The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is committed to building a workplace where everyone can succeed and belong. As a Signatory to the Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Charter, we are committed to ensuring a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team environment, and to considering applicants who identify as part of an equity-seeking group including people of colour, Indigenous people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, youth, and people with disabilities. We value a wide range of skills, experiences, and backgrounds and encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We encourage applications from equity-seeking groups, and wish to eliminate barriers for applicants: if you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know and we will work hard to make this accommodation if our capacity permits it.

Job Opportunities

Environmental Educator and Program Coordinator (Maternity Leave Contract)

Position Description

The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is a non-profit organization with charitable status and the mission to “empower community leadership to address environmental challenges.” This position supports Future Leaders, one of four programs of the Biosphere Institute. The Future Leaders program supports the ecological literacy of children and youth in the Bow Valley. Learn more at www.biosphereinstitute.org/futureleaders.

The Environmental Educator and Program Coordinator is responsible for organizing and delivering the Future Leaders programming including outdoor learning classes and field trips aligned with the Alberta curriculum, coordinating the Future Leaders Youth Council and maintaining strong relationships with funders while supporting the program’s fund development plan. 

Classification: This is a maternity leave contract position, between 12 and 18 months in duration. This is a full-time contract at 37.5 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday. The Future Leaders Youth Council program requires some evening and weekend work throughout the school year. 

Relevant Dates: Applications open July 30th and close at 5pm on Sept.1, 2026. Interviews will be held in Canmore between September 8-14th. In-person interviews are preferred but we will consider virtual or phone interviews on a case by case basis. 

Term: Start date October 1, 2026. There will be a two-week onboarding overlap with the outgoing employee. Contract end date will be between October 2027 and March 2028.

Reporting to: Executive Director of the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley

Annual Salary: $60,000–$67,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications

Benefits: Full health benefits after a two month probationary period.

Annual Vacation: Two weeks (10 business days), plus one week (5 business days) over the Christmas holidays. 

Location: Bow Valley, Alberta. No staff accommodation provided. The Biosphere Institute offers employees a degree of flexibility, including occasional work from a home office and time in lieu. However, due to the collaborative and community-based nature of this role, the successful candidate is expected to be based in Banff, Canmore, ID9 or MD Bighorn for the majority of their workdays. 

Responsibilities

The Contractor will:

• Collaborate with teachers and school administrators at our partner schools to curate K–12 curriculum-connected outdoor learning and Field Trip programs

• Organize and deliver safe, educational and place-responsive outdoor learning programs

• Maintain summer youth engagement programs, e.g. Girls on the Fly

• Coordinate and host weekly Future Leaders Youth Council meetings (held Thursday evenings alternating between Banff and Canmore during the school year) as well as events and projects

• Deliver a suite of K–12 curriculum-connected programs both in the classroom and outdoors, including Ways of the Bison, Environmental Stewardship, Climate Stewards, wildlife EduKits, Outdoor Learning programs and more.

• Respond to requests from non-formal education groups, including Settlement Services, the Town of Banff and the Town of Canmore, for curated programs such as wildlife safety, outdoor activities and professional development.

• Engage high school student leaders around topics of environment and sustainability while facilitating learning opportunities for them as part of the Future Leaders Youth Council.

• Respond to requests from municipal governments, community stakeholders and program funders.

• Collect and monitor program participant demographics and feedback.

• Post, respond and update website and social media (newsletter, Instagram, Squarespace) accounts with relevant program information

• Manage program fund development, apply for funding and report to funders about current and continued programs.

• Sustain professional relationships through written and in-person communication with external stakeholders, including municipal governments, community members and program funders.

• Demonstrate respect in the workplace in a way that promotes respect, reconciliation, diversity, equity and inclusion.

• Work collaboratively with the Biosphere Institute staff.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Science, Education, Communication or a relevant field.

• Standard First Aid certification (e.g. Red Cross Canada)

• Respect in Schools (or similar) anti-abuse certification and willing to provide Background Check including Vulnerable Sector Check

• Experience delivering outdoor learning programs for children and youth, including working with diverse learners’ needs and risk management

• Experience and knowledge curating and teaching K–12 environmental education programs connected to the learning outcomes of the Alberta curriculum.

• Experience and knowledge of Indigenous ways of knowing and best practices towards reconciliation and relationship building

• Experience managing complex workloads, numerous projects and competing priorities

• Strong background in engaging with diverse community groups

• Ability to perform budget planning, fund development, grant application and reporting.

• Experience with Microsoft Office, Squarespace and Google Workspace applications.

• Oral and written French language skills are considered an asset.

• Familiarity with creating social media content for Instagram and Facebook.

• Valid Alberta driver’s licence.

• Access to a personal vehicle.

• We have a very strong preference for candidates who live in the Bow Valley (Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore, Exshaw, Dead Man’s Flats, Lac des Arcs, Mînî Thnî).

• Legally able to work in Canada.

To Apply

Please send an email including your résumé and cover letter with the subject title “Future Leaders, Maternity Leave Contract” to education@biosphereinstitute.org.  

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. MST on August 20, 2026.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application. However, only those who we wish to interview will be contacted after the application deadline. Interviews will be held in Canmore between September 8-14th.

Commitment to Workplace Inclusion

The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is committed to building a workplace where everyone can succeed and belong. As a Signatory to the Bow Valley Workplace Inclusion Charter, we are committed to ensuring a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team environment, and to considering applicants who identify as part of an equity-seeking group including people of colour, Indigenous people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, youth, and people with disabilities. We value a wide range of skills, experiences, and backgrounds and encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please let us know if you require accommodations to the meeting format or time of day during the interview process and/or other workplace considerations; we will work hard to make this accommodation as our capacity permits. 

Volunteering

The Biosphere Institute does its best to provide volunteer opportunities for individuals interested in advancing environmental stewardship in the Bow Valley. We are somewhat limited by our staff capacity to manage volunteers, and therefore we are regretfully not always able to accommodate all expressions of interest.

We do offer several specific volunteer opportunities that are linked to ongoing projects. We will post these specific volunteer opportunities on this page as they are available.

Volunteers connect directly with residents and help build momentum for neighbourhood level action. No prior experience is needed. Training and materials are provided.

Interested in getting involved? Email our ClimateSmart Coordinator at kendra@biosphereinstitute.org or click below to learn more.

Calling all Reuse Champions: Volunteer at our newly launched Reuse Hub in Canmore!

We already have 2 amazing volunteers on board—now we just need a few more to round out the team.

If you’re passionate about reducing waste and want to support a new circular economy initiative in the Bow Valley, this is a great way to get involved. You’ll help connect surplus materials with community members who can use them, keeping valuable items out of the landfill.

Time commitment: ~2+ hours/week
Perks: Be part of a high-impact, unique pilot + get first access to free items!

Interested? Reach out to resource@biosphereinstitute.org

Join the Canmore Folk Fest Green Team

The Green Team is one of the most visible volunteer teams at the festival and helps create a welcoming culture of care, sustainability, and community participation! By helping people place items in the correct bins, Green Team members directly help to reduce contamination and help ensure that recyclable and compostable materials are properly diverted from the landfill.

Volunteers who complete a minimum of 10 hours will receive a weekend festival pass. You’ll also be invited to the Post-Festival Volunteer Party at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club — a special evening featuring live performances, intimate jam sessions with festival artists, dancing, snacks, and celebration with the wider Folk Fest community. Admission is free for volunteers. (Cash bar available).

Future LEaders Youth Council

Are you a Bow Valley youth in Grades 9-12 and passionate about environmental topics? Join the Future Leaders Youth Council to get involved, meet other youth and take action!

No prior experience necessary. We are here to get curious and make a difference.

Would you like to sign up or learn more? Email Jackie, our Education Coordinator, by clicking below.

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We can also keep you informed of upcoming volunteer opportunities via our Volunteer Mailing List. Please use the form below to sign up and thank you for your interest!