Neighbours United, (formerly known as West Kootenay EcoSociety) is a non-profit community-driven organization that brings together local residents to defend nature and build sustainable communities. Neighbours United coordinates hundreds of volunteers and outreaches to rural and small town residents each year.

Neighbours United educates and outreaches to thousands of people each summer around current program initiatives, including clean energy, land stewardship, biological diversity and ecosystem health, healthy food access, healthy and safe living, and community involvement. The Education outreach program coordinator will lead outreach efforts across the Lower Columbia region over the summer. The coordinator will educate and engage with members of the public by attending events, outreaching in busy public spaces, going door-to-door and on the phone. The coordinator will recruit, and develop the leadership of community volunteers to grow outreach efforts. The position will gain valuable experience communicating with people from diverse backgrounds about environmental protection solutions.

Neighbours United practices employment equity and is dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We welcome applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black People, People of Colour, women, people with disabilities, youth, members of the LGBTQ2SAI+ communities, new immigrants, refugees, or members of other minorities.

Neighbours United is committed to a safe work and volunteer space for everyone. All staff and board members have completed anti-oppression training. All new staff are required to complete anti-oppression training upon starting with Neighbours United if they have not previously completed similar training in the past two years.

Neighbours United is a certified Living Wage Employer. Employment benefits include:

Supply technology hardware

Paid sick days

Paid Statutory holidays and additional consideration for days of cultural or religious significance

Flexible work hours/work-life integration

Paid time for leadership and organizer training

Paid time for organizational justice, equity, diversity and inclusion training

Hours tracking and time off enforced

Opportunity for position advancement within the organization

The position is based in from the Neighbours United office in Castlegar, with optional up to 0.6 FTW work from home.

Responsibilities:

Develop and prepare outreach materials Recruit, organize, coordinate, and train volunteers to support in educating and engaging members of the public Outreach to members of the public digitally and in-person Outreach, organize and deliver presentations to community groups and partner organizations Tell the story of our progress by tracking the metrics of the program within the organization’s database Support website and social media content creation Promote events and projects Participate in leadership development and anti-oppression trainings Meet regularly with the supervisor and supporting staff Participate in mandatory organizational development activities, like donor fundraising Ability to follow workplace health and safety protocols Act as an ambassador for the organization

Desired Skills and Experience:

At least 1 year of customer service or community engagement Outgoing – ability to strike up a conversations with diverse members of the public Proven strong interpersonal, conflict resolution and communication skills Experience using databases is essential Comfortable asking for donations for programs Fluent in English, and fluency in an additional language preferred Comfortable talking with people with diverse viewpoints and actively listening without judgment to what they have to say Enthusiastic about learning, risk-taking and willing to make mistakes in the process Ability to be emotionally resilient during work hours Able to work evenings and weekends, as required

Access to reliable transportation and valid driver’s license, extensive travel around the region will be required, and mileage is reimbursable

This position is partially funded by the youth Canada Summer Jobs Program (Government of Canada), and as such the following requirements must be met. Candidate must be between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the start of employment; a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act [S.C. 2001, c. 27]*; and legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial / territorial legislation and regulations.

*International students are not eligible. Recent immigrants are eligible if they are Canadian Citizens or permanent residents

Additional:

To apply:

Applicants are encouraged to identify in their applications if they are Indigenous Peoples, Black People, People of Colour, women, youth, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ2SAI+ communities, new immigrants, refugees, and/or are members of other visible minorities. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis with the intention to hire as soon as possible.

Send a cover letter and CV to jobs@neighboursunited.org with the subject line reading “education outreach program coordinator-16 weeks” We thank all who apply and only those considered for the position will be contacted for interviews.