facebook pixel code for steps initiative

New blog in our Fieldnotes series! Read the article.

Is this your dream job?

A group of people smiling in front of a large colourful mural by Moonlight Murals Collective in Toronto as part of STEPS Public Art's I HeART Main Street Program

Join the national team at the forefront of innovative public art

We envision a world where artists and communities co-create meaningful, welcoming, and safe public spaces. We truly care about our communities and we care for each other – our work is possible because we support one another in doing our best work together. 

At STEPS Public Art, every new idea is a possibility. We’re united by our abilities to think big, find creative solutions, and engage communities to bring public art ideas to life.

If you’re just as curious about bridging art and community, we look forward to meeting you.

Careers at STEPS Public Art

New opportunities will be posted here. You can also join our mailing list for the latest announcements.

 

Placements and Volunteers at STEPS Public Art

If you’re looking for a placement/internship for academic credit, research partnership, or volunteer experience, visit placements/internships for specific recruitment timelines and how to submit a request to STEPS.

Culture at STEPS Public Art

Flexible Work

With national projects on the go and team members across cities, we’re not built around an office. We have flexible working arrangements, including remote working options, alternative scheduling, and access to our open-concept Art Hub 27 office along Toronto’s waterfront.

We stay connected through in-person and virtual opportunities for staff to collaborate, network, and celebrate successes together. 

We’re also committed to accessibility. We encourage open dialogue and feedback to make our physical and virtual workspaces accessible for everyone. This includes:

  • Flexible work schedules and ability to schedule your own breaks
  • Modified workspaces (e.g. access to sit-stand desks, common social space for breaks, office dividers, quiet work stations)
  • Access to technology and tools to improve work-from-home offices
  • Enhanced office wayfinding and signage
  • Regular conversations between staff and supervisors about adjustments for success and productivity at work 

Land Acknowledgement 

Our office (Art Hub 27) is based in T’karonto, the Ancestral Wendat territory and the shared territory of the Anishinaabeg and the Haudenosaunee, covered by The Dish With One Spoon treaty, and later, Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands. 

Our Employee Value Proposition

What It’s Like to Work at STEPS

At STEPS, we’re proud to offer a workplace culture rooted in empathy, creativity, and community impact. While we may not be able to offer the highest salaries, we provide something equally meaningful: purpose-driven work, flexible support systems, and a commitment to professional growth in the public art and cultural sector.

Here’s what you can expect when you join our team:

Work That Matters

  • Be part of cultural projects that make visible change in communities across Canada.
  • Help elevate underrepresented voices and champion inclusive placemaking practices.
  • See your values reflected in the work you do, staff consistently report feeling proud of STEPS’ impact.

Growth Without the Ladder

  • Develop your skills through mentorship, training, and hands-on leadership opportunities.
  • Explore cross-functional roles. STEPS is a learning organization that prepares early- and mid-career professionals to grow meaningfully.
  • Access professional development resources and work with managers who are invested in your success.

A Culture of Care and Collaboration

  • Join a team where kindness, respect, and empathy are part of daily life, not just policies.
  • Flexible, remote-first work is the norm, not the exception, so you can do your best work while honouring life outside the job.
  • Regular check-ins, wellness supports, and collaborative planning are built into help prevent burnout.

Shared Values, Shared Impact

  • We’re committed to equity, not just in our programs, but in our workplace culture and practices.
  • Staff help shape decisions and are invited to give feedback through multiple channels, including anonymous forms and 1:1s.
  • Recognition and celebration of values-in-action happen all year, from reflective moments in meetings to peer-nominated awards.

 

Our Benefits
  • Extensive time-off (such as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, float days for cultural holidays that are not Ontario statutory holidays, and a winter holiday wind-down period)
  • Flexible working arrangements and lieu time policies
  • Role-specific onboarding and training (e.g. Standard First Aid and CPR Training, Working at Heights Training, WHMIS, etc.) 
  • Travel reimbursement and support
  • Professional development opportunities and activities
  • On-going staff learning related to equity, inclusion, and accessibility topics (past training include workshops with Bakau ConsultingFuture Ancestors, and Spark Clarity
  • Supports from staff-led equity groups (including a BIPOC group and Disability and Chronic Illness group) to foster an accessible and accommodating work environment
  • In-person and virtual staff events planned by the Social Committee, Professional Development Committee, Health and Safety Committee, and Wellness Committee 

Salaried-staff benefits include:

  • Supplemental health, dental, optical, and limited life insurance benefits (including travel assist coverage) following a probationary period
  • Maternity/Paternity Leave Policy that includes supplemental benefits

 

Our Hiring Process

STEPS is committed to supporting you through the hiring process. Here is what you can expect during a typical hiring process:

  1. The job posting is made available online with information about the role, deadlines, and how to apply. Candidates typically apply via an online portal. Instructions on how to request accommodations to apply are included.
  2. Qualified candidates are invited to an interview. Interview questions may be provided in advance and depending on the role, candidates may complete pre-interview assessments.
  3. The interview process will typically make use of video conferencing. Depending on the role, the process may involve a second interview over video conference or in-person.
  4. After interviews are completed, reference calls are conducted to confirm qualifications.
  5. The successful candidate will be notified via email and/or phone call with the job offer.

We want to provide you with a comfortable and accessible hiring experience. Please contact our team if you require an accommodation to apply for an opportunity. 

Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Public space offers a venue in which diverse people can be heard through art as an accessible means for people to communicate their ideas (regardless of age, class, race, ability, or gender).

At STEPS, we believe that a diversity of racial and ethnic origins and a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds enrich the community, and we endeavour to ensure diverse voices are included in the work we do. 

STEPS encourages applications from all qualified candidates legally able to work in Canada that represent the full diversity of communities, including complexities of intersecting identities such as ability, age, class, gender, race, and sexual orientation. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as: Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), Black, person of colour, newcomer, Disabled, and/or LGBTQQIP2SAA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, allies, along with additional sexual orientations and gender identities).

We occasionally host paid opportunities that are targeted at individuals who historically have faced barriers to employment, such as Canada Summer Jobs placements. If a position is subsidized by a funder who has outlined specific criteria for how their resources can be directed, this information will be indicated.