JOB OPPORTUNITY: Summer Outreach Coordinator
8-week contract, 35 hours/week
Fraser Riverkeeper is looking for a passionate Summer Outreach Coordinator to deliver the engaging summer outreach elements of the Water Literacy Campaign. This campaign was created by Fraser Riverkeeper and its partner Swim Drink Fish to address the fact that Vancouver has one of the most active outdoor recreation communities in Canada, yet also faces ongoing water quality and pollution challenges. The campaign is a public education, research, and advocacy effort to teach water users how to recognize sewage pollution, document the problem in Vancouver, and secure support for a monitoring/alerts program that would promote the public’s right to know and protect public health.
Throughout the summer, the Summer Outreach Coordinator will work to educate the public about aquatic ecology, build an awareness of ongoing challenges to waterbody health and the implications for recreation, ecosystem function, and communities, strengthen community relationships to our local waterbodies, and support a rich culture of water stewardship that unites community members of all backgrounds.
This role will be reporting to, and working closely with the Vancouver Program Manager. A love of water with a natural ability to connect with the public on a personal level is also key.
TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Communications
• Build and maintain relationships with prospective water stewards and community groups through engagements by phone, email, and in person.
• Help to develop and disseminate ongoing public communications via print, the Riverkeeper website and blog, and email in alignment with broader communication and marketing strategies.
• Build relationships with volunteers, supporters, and prospective water stewards through follow-up engagement communication.
Operations
• Input community data following outreach events using Fraser Riverkeeper’s NationBuilder software.
• Publish “Watermark” stories to Swim Drink Fish Canada’s online archive using Salesforce software. Watermark project: ongoing storytelling, multimedia, and communications that help build a narrative and movement of people who are connected to local waterbodies and empowered to protect “swimmable, drinkable, fishable” water for everyone.
Outreach and Engagement
• Develop and conduct Water Literacy Workshops for marinas, boating clubs, and recreational water groups in order to teach them about the state of our waterbodies, the implications for our relationships to these water bodies, and opportunities to improve their health for aquatic life, recreation, and our community.
• Develop educational resources that empower the public with knowledge about the state of our waterbodies, the implications for our relationships to these water bodies, and opportunities to improve their health for aquatic life, recreation, and our community.
• Attend a series of water-based community outreach events throughout the summer that help celebrate the community’s connection to water to educate and engage our community of recreational water users, stakeholders, and other community members. Inform the community about a variety of water-based recreation opportunities including key health and safety considerations.
• Identify opportunities to reach new audiences and operate pop-up booths in the community featuring educational materials, Swim Drink Fish Canada’s digital water stewardship tools, and information about how to help protect clean water.
• Promote Swim Guide, an easy-to-use free smartphone app service that provides citizens with daily and weekly updates on locations, closures, swim advisories, pollution and water-quality issues at over 400 beaches in BC.
• Recruit, coordinate, and engage a growing network of volunteers and community members for involvement in water monitoring and stewardship activities.
• Collect multimedia stories from participants and community members as part of www.WatermarkProject.ca, a flagship initiative of Swim Drink Fish Canada. Collecting stories for Watermark Project helps our community better appreciate local waterbodies, better understand our relationship to them, and better protect them for future generations.
YOU ARE THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION IF YOU:
• enjoy spending time on the Vancouver waterfront
• are working towards or possess a degree in environmental sciences, biology, sustainability, communications, education, public relations, or a related discipline. This position is interdisciplinary in nature and a demonstrated interested in science communications, whether derived from a science or arts background, is key;
• possess both the ability to work as part of a team or under one's own initiative;
• have strong interpersonal, communication, and networking skills;
• have a desire and willingness to learn how to use CRM database software such as Nationbuilder and Salesforce;
• have solid writing and organization abilities;
• have a full, valid class 5 license and access to a vehicle;
• are based in Metro Vancouver.
OTHER INFORMATION
- Hours: 35 hours/week. Must be available some evenings and weekends.
- Location: Based in Vancouver with possible travel to other communities on the BC coast/lower mainland and within the Fraser River watershed.
- Salary: $14.00/hour
- Start Date: July 2, 2019
Fraser Riverkeeper is an equal opportunity employer; we are committed to having a skilled, diversified workforce reflective of the Vancouver community. Indigenous Peoples, members of a visible minority group, LGBTQ persons, and people from other historically marginalized backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Email the following information to [email protected] with the subject “Summer Outreach Coordinator”:
• A brief letter that describes what is motivating you to apply for this role, how you heard about the position, and why you would make a great addition to the Fraser Riverkeeper team in British Columbia (Note: this letter is the best place to show us that you’ll be a great member of our close-knit team).
• Your resumé (Note: we will consider all relevant work/life experience, skills, and training that are related to the position regardless of how these were acquired).
• Names and contact information for two references (Note: we are open to both work and character references). We will not contact reference until after you have interviewed with us.
• Optional: Any accommodations you may require during the hiring and interview process.
Apply by June 16, 2019; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so you are encouraged to apply early.
Sorry, but we can only respond to those candidates selected for an interview.
ABOUT FRASER RIVERKEEPER
Fraser Riverkeeper (FRK) is a non-profit registered charity, and partner of Swim Drink Fish Canada. Based in Vancouver and founded in 2004, our programs bring together law, research, citizen engagement, and digital media to empower residents of the Fraser River watershed and coastal B.C. We provide tools for water literacy and leadership, enabling local citizens to restore polluted places, protect human health, and ensure a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future in BC.
