Drone Pilot / Drone Operator

Position: Drone Operator & Educator
Organization: The Starfish Canada
Location: Facilitators must be located in Toronto/GTA, ideally in the Peel Region, to support in-person workshop delivery. This is an in-person position requiring travel to schools across the Peel District School Board.

• Compensation: $2,000 flat fee
• Scope of work: 6 workshops in the month of April (see dates below), plus approximately 10 hours of pre-workshop preparation to be completed in March.
• Term: March - April, with opportunity for on-call opportunities thereafter
• Anticipated start date: March 16, 2026
• *Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

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About the opportunity

The Starfish Canada is seeking a knowledgeable and engaging Casual Educator with a valid Ontario drone license to support and co-facilitate an in-person drone workshop series. This role is ideal for someone who is experienced in drone operations, enjoys teaching, and can contribute to both hands-on flight activities and the development of workshop materials.

This role will collaborate with the lead workshop facilitator to deliver drone-centred workshops for students in grades 3-12.

Due to the requirements of piloting this program, to be eligible for this position, applicants must fit all of the following criteria:

• Be available to conduct drone demonstrations for in-person workshops on the following dates: April 8, 16, 20, 21, 27, and 29
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
• Have a valid Ontario drone license (Transport Canada Basic or Advanced Operations Certificate; Advanced preferred)

Key responsibilities will include the following:

• Co-facilitate an in-person drone workshop for participants of varying experience levels
• Safely operate and demonstrate drone flights during the workshop
• Develop and/or support the creation of presentation materials (slides, visuals, flight demonstrations, etc.)
• Create and submit flight plans as required in accordance with Transport Canada regulations
• Guide drone safety, airspace regulations, and best practices
• Assist participants with hands-on drone operation and troubleshooting
• Ensure all activities are compliant with Ontario and federal drone regulations
• Completion of fieldnotes post workshop

The Drone Facilitator will coordinate their efforts with the Senior Manager of Learning & Development and administer workshops with other contracted educators and facilitators.

Ideal qualifications

*We welcome applications from individuals who may not meet all requirements.

• Strong working knowledge of Canadian drone regulations and flight planning requirements
• Demonstrated experience operating drones in various environments
• Knowledge of airspace tools (e.g., NAV Drone, NOTAMs, weather assessment tools)
• Experience in submitting flight authorisations and SFOC applications (if applicable)
• Basic troubleshooting and maintenance knowledge of common drone platforms
• Experience working with students from grades 3-12
• Facilitation experience or training is an asset
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Preferred Skills

• Experience creating structured lesson plans or workshop content
• Comfort speaking in front of student groups and facilitating learning
   

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about drones and excited to share their expertise. The ideal candidate is safety-focused, collaborative, organised, and comfortable both behind the controls and in front of a classroom.

To apply

Please submit your application through this application form: Drone Facilitator & Educator Application

https://forms.monday.com/forms/e9816fd00f3d83ed9289642a07ed87b6?r=use1

You will be prompted to include:

• A resumé
• A cover letter (up to two pages) OR an audio or video recording (up to 5 minutes long) that includes:

  • What interests you about working with The Starfish Canada?

  • How do your strengths and experiences align with this job opportunity?

  • Describe an example of how you've optimized drones to engage emergent learners.

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

We encourage early applications, as submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

We encourage all applicants who are interested in this role to apply, regardless of background and experience. We particularly encourage applicants from members of communities that are marginalized or that experience structural discrimination, including Indigenous, Black, persons of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, and those living with any form of disability. Please consider self-identifying to help us prioritize your application.

We encourage you to notify us regarding any access needs you may have. Requests for accessibility will not affect your application.

Hiring Process

Applicants chosen for the interview process will be contacted by email. The interview will be conducted by the hiring team consisting of the Director of Learning & Development and the Senior Manager of Learning & Development. We anticipate the process will include:

• 30-minute video interview in English
• 30-minute follow-up interview
• Reference checks

We hope the successful candidate can start on March 16, 2026. The hiring team may adapt the process as needed if circumstances change. We appreciate each applicant for taking the time and effort to apply.

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About The Starfish Canada

The climate crisis and environmental degradation have a disproportionate impact on youth. Youth encounter barriers to capacity-building resources, recognition, and communities that can support their impact as changemakers and leaders. The Starfish Canada is a registered charity that uplifts youth changemakers, amplifying their voices in climate action while centring our approach on equity and justice. We provide the essential education, resources, communities, and recognition for youth to thrive as leaders in shaping a climate-resilient future.

We create impact through four programs:

• Our peer-to-peer journal matches editors with writers. Editors are trained to coach and mentor peers in the environment & journalism, then practice learnings by empowering a team of volunteer writers. Those writers are also trained to take technical science, policy, and research and turn them into accessible articles for our national audience.
• We offer multiple learning and development programs, including a debate-style session on the intersectionality of environmentalism, discussing climate change from Western-based science and traditional knowledge perspectives, and a speaker’s bureau where environmental changemakers under the age of 25 discuss their innovations and solutions. We currently collaborate with Six Nations of the Grand River to co-design new environmental workshops for their communities and schools in the Hamilton and Toronto area.
• We convene 75 youth annually at our Youth Environmental Changemakers Summit. Located in the beautiful west coast rainforest of Squamish, BC, we build a national community of climate champions while providing them space to connect with nature. We provide space to members of the Squamish Nation to deliver about half of the Summit’s content, allowing youth to engage with Indigenous approaches to climate action.