WPIRG Contract Position

WPIRG Job Posting - Projects and Organizational Development Coordinator

Submission Deadline: March 24, 2010, 12noon

WPIRG is seeking a dynamic, personable, and creative individual who has a life-long interest in issues of social and environmental justice to fill the position of "Projects and Organizational Development Coordinator".

The Organization
WPIRG is a student funded and directed organization that provides support for students 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 preference, age, cultural heritage/ethnicity, religion, gender orientation, and ability.

WPIRG has a high turnover of volunteers and the two permanent staff provide continuity and stability in this ever-changing organization. They carry out critical support work that maintains the integrity of the organization, assist volunteers in their activism, and provide connections to other activists and organizations. WPIRG is a small office environment and the two staff work collaboratively and share some responsibilities. The primary support for staff is each other.

The Position
The Projects and Organizational Development Coordinator is responsible for the overall operations of the organization as well as managing it's larger projects. Primary responsibilities include training and supporting a volunteer board of directors; financial management, including coordination of bookkeeping, budget setting, and audit; policy development; grant writing & administration; project development and management; hiring, support, and management of contract and grant staff; and general maintenance and administration of the of the WPIRG library and resource centre.

Additionally, this position is to coordinate the continuing development of the organization. This may include strategic and long-term planning and visioning; project evaluation; and operational improvements.

WPIRG is a highly collaborative work environment, and most work is completed with input from the Board of Directors and the Programming and Volunteer Support Coordinator. There is also a high level of collaboration with the other coordinator in their area of responsibilities, including developing and leading workshops and trainings for volunteers.

Specific objectives and responsibilities may be articulated by the Board of Directors in work plans that are developed and approved by the Board from time to time - additional responsibilities may also be added.

Qualifications

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

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

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

- Ability to prioritize work and manage numerous tasks simultaneously

- Excellent problem solving capacity in a fast paced environment

- Project/organizational management experience, including financial administration and policy development

- Excellent collaborative skills

- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

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

- Ability to design and lead workshops & training

- Experience with not-for-profit organizations and working with a volunteer board of directors

- Experience writing and administering grants

- Familiarity with a post-secondary environment

- Comfortable learning new technology and software (PC & Mac)

EMPLOYMENT TERMS
This is a 14 month contract position to replace an employee who will be on leave. There is the possibility of the position becoming permanent. Expected start date is April 12th, or sooner if possible. The position is 35 - 40 hours a week at a rate of $19.44 per hour with extended health care benefits and four weeks paid vacation per year. This is a fixed-term employment and unionized with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1281.

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). Work time allocated to the various areas of responsibility will vary greatly, depending on the time of term. Some evening and weekend work is expected.

How to Apply
WPIRG welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our organization, and invites aboriginal people, people of colour, women, 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 one of the following questions:

- What does anti-oppression mean to you, and how do you engage in anti-oppression work?

- What is the role of organizers in social change?

Deadline for Submissions is Wednesday March 24th at 12noon.

Interviews will be held between March 29th - 31st.

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.