Sustainability Sciences

Thunder Bay

Full-time

Contract

Overview

The Sustainability Coordinator will Advance Lakehead University’s effort to become a recognized leader in sustainability through the development and implementation of the Sustainability Plan. This role will collaborate with all levels at the University including senior administration, faculty, staff, and students, as well as government officials, community members, NGOs, post- secondary institutions, industry, and other organizations to plan, develop, and facilitate existing and new university sustainability initiatives.

The Sustainability Coordinator will educate others so they can possess the knowledge, skills, and motivation to realize sustainability, and elevate awareness on and off campus of existing and developing university sustainability initiatives.

Responsibilities

Develop and Implement the University Sustainability Plan – 30%

• Develop and co-ordinate a process for creation, review, and updating of the university Sustainability Plan that includes high-level standards, measurable objectives, and policies related to curriculum and research, incorporation of Indigenous worldviews and reconciliation, grounds, energy, water, transportation, engagement, and planning.

• Develop long and short-term strategies for the implementation of the Plan, recommend changes needed to integrate sustainability principles into the academic and operational functions of the university, and advance general sustainability initiatives.

• Focus on integrating the interconnected sectors of sustainability as described in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) internationally used STARS reporting tool and report. Conduct data collection for STARS and submit to STARS in 2026. Publish results internally.

• Research, identify, and adapt sustainability best practices from other universities, corporations, and governments. Develop and maintain relationships with other universities’ Sustainability Offices to assist with implementation of the Plan, knowledge sharing, and partnerships.

• Build momentum and interest in the Plan within the University community, recruiting administration, faculty, staff, and students to assist with implementation.

• Act as a consultant, providing advice and recommendations from best practice research to other Departments seeking to be more sustainable.

• Publish an annual campus sustainability report analyzing past successes, current efforts, and future focus areas.

Oversee and Manage University Sustainability Governance Framework – 15%

• Continue to establish the Office of Sustainability as an administrative body and increase visibility of the Office. Research and prepare logistics, reports, and planning needed to establish the Office.

• Oversee the development of campus-wide sustainability committees; in particular, provide support for the Sustainability Stewardship Council (SSC) and its Working Groups. Coordinate recruitment and membership of groups, as well as meeting logistics. Act as a liaison between the Council and other sectors of the University, including the Sustainability Executive Advisory Committee.

• Ensure the SSC follows its mandate to: examine key issues of sustainability impacting all sectors of university life; articulate and refine University sustainability goals, plans, reports, and products; discuss and create options for coordinated pan-university sustainability approaches; enhance understanding and synergy of different groups working on sustainability issues on campus; fulfill an ambassador role in promoting sustainability initiatives on campus; and disseminate ideas and proposed directions to representative organizations and leaders.

• Support the coordination of the Sustainability Executive Advisory Committee, organizing meetings and materials. Report to this Committee on a quarterly basis.

• Conduct best practice reviews, researching existing policies as well as those in other institutions of higher education, and provide strategic sustainability advice to senior administration.

• Coordinate committee members, students, and volunteers to support sustainability initiatives.

• Act as a liaison for these committees and other sectors of the University.

Work With Physical Plant to Meet and Exceed Governmental Compliance – 10%

• Assist the Director of Physical Plant with research and reporting for governmental regulations in sustainability areas such as waste, energy, and water. Assist with waste reduction plans and energy planning by conducting audits and consulting with relevant stakeholders. In particular, act as primary reporter for the RPRA blue box report.

• Collaborate on governmental funding applications within sustainability areas.

Promote and Generate Awareness On and Off Campus, Develop Partnerships – 20%

• Publicize, promote, and communicate Lakehead University’s sustainability efforts within and outside the campus community.

• Educate staff, faculty, and students on sustainability best practices, providing a central core for case studies, guidelines, and financial incentives.

• Liaise with the Office of Initiatives Initiatives, encouraging collaboration between Offices. Continue to seek out professional development opportunities that enhance knowledge of the connection between sustainability and Indigenous worldviews.

• Liaise with LUSU, encouraging collaboration between Offices and partnership on mutual events and projects.

• Manage and maintain the Office of Sustainability website and social media sites (news, upcoming funding opportunities, events, projects).

• Coordinate and publish annual sustainability newsletters.

• Develop informational brochures and outreach materials.

• Coordinate and implement sustainability signage on campus.

• Liaise with sustainability coordinators, managers or equivalents at other educational institutions, businesses, governments, and the community to share experience and practices, and promote collaboration.

• Consult and collaborate with a diverse range of external stakeholders from other public sector organizations, government officials, industry, and environmental organizations (e.g. EarthCare, EcoSuperior). Participate in their committees as needed.

• Act as a contact and resource for community and campus parties interested in sustainability.

• Build academic involvement and support for sustainability projects among faculty, staff, and students campus wide, in settings both curricular and co-curricular.

• Collaborate with faculty on sustainability research and grants.

• Coordinate on-campus events, such as the Active Commute Challenge, to enhance the Office of Sustainability presence on campus.

Administration – 15%

• Oversee the overall operational, budgetary, and financial responsibilities and activities of the Office of Sustainability.

• Evaluate the financial needs of the Office of Sustainability, developing strategies to increase the operational budget. Monitor expenditures, adjusting budget as needed. Prepare budget reports and present recommendations to senior administration.

• Manage the collection, tracking, synthesis, and dissemination of relevant data related to sustainability on campus (e.g., data for the annual report, a sustainability course and research inventory).

• Catalogue sustainability initiatives in research and teaching and sustainability-related work of committees and Centers, including through annual surveys where appropriate. Analyze this information and communicate to the public in an accessible way.

• Provide administrative support for the Sustainability Executive Advisory Committee and Sustainability Stewardship Council.

• Identify and pursue opportunities for internal and external grants, sponsorship opportunities, rebate programs or other means of funding sustainability initiatives. Develop partnerships with faculty members in order to expand sustainability partnerships and reach.

• Attend Ontario Colleges and Universities Sustainability Professionals (OCUSP) AGMs and conferences.

Office of Sustainability - Volunteers and Staff – 10%

• Manage and supervise the Sustainability Intern position.
• Supervise graduate assistants and work-study students when assigned to the Office of Sustainability.
• Ensure Sustainability Intern, graduate assistants, students, and volunteers can accomplish tasks by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, and appraising results; coaching, counseling, and mentoring.
• Recruit and supervise students and volunteers working on campus projects such as the Rain Garden.
• Work with staff and faculty to ascertain campus sustainability research needs, recruit students to work on sustainability related independent studies or thesis research, facilitate meetings with student(s) and faculty advisors to manage expectations and contracts. Once completed, seek permission to publish final reports on the Office of Sustainability website.

Qualifications

Masters degree in sustainability-related field.

• At least three (3) years of demonstrable experience in the area of leadership in sustainability and sustainability best practices, preferably within a university setting.
• Experience working with the public, community agencies, public organizations, and/or industry focusing on environmental programs and sustainability planning.
• Experience working with senior administrators and committees.
• Experience working with researchers.
• Experience analyzing policies.
• Experience with developing and designing communication and outreach materials including visual identities, blogs, websites, and delivering high-level presentations.
• Strong analytical, planning, organizational, and administrative abilities.
• Experience reviewing and conducting research and disseminating research in reports for different audiences.
• Strong working knowledge of and commitment to the concept of sustainability, and awareness of the central issues and controversies in the field.
• Experience working within an interdisciplinary and intersectoral context.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work with others who hold diverse perspectives on sustainability, and ability to build a sense of community to facilitate collaborative work.
• Ability to multi-task given complexity of position.
• Able to work independently in a single-person Office, able to problem solve independently when required.
• Able to cope with ambiguity and competing or overlapping priorities.
• Strong time management skills.
• Competency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe InDesign.
• Supervisory experience preferred.

Benefits Information

Why Lakehead

Application Deadline:

Friday, July 11, 2025 - 11:59pm

Salary:

Band 6: 63,546.14 - 79,432.38

Contact Information:

humanres@lakeheadu.ca

Reference Number:

SCHII-25-32

Application Deadline:

Friday, July 11, 2025 - 11:59pm

Salary:

Band 6: 63,546.14 - 79,432.38

Yes, eligible for benefits

Contact Information:

humanres@lakeheadu.ca

Reference Number:

SCHII-25-32