SUMMER JOB POSTING (2026)

  1. Communications Specialist

  2. Environmental Program Officer

Full Job Posting for Communications Specialist (Waterloo)

Position:The Communications Specialist works alongside the Outreach and Programming Director to support LSPIRG's outreach, recruitment, and public engagement during the summer months. They will design and execute outreach campaigns, produce communications materials, support volunteer recruitment and retention, and help represent the organization at events on campus and in the community.

Reports to: Board of Directors

Location: The Outreach and Programming Director (Waterloo) will work in-person out of the LSPIRG main office at 165 Albert Street, Waterloo, ON. We regret that the current office provided by Laurier is not accessible – there are 2.5 flights of stairs.

Hours and Period of Employment
30 hours per week for 9 weeks. This position is funded through the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Compensation: $29.08 per hour

Start Date: Late May


Job Duties:

Volunteer Communications and Coordination

  • Assist with volunteer outreach and recruitment, liaising, and training, with support from other staff

  • Work to foster community between LSPIRG volunteers within their initiative as well as across other campus-based and community groups

Communication, Promotion, and Outreach

  • Design and execute outreach campaigns

  • Write, design, and publish posters, ads, promotional pamphlets, social media graphics, and other outreach materials

  • Assist with social media content creation for the organization, in collaboration with other staff

  • Compile, design, and send out email newsletters in collaboration with other staff

  • Network with campus and community groups on common issues and campaigns, including public speaking engagements

  • Advertise the organization's social and environmental justice events on campus and in the community, articulating the relevant issues clearly

Programming and Event Support

  • Assist the Outreach and Programming Director with event and program logistics, and represent the organization at events as needed

  • Document events and evaluate program attendance and effectiveness

  • Communicate the organization's impact to key stakeholders

Organizational Support

  • Attend relevant board, staff, Research and Action Group, and committee meetings as capacity allows

  • Abide by and assist in implementing all LSPIRG policies and processes

  • Provide recommendations on improving communication and outreach practices

Qualifications:

LSPIRG (General)

  • Demonstrated experience in a related position or field (paid and/or unpaid work, including community organizing, volunteer roles, or coursework)

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • A demonstrated understanding of and commitment to anti-oppression work, with a developing analysis on the political, social, and legal dimensions of oppression

  • Knowledge or experience in community activism, engagement, or organizing (particularly in implementing activities aimed at social, political, economic, or environmental change)

  • Comfort with digital tools relevant to the role

Position (Specific)

  • Ability to design accessible graphics for outreach materials in various formats

  • Comfort articulating social justice issues clearly and engaging with politically charged subjects in public settings

  • Knowledge of diverse and creative outreach strategies

  • Familiarity with Wilfrid Laurier University, the Kitchener-Waterloo community, or both, is an asset

  • Flexibility to occasionally work evenings or weekends in order to support events

Full Job Posting for Environmental Program Officer (Waterloo)

Position: The Environmental Program Officer coordinates the education and operation of LSPIRG's Food Justice Garden in Waterloo. The Food Justice Garden is a mid-sized educational garden that gives students and community members the opportunity to learn how to grow food alongside the political questions that food work raises — food sovereignty, environmental justice, and the systems that produce hunger. This role also supports the Free Weekly Distro program, the food security program closely connected to the garden.

Reports to: Board of Directors

Location: The Environmental Program Officer will work in-person at the Food Justice Garden in Waterloo and out of the LSPIRG main office at 165 Albert Street, Waterloo, ON. We regret that the current office provided by Laurier is not accessible — there are 2.5 flights of stairs.

Hours and Period of Employment
30 hours per week for 9 weeks. This position is funded through the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Compensation: $29.08 per hour

Start Date: Late May

Job Duties:

Garden Programming and Operations

  • Develop events, workshops, and general programming for the Food Justice Garden in collaboration with the Outreach and Programming Director

  • Plan, implement, maintain, and harvest the crops in the garden alongside volunteers

  • Assist with the set-up and management of a small greenhouse

  • Problem-solve issues that come up during the growing season

Volunteer and Community Coordination

  • Assist in training, supervising, and coordinating volunteers

  • Assist the Outreach and Programming Director in maintaining a volunteer database

  • Develop and implement an outreach plan to members, students, youth, and community groups, ensuring participation across diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, genders, and abilities

  • Initiate and develop relationships with students, aligned organizations, community groups, and members, particularly Black, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, and groups working with food-insecure communities on the root causes of food insecurity and intersecting social and environmental issues

Free Weekly Distro Support

  • Provide programming support to the Free Weekly Distro program at the same location

Organizational Support

  • Attend relevant board, staff, Research and Action Group, and committee meetings as capacity allows

  • Submit a job evaluation and exit report at the end of the work term

Qualifications:

LSPIRG (General)

  • Demonstrated experience in a related position or field (paid and/or unpaid work, including community organizing, volunteer roles, or coursework)

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • A demonstrated understanding of and commitment to anti-oppression work, with a developing analysis on the political, social, and legal dimensions of oppression

  • Knowledge or experience in community activism, engagement, or organizing — particularly in implementing activities aimed at social, political, economic, or environmental change

Position (Specific)

  • Interest in or experience with food justice, food sovereignty, environmental justice, or related political work

  • Comfort working outdoors and with the physical demands of garden work, including planting, weeding, harvesting, and general maintenance

  • Ability to coordinate volunteers and facilitate group activities in a welcoming, accessible way

  • Willingness to learn growing practices on the job; prior gardening experience is welcome but not required

  • Flexibility to occasionally work evenings or weekends in order to support events and accommodate volunteer schedules

To Apply

LSPIRG welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our organization, and invites Black, Indigenous and racialized people, poor and working class people and those on social assistance, women, Intersex people, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and queer people; transgender, nonbinary and gender diverse people, Two-spirit people; single parents, members of ethnic minorities, newcomers and immigrants, people from non-academic backgrounds and disabled, chronically ill or neurodiverse people, people with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related illnesses, people with experiences of incarceration and/or records of offences except where it relates to bona-fide employment qualifications, people involved in or with experiences in sex work to apply. We encourage applicants to describe the contributions and experiences they would bring to the organization in their cover letter.

All applicants must also provide a brief statement on their views of power and oppression. Please email a brief statement on power and oppression, your cover letter which should include details about your availability, and your resume to info@lspirg.org

Please submit your application by May 11th, 2026 at 11:59 pm.