Type: summer job / summer student position
Organization: Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
Website: http://www.waterkeeper.ca
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Job Description
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (LOW) is a growing charity working for a
swimmable, drinkable, fishable future. Ou
r programs bring together
law, science, culture, and digital media in order to connect and
empower people to restore polluted places, protect human health, and
promote thriving natural spaces.
Keeping recreational water users healthy on the water, creating and
promoting opportunities for people to get outside and connecting with
their watershed, and helping individuals and groups develop water
leadership skills are the three pillars of our swimmable water
programs.
As summer is the height of recreational water use in Toronto there is
a lot of work to do. We are looking for a Swimmable Water Ambassador
to represent LOW and our swimmable water work out in the community.
This is an ideal position for an upper-level student interested in
environmental communications, public engagement, and/or marketing.
Swimmable Water Ambassador responsibilities:
As Swimmable Water Ambassador you will build connections with people,
groups, and businesses who use and love Toronto’s Waterways. You will
disseminate vital information about recreational water quality to this
community. In addition, you will be responsible for keeping our Swim
Guide app and website up to date with current water quality. You will
attend events throughout in Toronto and across the watershed, and you
will support Lake Ontario Waterkeeper’s recreational water protection
programs.
Our office is based in Toronto, so extra emphasis will be placed on
activities that strengthen Toronto’s community of recreational water
users and promote our Toronto Recreational Water Users Program’s
goals.
Primary Responsibilities
• Connect and share water quality information with stakeholders
impacted by recreational water quality in the City of Toronto.
• Engage citizens, organizations, and businesses in issues related to
recreational water quality.
• Identify and help arrange summer tabling/engagement opportunities.
• Attend and table at scheduled events from mid-May to August
(evenings and weekends required).
• Act as an in-person ambassador for Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and Swim Guide.
• Provide on-site and “from the field” pictures and videos for our
social media profiles.
• Delight booth and table attendees at events with information about
Lake Ontario, and Toronto Sewage information.
• Update Swim Guide in the morning, seven days a week, to provide
thousands of people with up-to-date beach water quality information in
Toronto and on the Great Lakes.
You are an ideal candidate for this position if:
• You are interested in recreational water quality issues.
• You would love to spend your summer talking to the community about
swimmable water.
• You are comfortable talking about sewage, water quality, and health
issues related to contaminated water.
• You have a great work ethic and are able to accomplish tasks on time
and independently.
• It’s important to you to help people understand how recreational
water activities can impact their health, both positively and
negatively.
• You are articulate and outgoing.
• You are happy and able to work evenings and weekends when required
for public events.
• You love spending time on Lake Ontario (swimming, paddling, sailing,
fishing, etc)
• You are comfortable using computers.
• You work well as part of a close knit and hardworking team.
• You have strong Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram skills
• You have a valid G-class licence (access to a vehicle is a bonus but
not required)
• You’re based in Toronto
Our funding requires that you are returning to school in September
2015 and are under the age of 30.
To Apply:
Each application must include 1 copy of the following documents:
• A letter that describes why you would make a great Swimmable Water
Ambassador (Note: This is our favourite part of the application – we
look for style, personality, spelling, grammar, and your perspective
on the job description.)
• Your resumé
• Names and contact information for two references.
Please submit your application as soon as possible to:
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
admin@waterkeeper.ca
Re: Swimmable Water Ambassador Position
The position is available at the beginning of May and applications
will be reviewed as they arrive.
