Position Title:
Coordinator of Volunteer Programming and Community Engagement
Details:
- 40 hours/week (Full-time)
- One year contract position
- Unionized with CUPE 1281
- Salary: $23.81/hour plus health benefits
Date Posting: August 5th, 2021
Application Deadline: August 26th, 2021 @ 11:59PM (midnight)
Position Effective: mid to late September, 2021
OPIRG welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our organization, and invites Indigenous 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.
Accountability:
As an organization working towards social and environmental justice on lands that have been stolen from Indigenous peoples through colonization, we are primarily accountable to the Indigenous communities of these lands. Part of holding ourselves accountable to Indigenous communities means that our work should not replicate the systems of violence that Black folks, Indigenous folks, and People of Color continue to face in so-called Canada. We aim to work from an anti-oppressive and anti-racist approach as we continue to challenge all forms of oppression.
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 cooperatively 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, and to schedule appropriate time in lieu off to compensate for the overtime worked.
The Coordinator of Volunteer Programming and Community Engagement is accountable and reports to the Board of Directors of OPIRG Guelph.
Position Summary:
The Coordinator of Volunteer Programming and Community Engagement is responsible for directing and coordinating our volunteer programming, events, and community engagement (activism and education programs) in a way that aligns with OPIRG Guelph’s Mission, Mandate and Strategic Plan.
We deeply value collaboration. Part of this role will include working with other staff and the Board of Directors on key areas including: events, finances, office administration, board support, staff support and participating in our Ontario-wide network of PIRGs (Provincial Network).
All of our staff are responsible for actively engaging in the collective work of deepening our analysis of racism, colonialism, white supremacy, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, sexism, ageism, etc. from an intersectional feminist perspective. As a team, we will provide ongoing support for one another to continue to do better and show up in good ways for the communities we are accountable to.
Key Responsibility Areas:
Volunteer Programming:
- Recruitment: Annually conduct the initial recruitment of volunteers by employing a variety of media – travelling displays, posters, ads, public service announcements, information meetings etc. Assist in the continued recruitment of volunteers through the resource centre/office, general promotion, and active contact with other groups (e.g. campus clubs, community organizations)
- Orientation and Placement: Ensure each participant in OPIRG receives adequate orientation to the organization and is placed in a suitable volunteer role. A variety of methods should be employed including: meetings, personal interviews, other volunteers, documentation etc.
- Training: Identify training needs of volunteers, and develop training opportunities and methods. Training is provided in a variety of ways: workshops by skilled facilitators, OPIRG staff or volunteers, one-on-one instruction, documentation, and by example. Facilitate participation of volunteers in the Provincial Public Interest School. Facilitate ongoing training and group discussion around anti-oppression and anti-racism for all volunteers. This is a really important aspect of this work as we aim to centre equity, diversity and inclusion and to challenge oppressive systems in all of our work.
- Tracking: Review the activities of volunteers and Action Groups to offer assistance, determine needs, ensure adherence to the organization’s policies and procedures, and to evaluate the volunteer program; maintain the volunteer database.
- Support: Provide on-going assistance to volunteer/Action Group initiatives via development of volunteer guides and documentation, and attending Action Group meetings as needed. Support the work and efforts of each Action Group. These activities may include:
- assistance with creation of promotional materials
- networking assistance including providing sources of information (e.g. media contacts, campus groups, community groups, web page management, community events listings)
- ensuring office support (e.g. filing, reference, record keeping, and communication materials)
- assisting with goal planning, budget development, evaluations, group dynamics, research, troubleshooting, and record keeping
- assisting with applications for Provincial Networking Meeting funding;
- assisting with logistics for Volunteer Work Group activities (e.g. room bookings, equipment rentals), facilitate communication between volunteers and Action Groups
- facilitating co-sponsorship requests as required and/or appropriate.
- Appreciation: Recognize and celebrate volunteer achievement (e.g. newsletters, social events, Dawn Gugler Activist Training Award).
Community Engagement (Activism and Education Programs)
In coordination with the Volunteer Program activities, the Coordinator will organize the following aspects of the organization: education, the promotion of public and community awareness, and education regarding environmental and social justice issues.
- Environmental and Social Justice Issues: Through the development, education and support of the Volunteer Action Groups, work to establish and maintain OPIRG- Guelph as a strong and recognized expert on issues related to social, economic, and environmental issues. Provide ongoing anti-racism and anti-oppression training, education and support to our Volunteer Action Groups. Volunteer Action groups should be reflective of key issues specific to social and environmental justice that fall within OPIRG’s mandate and should ideally be led by people with lived experience of those struggles. The voices and experiences of oppressed people should be at the center of all of our work.
- Advocacy: Provide guidance and support for Action Groups to undertake advocacy activities that would lead to personal or policy/law changes regarding a variety of social justice, economic, and environmental issues.
- Community Awareness and Education: Develop and facilitate a community education program focused on OPIRG’s priorities, and one that focuses our limited resources in the most effective way. This may include the provision of workshops, seminars, and training to community groups who have been designated at high priority for these education programs. Participate in other OPIRG programming to assist in meeting OPIRG’s anti-oppression/anti-racism goals as required and/or appropriate.
- Communications: Co-ordinate opportunities for volunteers, staff, and board to participate in public engagement in ways that are consistent with the overall Community Activism/Education and Volunteer Programming annual work plan. This communication plan and related activities should also include:
- use of the web, social media, writing letters to newspapers or politicians, and
- RadiOPIRG. Please refer to annual work plan for further details.
- Information Sharing: Develop and implement plans and activities that will increase OPIRG’s profile in the community including: a presence at events such as annual information fairs, participation in Speed River Clean Up, University of Guelph’s Orientation Week, creating and maintaining promotional materials, (i.e. display boards and office signage relating to the Volunteer Program), and web presence.
- Networking: Actively participate in community initiatives related to OPIRG’s mandate and strategic plan, including maintaining an active liaison with relevant community groups.
Shared Responsibility Areas:
Financial Management
- Prepare a draft budget for areas related to the Coordinator of Volunteer Programming and Community Engagement position and submit to the Coordinator of Organizational and Policy Development by June 30 annually.
- Co-ordinate, review and approve all expenditures related to the annual approved budget for the 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.
Office Administration
- Participate in the schedule with other staff and volunteers in the maintenance of regular office hours.
- Participate in general communications (mail, phone, fax, email) and organizational networking as required and/or appropriate.
- Assist in maintaining files and archives in areas of work responsibilities.
- Assist with the purchase of resource material for the library.
- Assist library users as appropriate and/or required.
Staff Support
- Participate in regular staff meetings of OPIRG Guelph and the OPIRG Bargaining Unit (all PIRG staff).
- Participate in an annual performance review.
- Participate in 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.
Ontario PIRG/Provincial Network
- In the absence of the Coordinator of Organizational and Policy Development and/or the Board Member with the provincial portfolio, attend Provincial staff meetings.
- Provide follow-up to the Coordinator of Organizational and Policy Development and/or Board upon completing any provincial OPIRG activities.
Qualifications:
Knowledge and skills acquired through a combination of lived experience and paid or unpaid work experience relevant to this position OR a relevant post-secondary degree is required.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are very important to this position. While English does not need to be your first language, 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.
This position requires demonstrated understanding of and commitment to anti-oppression and anti-racism, and a developed analysis of systemic, structural and interpersonal oppression from an Intersectional lens.
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.
Familiarity with and comfort navigating the University of Guelph or similar campus environment, and the ability to relate to post-secondary students, are essential to this position.
Proven skills and abilities are essential in the areas of computer software, media (i.e. internet, newspapers, and radio), financial management, the most up-to-date social media platforms, and facilitating adult education workshops.
An ability to effectively represent the organization in a variety of public forums is essential.
Proven program and policy development skills including implementation, coordination and evaluation are essential along with demonstrated complex problem solving abilities.
How to Apply:
If you have a passion for social and environmental justice 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
- a brief statement (250-500 words) on your views of power and oppression, and how these relate to your lived experience and to this position
- a resume or CV
- two references
Please make this into one document saved as a PDF and send it to board@opirgguelph.org and vpce@opirgguelph.org before Thursday August 26, 2021 at 11:59PM (midnight).