Sustainability Specialist (Toronto)

Here at DIALOG, we are passionate about design and believe it can and should meaningfully improve the wellbeing of our communities and the environment we all share.
We are a multi-disciplinary practice of architects, interior designers, urban designers and planners, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, landscape architects and sustainability experts who design for community wellbeing and urban vibrancy. We are a fun-loving bunch of big thinkers and city-shapers, who are collaborative in our approach, diverse in our perspectives, aspirational in our pursuits, and optimistic about what’s next. We’re always looking for passionate people who share our values and care as much about our communities as we do. We're proud to be a Certified B Corporation and one of Canada's Greenest Employers, committed to using our design practice as a force for good in the world.
We’re currently looking for a well-rounded Sustainability Specialist in the early stages of their career with a passion for efficient, healthy, equitable, low-carbon buildings and spaces. You will support our Sustainability + Building Performance team to affect the design and construction of some of Canada’s highest performing buildings, and work with our multi-disciplinary teams to dramatically impact building performance, environmental sustainability, and community wellbeing and equity. You will conduct analysis to support the integrated design process and certification under leading industry programs such as LEED, CAGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard, WELL, Fitwel, and Toronto Green Standard, among others. 

How you'll make a difference:

• Support our Sustainability + Building Performance team to manage a portfolio of projects across Canada and in the United States.

• Actively participate in the integrated design process, collaborate and liaise with clients, multi-disciplinary project teams, and contribute to the successful pursuit of performance goals such as green building rating systems, performance standards, and leading civic, provincial, and federal green building policies. 

• Manage multiple scopes of work, tracking milestones, deadlines and deliverables for a range of projects and initiatives. 

• Conduct green product research to verify the transparency, health, and carbon claims made by product manufacturers. 

• Develop strategies to reduce embodied carbon through material specifications, product substitutions, and iterative Life Cycle Assessments (LCA).

• Support and manage green building rating systems such as LEED, CAGBC Zero Carbon Building, WELL, and Fitwel from design through to certification. 

• Support the creation of presentations, reports, interactive workshops, and sustainability planning documents/frameworks. 

• Collaborate with our team of Building Performance Analysts to support energy modeling and life cycle costing analysis (LCCA). 

• Take advantage of our rich, multi-disciplinary environment to build your skills and expertise through new challenges and educational opportunities 

• Be a vocal contributor to DIALOG’s sustainability initiatives including our AIA 2030 Commitment, SE 2050 Commitment, Community Wellbeing Framework, mindfulMaterials, and AIA Materials Pledge. 

Who you are:

• You have a bachelor’s degree or diploma in architecture, engineering, building science, or a related field to sustainable building design and have 2 – 5 years work experience. 

• You are passionate about sustainability and building performance. You understand the foundational concepts of sustainable buildings including energy performance, material selection, and the integrated design process. 

• You have the LEED Green Associate or LEED Accredited Professional designation or you are committed to achieving it within 6 months of hiring. LEED with Specialty Accreditation must be attained within 12 months of hiring. Additional relevant industry accreditations such as WELL AP, Living Future Accreditation, Fitwel Ambassador etc. are a plus. 

• You have knowledge of and applied experience directing and coordination the LEED Rating Systems, including collaborating with various design disciplines.

• You are proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, and Bluebeam Revu.

• You can communicate effectively (oral and written) with clients, contractors, consultants, and colleagues, and strong attention to detail. 

• You are familiar with project specifications, architectural drawings, and building construction. 

• You can think critically and strategically and be able to conduct self-directed research and analysis with limited supervision. 

• You are familiar with industry developments and trends related to energy and building performance. 

• You are interested in building your knowledge base, technical skills, and ability to be proactive in pushing to higher levels of performance. 

Nice to have:

• Proficiency with InDesign and familiarity with Revit is desirable. 
• Experience with CAGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard, Toronto Green Standard, WELL, Fitwel, Envision, Passive House, Living Building Challenge, and other sustainable design rating systems, performance standards and green building policies.

• Experience conducting Life Cycle Assessments using CScale, One Click LCA, or Athena; or you are dedicated to building this capacity. 

• Familiarity with climate risk assessments or design with future-shifted climate data. 

• Participation in industry associations such as CAGBC, CLF, IWBI, ASHRAE, or IBPSA. 

• Demonstrated industry presence through thought leadership including publications, presentations, volunteer roles etc. 

• You have the ability to obtain Government of Canada Reliability and/or Secret Security Clearance/Status.

Don’t meet every single requirement? We still encourage you to apply! We’re looking for future DIALOGers who are eager to learn, bring unique perspectives, and want to make a real difference in the world—even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification.
Perks & BenefitsParental leave top-up programs for all parents upon the birth or adoption of a child, RRSP matching, competitive medical and dental benefits coverage upon the first day of employment, discounted memberships, encouraged work/life balance with gifted time off during the holiday season and Vacation Buy-Up program, and reimbursement for professional memberships and dues are just a few of the benefits that DIALOGers enjoy. Professional DevelopmentDIALOG offers continued professional growth through leadership development opportunities specifically designed for our collaborative culture. Among others, some of our programs include: CoachDIALOG which equips our coaches with essential communication and feedback strategies for building great teams; Integrateducation™ supports DIALOGers in accredited continuing education opportunities; technical skills development via e-learning pathways; and financial support for relevant external learning opportunities.  Equal OpportunityDIALOG celebrates diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive environment for all, free of discrimination and harassment. Employment-related decisions are made without regard to sex, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age and race. In accordance with DIALOG’s Accommodation Policy, accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request for candidates throughout the selection process.