• Digital skills to produce materials, represent CELA in online spaces, and communicate effectively with different audiences.
• Undergraduate degree, diploma or equivalent experience.
• Ability to communicate in French would be an asset.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct outreach, engage and build constructive relationships with stakeholders, partners, water champions, and communities.
• Monitor, research and analyze legislative and policy developments relating to freshwater in Ontario.
• Develop educational materials and toolkits, including presentations, briefs, articles and Social Media posts to inform the public of their rights as well as opportunities for community engagement and policy reform.
• Conduct public education activities, including public speaking engagements and workshops.
• Organize and facilitate meetings with partners, community members and colleagues.
• Collaborate with CELA’s Engagement and Communications Coordinator on communication and engagement opportunities and work planning.
• Track and report on project progress indicators.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

CELA values, but does not require, language capacities in addition to English, as well as lived experience relevant to environmental legal needs of equity-seeking groups. For example, CELA values persons with lived experience in local and Indigenous knowledge systems, as well as experience working with racialized, vulnerable and diverse communities who CELA serves.

CELA offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The per annum equivalent salary is approximately $79,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position also includes enrollment in our health benefits program and an additional CELA contribution to retirement benefits. The position is unionized.

The position is in-person at CELA’s Toronto office at 55 University Avenue, with the potential for arranging up to one to two days per week remote work. There is some travel within Ontario expected with the position.

CELA will begin reviewing applications received by Monday December 2nd, 2024 at 5 pm and will continue to receive applications until the position is satisfactorily filled.

To be considered, please submit your cover letter and resumé to Tracy Tucker at: tracy@cela.ca Please submit your cover letter and resumé as a single PDF file.

Please indicate you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.

CELA thanks all candidates in advance for your interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please advise if you require any accommodations.