Waterloo PIRG Job posting

WPIRG Job Posting – Volunteer Coordinator

Application Deadline: April 11, 2011 9am

The Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG) is seeking a dynamic, personable, and creative individual who is committed to issues of social and environmental justice. This individual will provide mentorship and support to WPIRG volunteers through the permanent position of "Volunteer Coordinator".

The Organization

WPIRG is a student funded and directed organization that provides support for volunteers to research, educate, and take action on environmental and social justice issues. WPIRG endeavours to foster a non-hierarchical working environment by following consensus decision-making processes. WPIRG strives to be an anti-oppressive working environment by proactively opposing all forms of oppression such as those based on gender, race, class, sexual orientation, age, cultural heritage/ethnicity, religion, gender orientation, and ability.

WPIRG has a high turnover in volunteers and the two to three permanent staff provide continuity and stability in this ever-changing organization. They carry out critical support work that maintains the integrity of the organization, assists volunteers in their activism, and provides connections to other activists and organizations. WPIRG is a small office and a highly collaborative work environment. The primary support for staff is one another, with additional support from the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities

Working in consultation with the board, staff, and volunteers, primary responsibilities of the Volunteer Coordinator include:

1) volunteer outreach and engagement;

2) volunteer training and mentorship, and;

3) volunteer support and appreciation.

Additionally, this position is to assist in the continuing development and maintenance of the organization so there will be other responsibilities.

Qualifications

-  Demonstrated interest and experience in social and environmental justice and familiarity with contemporary issues and their interconnections

-  Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills, demonstrated ability to work well with students, volunteers, and co-workers

-  Anti-oppression analysis and proficiency in applying this throughout your work

-  Demonstrated skills and training in inclusive process: theory and practice of consensus decision-making; group dynamics; and conflict resolution

-  Demonstrated ability to recruit, engage, coordinate and support volunteers 

-  Self-direction and ability to take initiative in a dynamic work environment

-  Ability to prioritize work, problem solve, and manage numerous tasks simultaneously  

-  Excellent written and verbal communication skills

-  Familiarity with a university/college environment

-  Experience with not-for-profit organizations

-  Ability to create promotional materials

-  Comfortable learning new technology and software (PC & Mac, Wordpress, Adobe Creative Suite)

Employment Terms

The Volunteer Coordinator is a permanent full time position with a 6 month probationary period; 35 hours per week at a rate of $20.01 per hour, with extended health care benefits and four weeks paid vacation per year. Permanent staff are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1281.  The anticipated employment start date is May 16, 2011.

Because WPIRG is located on a university campus, it follows the cycles of university life - four month terms (the busiest terms being Sep-Dec and Jan-Apr with the slowest term being May-Aug).  Within each term, another cycle exists, with the beginning of term being the most active and the end of term quieter. Work time allocated to the various areas of responsibility will vary greatly, depending on the time of term. Evening and some weekend work is expected.

How to Apply

WPIRG welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our organization, and encourages Aboriginal people, people of colour, women, Two-Spirit people, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, queer-oriented people, single parents, members of ethnic minorities, immigrants, and people with disabilities to apply. We encourage applicants to describe in their cover letter the contributions and experiences they, as individuals who identify with marginalized communities, would bring to WPIRG.

Also in their cover letter, all applicants are asked to provide a brief statement on their views of power and oppression. 

Applicants must provide a resume with 3 references, a cover letter, and a response, no longer than 500 words, to the following question:

-  How do you envision your role in supporting volunteers working towards social and environmental justice?

Deadline for Submissions is Monday April 11 at 9am

Interviews will be held April 19-21

Deliver submissions to The Hiring Committee, WPIRG, Student Life Centre room 2139, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1; or email applications to info@wpirg.org.

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.