Job Posting – OPIRG Guelph
Position Title: OPIRG Guelph 50th Anniversary Commemorative Researcher
- 35 hours/week
- 8 week contract position
- Salary: $23.00/hour
Date Posted: Tuesday April 21, 2026
Application Deadline: May 18th, 2026 at 11:59 AM (noon)
Position Effective: June 8 to July 31, 2026 (eight weeks)
OPIRG Guelph works on a variety of environmental and social justice issues of public interest by conducting research, developing popular education materials, and engaging in activism. We help individuals to become active in their community by providing information and opportunities for hands-on training and activism. Throughout the years we have been a vibrant part of the on- and off-campus communities, engaged thousands of volunteers, and spear-headed and supported many projects and campaigns designed to improve the well-being of people, animals, our community, and our planet.
OPIRG Guelph will be commemorating our 50th anniversary in 2026. Because of this, we will be focusing on highlighting our contributions to social and environmental justice at the University of Guelph and the greater Guelph community. Throughout the year, we will be hosting a number of large events and making public a collection of archival material from our history. We will connect past and present members and their work, and create opportunities for planning for the future.
The 50th Anniversary Commemorative Researcher will:
- Continue the development of OPIRG Guelph’s historical archives and make them accessible to the public
- Become familiar with OPIRG Guelph’s policies, digital communications tools, and decision-making process
- Utilize campus and local archives to research and investigate stories and histories of OPIRG Guelph’s participation in social and environmental justice movements
- Conduct interviews, examine personal documents, and explore other unconventional sources as they may relate to each history; emphasizing individuals who were around in the early years (70s and 80s)
- Gather materials to be prepared for use and storage in the People’s History Project Archive
- Share this history through written and audio materials (such as posters, radio shows and podcasts, articles, and social media posts) that includes its context, impact and legacy
- Assist in the creation of a commemorative magazine (editing, layout, design)
- Support the 50th Anniversary Events Team in the logistical planning and execution of large events and other activities that will bring together alumni of all ages and make the commemorative research public
- Work closely with permanent staff in developing specific goals and a work plan
- Attend staff meetings and Board meetings as appropriate
Qualifications:
- Passion for the history of activism and struggles for justice
- Understanding of and alignment with the principles of OPIRG Guelph
- Familiarity with the work of OPIRG Guelph
- Familiarity with social and environmental justice issues in Guelph and excitement for learning more about them
- Research skills, including the ability to explore stories and histories found in a wide range of places and formats
- Experience working with archival materials and oral history
- Strong interpersonal and active listening skills for conducting interviews
- Ability to communicate stories and histories into engaging narratives
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Ability to take initiative and work independently with minimal supervision
- Comfort with outreach and public speaking
- Event planning experience
- Excellent oral and written English language skills
- Some design skills; familiarity with Canva (or confidence in your ability to learn it)
- Familiarity with and comfort using Instagram, Google Drive, and Audacity (or confidence in your ability to learn them)
Assets:
- Regular access to a computer and a reliable internet connection
In-person working hours will mostly be during the day at the OPIRG office, with some flexibility and some remote work.
OPIRG welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our organization, and invites Black, Indigenous and racialized people, poor and working class people and those on social assistance, women, Intersex people, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and queer people; transgender, nonbinary and gender diverse people, Two-spirit people; single parents, members of ethnic minorities, newcomers and immigrants, people from non-academic backgrounds and disabled, chronically ill or neurodiverse people, people with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related illnesses, people with experiences of incarceration and/or records of offences except where it relates to bona-fide employment qualifications, people involved in or with experiences in sex work to apply. We encourage applicants to describe the contributions and experiences they would bring to the OPIRG organization in their cover letter.
We regret that the OPIRG Guelph office is not currently wheelchair accessible, however arrangements can be made such that office access is not necessary.
This job is for 8 weeks (June 8 – July 31) for a total of 280 hours at an average of 35 hours per week. The pay is $23.00 per hour.
To apply, please submit the following two things in pdf format to both organizational@opirgguelph.org and vpce@opirgguelph.org
- Cover Letter (approx. one page)
- Resume
If you have any questions about the position, qualifications, or the application process, please email Mandy at organizational@opirgguelph.org.