Program Associate, Outdoor Education & Land-Based Learning

Date Posted: 03/19/2025

Req ID: 42220

Faculty/Division: VP & Provost

Department: Hart House

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Position Number: 00057770

About Us – Hart House:

Hart House is a centre for experiential education outside the classroom at the University of Toronto. Since it opened in 1919, Hart House functions as a place where students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the broader community connect with each other and the world. Through an array of co-curricular programming in the arts, dialogue and wellness, Hart House works with local and international partners to foster community and to create innovative learning opportunities for students. Hart House operates from a historic facility on the St. George campus, as well as a 150-acre farm in Caledon, Ontario, offering a wide range of services through a social enterprise model that generates revenue to support its student-focused programming on all three University of Toronto campuses.

About Us – Access and Outreach:

The Access and Outreach team works collaboratively with campus and community groups to bridge U of T and the wider community with a focus on including underrepresented voices and perspectives. We work with staff, faculty, students and community partners to co-create events and activities on all 3 campuses of the University of Toronto.

Your opportunity:

Hart House is a student and community-facing cultural, learning and wellness centre, with locations at the University of Toronto St. George campus and “Hart House Farm” in Caledon, Ontario. This 150-acre outdoor education space is part of the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve and within the Mississaugas of the Credit Treaty territory. It features woods, fields, ponds, an outdoor sauna, caves, recreational equipment, and various gathering, learning and overnight stay spaces. A student-led Hart House Standing committee plays a key role in delivering an annual set of programs at the farm.

Purchased in 1949, Hart House Farm has served as a recreational and educational space for University of Toronto students and has been a focus of programming for access and outreach initiatives with an array of communities. More recently, Hart House has re-engaged with a number of Indigenous campus and community partners to support Indigenous ceremonies, healing, learning, and community building. Events and programming at Hart House Farm involve various U of T and community groups and partners, such as First Nations House or the Centre for International Experience, involves academic partners and programs, and serves all three campuses of the University.

Visit our website to learn more: Hart House Farm – Local 15911 Creditview Rd, Terra Cotta, ON L7C 3G8

The Program Associate will support the Manager of Indigenous Education & Land-Based Learning, and work with the Farm Caretaker, facilitating various outdoor educational experiences, predominately at Hart House Farm. This role involves building stronger relationships with campus and community partners while increasing awareness and participation in Farm activities. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in outdoor education and/or land-based learning, exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills, and a passion for connecting people with nature. This is a hybrid position that requires the incumbent to work at Hart House Farm, the Hart House main campus site, and remotely.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising and coaching students on co-curricular goal setting
• Implementing plans and process improvements for program and service activities
• Determining logistical details and activities for events and/or programming
• Liaising with stakeholders to coordinate space and resource requirements
• Fostering cooperative working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external contacts
• Coordinating tasks for projects and other strategic initiatives with stakeholders
• Developing content for marketing and/or promotional materials
• Providing orientation to others on work procedures and practices

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field or acceptable combination of equivalent experience
• Minimum two years of experience in outdoor education, environmental education, Indigenous Land-Based Education, or a related field
• Experience supervising and mentoring student staff and volunteers
• Experience working and fostering working relationships with student, campus and community partners
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to exercise initiative, creativity, and attention to detail
• Ability to exercise patience, and to demonstrate tact, judgement, and discretion
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment in a busy, deadline-oriented workplace. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a highly diverse University community and to organize, motivate, and work constructively and cooperatively with a variety of campus and community groups
• Awareness of campus systems and organizations, and the University’s policies and procedures as they relate to student life
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. A good degree of social media experience is required
• Ability to work weekends and evening as required

Assets (Nonessential):

• Valid Ontario non-probationary Class G Driver’s License and access to a vehicle is an asset as this job is physically located at the Hart House Farm
• Standard First Aid and CPR certification is an asset
• Outdoor Learning Certification or experience is an asset

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Adaptable
• Approachable
• Proactive
• Problem solver
• Resourceful
• Self-directed

Notes:

• Hours of work: Full-time with some weekend schedule based on operational needs; occasional overtime on weekdays and weekends.

Closing Date: 03/27/2025, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: USW 

Appointment Type: Budget – Continuing 

Schedule: Full-Time. Full-time with some weekend schedule based on operational needs; occasional overtime on weekdays and weekends.

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:

USW Pay Band 09 — $66,715. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $85,319. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 

Job Category: Student Services

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

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