Opportunities

Interested in opportunities to engage with CECCS?

CECCS Dec. 4 Winter Gathering

Please join us for a cozy and inspiring Winter Gathering hosted by the CECCS Student Leadership Subcommittee.

📅 Date: Wednesday, December 4
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 Location: Second Floor, Smith House (171 College Street, Toronto, ON)

Let’s come together to reflect on our shared commitments, celebrate our collective efforts, and enjoy the warmth of the season. Indulge in a delightful selection of vegetarian and vegan snacks while mingling with fellow sustainability champions.

If you are able to join us, please RSVP as soon as possible here.

We look forward to celebrating with you and fostering meaningful connections to guide us into the new year.

October 4, 2024 Transdisciplinary Knowledge Co-Production (TKC) Workshop

📢 Join Us for the upcoming Transdisciplinary Knowledge Co-Production (TKC) Workshop!

Are you an early-career researcher, post-doctoral fellow, PhD or Master’s student passionate about sustainability and interested in engaging with community partners to co-create impactful solutions? We are thrilled to invite you to the newest TKC Workshop hosted by the Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS) in partnership with the SDGs@UofT Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) this coming October!

Traditional academic training often focuses on extractive research methods, but real-world sustainability and climate challenges require a different approach—one that is solutions-focused and deeply engaged with non-academic partners. This workshop is designed to deepen your understanding of transdisciplinary community-engaged research, focusing on collaborative interactions and practical tools for community-university partnerships.

Come network with peer researchers over lunch, and hear from an excellent line-up of community partners on strengths, challenges, and opportunities of community-university partnerships.

Workshop Details:

🗓 Date: Friday, October 4, 2024
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Trinity College, St. George Campus, University of Toronto

Lunch will be provided.

Deadline to Register: ⏰ 11:59 PM, September 27, 2024

CECCS Call for Nominations

PDAD&C Memo #3

From: Meric Gertler, President

Date: July 26, 2024

Re: Call for Nominations—Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (PDAD&C #)

Background

The President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS) was created in 2017 with the goals of making sustainability a key component of the University of Toronto identity, achieving international leadership in the integration of operational and academic sustainability, and coordinating sustainability activities across the three campuses. Since then, the Committee has become an important part of the university and has contributed to achievements such as U of T’s recent recognition as the #1 for Sustainability in 2024 according to the QS World University Rankings. Advances in sustainability at the University of Toronto and the work of the CECCS is made possible through the insights and efforts of sustainability champions and committee members from across all three campuses – and this work is more important and urgent than ever.

Call for Nominations – Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability

I am seeking nominations for new CECCS members. The CECCS is made up of the following:

Seven members of the student community who will also serve on the Student Leadership Subcommittee (undergraduate and graduate)
Seven faculty members (from any campus)
Seven staff (from any campus)

Members of the University community are invited to submit nominations or expressions of interest to serve on the CECCS by Aug 23, 2024. You may submit nominations on your own behalf or nominate another individual. The submission should demonstrate knowledge of U of T’s sustainability efforts, express an interest in the field, and include a brief CV/résumé.

Additional information on the Committee and its work may be found in the Terms of Reference, included below.

Submissions or inquiries should be addressed to:

Dr. Kristy Faccer, Director, Secretariat

Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability

c/o ceccs@utoronto.ca

Thinking of making a nomination or submitting an expression of interest? Review our Frequently Asked Questions here.

CECCS Terms of Reference

Background & Mandate

The President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability (CECCS) was established in 2017 to advance the University’s contributions, objectives and impact on climate change and sustainability. The CECCS reports to the President.

The CECCS delivers its mandate through a range of activities addressing research, education, internal and external community engagement, and university operations. In 2024, after three successful mandate periods, the President approved an ongoing role for CECCS at the University of Toronto.

Goals

Sustainability as key component of U of T identity
Local and international leadership in operational and academic sustainability; and
Recognition, sharing and scaling good sustainability practices towards meaningful impact across and beyond the university

Overarching principles

Regenerative Sustainability which looks for net positive ways to increase both human and environmental wellbeing, instead of simply focusing on reducing environmental damage
Integration of Operational and Academic Sustainability which looks at ways to combine research, teaching, partnerships and operations

Cross-cutting themes (to be reviewed in 2024)

Campus as Living Lab which involves using the campus as a test bed for addressing sustainability challenges and involving students, faculty, staff, and potentially external partners in the process.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which CECCS uses to orient our understanding, across all our activities, of the many dimensions of sustainability across the university and to develop all our sustainability inventories
Engagement and Partnerships and the principles of co-production and embedding sustainability in the core activities and functions of the university

Structure & Operations

The CECCS refers to the following:

The Committee of Presidential appointees representing key University of Toronto communities and its Co-Chairs
The CECCS standing subcommittees (below) and, from time to time, shorter term working and advisory groups
- Teaching & Learning
- Research
- Operations
- Student Leadership (see appendix below)
The CECCS Secretariat and its staff

Organizational chart showing the governance structure of CECCS

Roles and responsibilities

CECCS Co-Chairs. The CECCS Co-Chairs are responsible for providing guidance to the President on U of T matters relating to sustainability and climate change. The Co-Chairs oversee the work of the Committee and normally make annual presentations on the Committee’s activities on request to the Governing Council. They also provide reports to the Principals & Deans Committee (P&D) meetings and in other internal and external interactions.

The Committee. The Committee is made up of regular members appointed by the President and ex-officio or standing members appointed by the relevant Vice-President or Provost. The Committee is responsible for setting strategic direction, highlighting, and approving priorities for the CECCS. Committee members also sit on the CECCS subcommittees, support cross-subcommittee coordination, and facilitate sustainability in select constituents, units, or divisions on campus. Committee meetings are convened by the Co-Chairs at least once a term. Any member of the committee may bring agenda items to the CECCS Co-Chairs for consideration.

Individual members will be expected to provide expertise, guidance, and support to outreach in relation to the activities and priorities of the CECCS outside of meeting times. In addition, members are encouraged to identify ways to extend and further advance the work of the CECCS in their individual capacity and in dialogue with the CECCS Co-Chairs, Subcommittee Co-Chairs and Secretariat. Secretariat support for such activities will be made available where possible.

CECCS Subcommittees. The subcommittees are standing working groups of the CECCS responsible for the identification, development, and delivery of sustainability activities with the support of the Secretariat and relevant partners. Subcommittees meet as regularly as necessary to deliver on identified objectives and at least once a term. Subcommittees are expected to regularly make recommendations to the Committee (and Co-Chairs) on how to enhance the impact of the University and CECCS on issues of climate and sustainability.

Current subcommittees include Research, Teaching & Learning, Operations, and Student Leadership. One CECCS Co-chair sits in each of the first three and attends the fourth by invitation.

Subcommittee Co-Chairs. Each subcommittee is expected to be co-chaired by one regular and one ex-officio member of CECCS or, in the case of Student Leadership, one graduate and one undergraduate student, who share responsibility and accountability for overseeing the development and progress on relevant sustainability priorities and activities. Subcommittee Co-Chairs will be expected to identify and review subcommittee priorities annually and, where possible, outline the expected approach, implementation requirements and intended impacts of progress for each.

In addition to CECCS Members, Subcommittee Co-Chairs will also be responsible for identifying and appointing additional subcommittee-only members to help advance these identified priorities. CECCS Co-Chair approval for subcommittee-only appointments is expected.

Secretariat. The CECCS Secretariat is the administrative arm of the CECCS. Through the leadership and support of the Secretariat Director, Project Managers and other staff, the Secretariat is responsible for interpreting, planning, and implementing the direction provided by the CECCS Co-Chairs, the CECCS, and the Subcommittee Co-Chairs. The Secretariat will offer orientation to new members, provide advance information to members ahead of meetings, and follow up on action items identified and agreed upon in meetings. The Secretariat is also responsible for leading cross-CECCS initiatives and maintaining communications with members between meetings.

In general, CECCS and Subcommittee meetings will be closed and attended only by CECCS Committee and Subcommittee members, Secretariat staff and members invited with the approval of meeting chairs.

Member Appointments and Attendance

The CECCS is currently co-chaired by Professor John Robinson, Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability, and Ron Saporta, Chief Operating Officer, Property Services & Sustainability. The members include:

Ex-officio members whose membership is connected to a particular role, area of expertise or institutional office, and who can name designates for meetings. Ex-officio members are appointed by the President and may be identified in consultation with the relevant Vice-Presidents or Provost and/or identified through the open call process.

Regular members are appointed by the President of U of T and serve for 1–2-year renewable terms. Regular members are generally identified through an open call process for a set number of positions for U of T students, faculty, staff, or alumni.

Appointed members serve in their individual capacity, as students, faculty, or staff.

An equal number of faculty, students, and staff members (7, 7, 7) plus a representative from the alumni community.

The CECCS is committed to building a culture of belonging that reflects the diversity of our local and global community. We value members that share and demonstrate a commitment to equity, inclusion, and reconciliation and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our sustainability mission.

Conflict of Interest

CECCS members will be asked to declare any real or perceived conflicts of interest resulting from personal or family affiliation with organizations relevant to the work of the Committee.

Annual Report

The Secretariat submits an annual report to the President, describing CECCS activities over the previous year and the progress of the University in implementing the commitments. The annual report is normally presented annually upon request to the Governing Council and is developed by the Secretariat staff with input from the CECCS Co-Chairs, Subcommittee Chairs and others. The CECCS Annual Report 2023 can be found at: https://live-presidents-office.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-CECCS-Annual-Report_Jan.pdf

Contact

Email: ceccs@utoronto.ca

Web: https://sustainability.utoronto.ca/ceccs-home/

Appendix: Student Leadership Subcommittee (SLS)

Student Leadership has been a CECCS cross-cutting theme since 2021. In 2024, a new Student Leadership Subcommittee (SLS) was created to give students a stronger voice in CECCS, enhance student collaboration, and drive student-led initiatives aligned with the broader CECCS mandate.

As with the other CECCS subcommittees, the SLS is a standing working group of the CECCS responsible for the identification, development, and delivery of sustainability activities with the support of the Secretariat and relevant partners.

Membership

Members of SLS will lead and collaborate on initiatives through active participation in CECCS governance and programming that directly impacts students, for example the Sustainability Summer Internship Program, the Sustainability Pathways Program, and Campus as Living Lab initiatives.

Seven members of SLS will be determined through an open call appointment process for CECCS. An additional three subcommittee-only members will be appointed annually through a separate open call. One-year terms for subcommittee-only members will be from September to August. Reappointments of existing student members will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

SLS members will be appointed based on demonstrated commitment to sustainability leadership at the University of Toronto and/or their communities, particularly on U of T student groups whose mandates align with any of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To be successful, students on SLS will have the following attributes:

Collaboration and teamwork
Strong organization, communication, and interpersonal skills
Positive attitude
Goal oriented and problem-solving skills

SLS members are expected to:

Be available for and actively participate in (at least two) CECCS and subcommittee meetings each term
Advise the CECCS Secretariat on student leadership opportunities and areas of mutual interest in CECCS programming for graduate and undergraduate students (e.g. Sustainability Pathways, Campus as Living Labs, CECCS internship programs)
Participate in SLS dialogue and meetings to identify and support progress on annual SLS and relevant CECCS priorities
Champion CECCS activities and priorities within their relative communities and networks
Follow up on action items emerging from Committee or subcommittee discussions
Liaise with CECCS Project Manager(s) and Secretariat team on meeting scheduling, documentation review, subcommittee activities and project progress.

Operation

The SLS should meet as regularly as necessary to deliver on identified priorities and at least once a term. As with other CECCS subcommittees, the SLS is expected to regularly make recommendations to CECCS on how to enhance the impact of the University and CECCS on issues of climate and sustainability.

SLS meetings will be 1.5-2 hours in length and will be held virtually via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. In-person meetings may also be held, if desired, but must have an online option to ensure inclusion of tri-campus SLS members.

A Project Manager from the CECCS Secretariat will be assigned to support the work of the SLS. This includes scheduling meetings, taking notes, providing logistical support for SLS initiatives, and inviting CECCS members, Subcommittee Chairs, or other U of T stakeholders to attend SLS meetings as requested. CECCS work-study students may also provide administrative and logistical support as may be requested.

Students will receive a small honorarium equivalent to $30 per hour of meetings attended, and the option of receiving Co-Curricular Record recognition, and/or letters of reference.

Job Posting: Senior Communications Officer

Click here to view this posting and apply via the U of T Careers Website

Date Posted: 06/03/2024
Req ID: 37696
Faculty/Division: Asst VP – Operations & Services
Department: Committee on Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability (CECCS)
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00056417

Description

About us:
This position will be based within the Secretariat team of the President’s Advisory Committee on Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability (CECCS) in downtown Toronto. The work of the CECCS is guided by a committee of executive, staff, student and faculty members appointed by the President. The CECCS’ mandate is to advance the university’s priorities relating to sustainability and to make sustainability part of the identity of U of T and it does this work in close collaboration with an extensive and inspiring group of sustainability champions, colleagues, and partners across and beyond the university. The Secretariat also supports the CECCS Co-Chairs and standing Subcommittees in Research, Teaching &Learning, Operations, and Student Leadership.

Your opportunity:
Ranked #1 in the world for Sustainability by the QS World University Rankings – this is your chance to help shape the University of Toronto’s future sustainability and climate communications and outreach.

Reporting to the Director of the CECCS Secretariat and working alongside a committed and collaborative team of colleagues, this position will drive the definition and delivery of a new multi-channel sustainability communications strategy and lead promotion and outreach activities for the CECCS. In the first year, this will involve articulating a new strategy, overseeing a website renewal project and extensive interaction with internal and external stakeholders towards improved integration, inspiration and impact. On an ongoing basis, this position is tasked with advising and offering support to communications and outreach on broader CECCS initiatives, activities and programming and coordinating communications via social media pages, newsletters and our annual report with the team.

Your responsibilities will include:

Planning and developing an integrated multi-channel communications strategy independently and with colleagues across the university.
Developing and implementing targeted outreach initiatives that support communication strategies
Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance
Promoting programs and service offerings to internal and/or external contacts
Producing clear, concise, persuasive and accurate outreach and communication products
Working with service providers/vendors to deliver website renewal project

Essential Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience. Graduate experience and training in communications and marketing, public relations or similar an asset.
Minimum five years experience in similar senior level roles in similar or comparable environment
A proven track record of strong communications experience and outcomes in a similar or related role
Excellent written and verbal communications
Interested in and committed to sustainability work
Advanced relationship and stakeholder management skills across all levels with an ability to interpret needs, manage expectations and influence direction and outcomes
An ability to switch between tasks and tactics requiring attention to detail and connection to the bigger picture
Demonstrated initiative, proactivity and capacity to adapt while working across multiple tasks and stakeholdersto agreed timelines
Synthesize complex material and translate into structured engaging, audience-appropriate content
Familiarity with and ability to manipulate common web development and publishing tools

Assets (Nonessential):

Experience working in a large distributed organization and/or higher education setting
Familiarity with sector dynamics and/or internal working environment of a higher education institution

To be successful in this role you will be:

Adaptable
Articulate
Communicator
Diplomatic
Persuasive
Proactive
Problem solver
Resourceful

Please note, we are aiming to hold interviews between the second and third week of July. Those selected to move forward in our process will be contacted. A copy of the full job description is available upon request.

Closing Date: 06/25/2024, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget – Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 15 — $93,752 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $119,892. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Communication/Media/Public Relations
Recruiter: Lucy Katehos

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.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.

Job Posting

Transdisciplinary Knowledge Co-Production Online Workshop

Engaged scholarship that involves partnership with non-academic stakeholders and addresses real world and complex challenges of sustainability and climate change requires a different approach to building knowledge and facilitating action. The Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS), in partnership with the SDGs@UofT Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) is hosting a Transdisciplinary Knowledge Co-Production (TDCP) Workshop for early-career researchers, post-doctoral fellows, masters and PhD students at U of T. Join us in this online workshop to learn more about the concept of TDCP research and get your questions answered!

Time: Tuesday, March 19th, 2024, 3:00pm – 4:30pm

Audience: Early-career researchers, post-doctoral fellows, PhD and masters students at U of T

Please note this is an online event, and it will be recorded and shared via CECCS channels. The Zoom link will be shared with participants closer to the event date.

Transdisciplinary Knowledge Co-Production (TDCP) Workshop

Transdisciplinary Knowledge Co-Production (TDCP) Workshop for early career researchers, post-doctoral fellows and PhD students at U of T

Engaged scholarship that involves partnership with non-academic stakeholders and addresses real world and complex challenges of sustainability and climate change requires a different approach to building knowledge and facilitating action. The Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS) is hosting a Transdisciplinary Knowledge Co-Production (TDCP) Workshop for early-career researchers, post-doctoral fellows and PhD students at U of T. The first pilot session will introduce the concept of TDCP research, offer an opportunity to discuss the perspectives of different academic and non-academic partners, and include a working lunch to discuss what U of T should do to encourage more TDCP.