Position Title: Coordinator of Organizational and Policy Development
Hours of Work: 40 hours, Full-time, Permanent, Unionized with CUPE 1281
Date Posting: February 29th, 2016
Date Closing: March 21st, 2016 12:00pm
Position Effective: April 2016
Salary: $22.09/ hour
Accountability:
OPIRG has a high turnover of volunteers. Permanent staff provides continuity and stability in the organization. Working with the Board of Directors, they carry out critical basic tasks that maintain the integrity of the organization, assist volunteers in their activism, provide connections to other activists and their organizations, and strengthen infrastructure.
The work environment has little day to day supervision. The Coordinator works co-operatively with all other staff (i.e. full time / part time, permanent, and contractually limited staff) to ensure the goals of the organization are met. Must be able to work flexible hours; at times will be required to work significant overtime based on demands to schedule appropriate time in lieu off to compensate for the overtime worked.
The Coordinator of Organizational and Policy Development is accountable and reports to the Board of Directors of OPIRG-Guelph.
Position Summary:
The Coordinator of Organizational and Policy Development is responsible for directing and coordinating the ongoing responsibilities of their position in accordance with OPIRG’s stated Mission, Mandate and Strategic Plan. An ability to develop and implement an annual work plan that reflects the aforementioned and one that can be completed within the available resources is essential. Key responsibility areas include: organizational and policy development, board development, and Ontario PIRG/Provincial Network. Working with other staff and the Board of Directors, shared responsibility areas include: financial management, office administration, staff support, and board support.
Key Responsibility Areas:
- Organizational and Policy Development
- a. Planning and Policy Development: Coordinate the strategic planning process for OPIRG so that a continuous cycle of “plan, implement, and evaluate” (P.I.E) is maintained.
- Annual Work Plans and Budget Cycle: Facilitate the development of annual goal/work plans with each program area in OPIRG, and related budgets required for submission and review by the Board of Directors. This work is intimately tied to the Strategic Plan and requires careful planning and a significant use of program area resources.
- Policies and Policy Manuals: Ensure that the Board and Human Resource Policy Manuals are updated annually. Using the Financial Policy Manual (maintained by the Coordinator of Property and Administrative Services) as a resource to cross – check updates from this area of work may be necessary from time to time.
- Education and Resource Development: Establish, implement and maintain systems that support organizational learning and memory such as overall filing systems, library/resource centre (including archives, operating manuals, and computer systems). This will include both the budgeting for, and purchase of, materials and equipment in order to achieve the outcomes as outlined in the program’s annual work plan and organizational strategic plan.
- Board and Staff Education and Training: Plan and implement the annual education and training cycle for both board and staff. Attention to both required education and training and optional training is essential. Creating an annual training / education plan cooperatively with both board and staff is an important activity in this area of work.
- Board, Staff and Volunteer Recognition: Ensure that there is a plan in place to recognize the achievements of various staff and board members on an annual basis. Special/annual planning retreats can be used as one of the many options. In addition, recognition and special awards activities can be carried out at the Annual General Meeting. Included in this work will also be the promotion and coordination of awarding the Bonnie McCallum Award.
- Outreach and Networking: In order to heighten the profile of OPIRG in the local community create and implement various communication strategies and opportunities for involvement with the Guelph and campus community and alumni membership. This will also include assisting board and staff in the annual Speed River Clean Up.
- Board Development
- Capacity Building: Through the recruitment process and regular support of the Board of Directors organize and assist in the facilitation of their training and education regarding issues related to environmental and social justices.
- Recruitment, Training and Education: Assist the Board of Directors in board recruitment, orientation, training and placement of new and existing board members. This will also include participation in programming to meet organizational anti-oppression/anti-racism goals as required and/or appropriate.
- Ongoing Board Functions: Assist with regular and special committee meetings of the Board and participate in these meetings as appropriate and/or required. Ensure for appropriate Director’s Liability Insurance.
- Board Annual Accountability Functions: Prepare the Guelph OPIRG Annual Report for review and approval by the Board prior to the annual general meeting. With the Board, facilitate the development and implementation of the Annual General Meeting of OPIRG assisting with the logistical preparations for elections.
- Ontario PIRG/Provincial Network
- Serve as OPIRG-Guelph’s staff representative to the Ontario PIRG board. Among others, activities to be undertaken as part of this Key Responsibility Area include:
- Participating in the provincial network activities as appropriate and/or required,
- Ensuring OPIRG-Guelph plans for and implements their Financial and Archive Portfolio responsibilities, and
- Participating in the interview and selection processes for staff at other local OPIRG’s when required and/or necessary.
Shared Responsibility Areas:
- Financial Management
- Prepare a draft budget for Program area and submit by June 30 annually in order to prepare for the annual budget planning process with the Coordinator of Property and Administrative Services.
- Co-ordinate, review and approve all expenditures related to the annual approved budget for the Organizational and Policy Development Program.
- Submit all requests approved for reimbursement/payment within the bi-weekly check/reimbursement cycle using appropriate check requisition and/or OPIRG approved forms.
- Undertake grant writing proposals and administration in relation to approved work plan and program area activities.
- Assist the Coordinator of Property and Administrative Services with budget and funding formula development.
- Office Administration
- Participate in regularly scheduled office hours, including front office reception as appropriate and/or required.
- Participate in general communications (mail, phone, fax, email) and organizational networking as required and/or appropriate.
- Ensure that all permanent staff are oriented and trained in order to assist library
users as appropriate and/or required.
- Assist library / resource center uses as appropriate and/or required.
- Work with the Coordinator of Property and Administrative Services to manage
membership renewals.
- Staff Support
- Participate in regular staff meetings of OPIRG Guelph and the OPIRG Bargaining
Unit (all PIRG staff).
- Participate in an annual performance review.
- Coordinate the annual OPIRG work plan development.
- Acquire training for professional development as appropriate and/or required.
- Supervise and support grant/contract staff as required and/or appropriate.
- Supervise volunteer placement positions as required and/or appropriate.
- Board Support:
- Attend regular, committee, and special meetings of the Board as appropriate and/or required. Implement Board policy as it relates to work responsibilities.
- Participate in organizational planning activities such as Strategic Plan and Work
Plan development.
Qualifications:
- OPIRG (General)
A minimum of a post-secondary degree in community development, international studies or related field OR equivalent paid work experience. Minimum of 2-3 years demonstrated experience (paid and/or unpaid work) is required.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are very important to this position.
Fluency and excellent skills in using the English language both written and verbal are essential in order to function effectively in the campus and Guelph communities and to be able to deliver the services and programs as required. Having a second language is also a desired asset.
The position requires a demonstrated understanding of and commitment to anti-oppression theory and a developed analysis on the political, social and legal aspects of oppression.
Proven knowledge, expertise and experience in community activism/engagement, especially in implementing activities that are geared to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change are necessary.
Proven skills and abilities are essential in the areas of computer software, media (i.e. internet, newspapers, and radio), financial management, and facilitating adult education.
An ability to effectively represent the organization in a variety of public forums is essential.
- Position (Specific)
Proven program and policy development skills including implementation, co-ordination and evaluation are essential along with demonstrated complex problem solving abilities.
Proven ability to think strategically, especially as it relates to budgeting and planning.
The nature of this position requires the ability to use tact and diplomacy, as well as a willingness to act as a resource and mentor to others in the organization, including the
Board of Directors (who are mostly students).
OPIRG welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our
organization, and invites aboriginal people, people of colour, poor and working class people and those on social assistance, women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, queer-oriented people; transgender, transsexual, intersex and two-spirit people; single parents, members of ethnic minorities, immigrants, people from non-academic backgrounds and people with disabilities to apply. We encourage applicants to describe the contributions and experiences they would bring to the OPIRG organization in their cover letter. All applicants are asked for a brief statement on their views of power and oppression. We regret that the OPIRG office is not currently wheelchair accessible
If you have a passion for social justice and organizational development and feel that this may be the position for you, our hiring committee requests you send an application package containing your cover letter expressing this passion and relevant experience along with a resume or CV, along with two references. Please make this one document saved as a PDF and sent to organizational@opirgguelph.org by Monday, March 21 2016 12:00pm.