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Hiring: Communications Coordinator

Deadline: August 10, 2023 at 5:00 pm

 

Note: We are interviewing candidates on a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to apply before the deadline

 

Employer: ACAP Cape Breton

Position Title: Communications Coordinator

Location: Sydney, Nova Scotia; location elsewhere in Cape Breton negotiable

Salary Information: $20-$23/hour, depending on experience

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Very occasional weekend work. Flexible work conditions.

Anticipated Start Date: early-mid Sept 2023

*Position will be confirmed after selected candidate is confirmed eligible as through the Nova Scotia Job Creation Partnership

Eligibility: must be Nova Scotia residents, unemployed and EI eligible.  They must have been on an EI claim within 3 years or a maternity/ parental claim within 5 years.

 

Position Summary

The coordinator will work with the Executive Director and program managers to develop and implement communications strategies and processes for ACAP Cape Breton, with a focus on environmental communication. This position involves creative community engagement, work with children, and ability to synthesize and communicate information. 

The applicant will receive significant guidance and mentorship in their role, but they are expected to bring aptitude and willingness to learn environmental communication skills and general communication skills.

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Communications strategy: Coordinate the development and implementation of a plan for strengthening organizational capacity in communications.

  • Identify opportunities to better integrate the work of our environmental science teams into our public education and communications activities.

  • Partnership: Identify key partners in this process and support the development of new relationships or strengthening of existing relationships.

  • Community engagement: Participate in existing organizational activities as commitments as appropriate and relevant to the position; Evaluate and design new opportunities for community engagement. This may include some work with schools and youth groups.

  • Administration: Contribute to organizational grant writing focused on community-engaged science.

 

Qualifications/Skills:

  • A variety of educational and/or work and/or volunteer experience could serve as background for this position, including but not limited to: communications, psychology, environmental sciences, or environmental studies.

  • Commitment to continuous learning through mentorship, applied learning, and reflective learning cycles (Anticipation, Action, Reflection)

  • Commitment to working with the values of an environmental organization

  • Experience in public engagement in science and/or science communication;

  • Experience with social media platforms

  • Strong communication skills

  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team; 

  • Ability to perform self-directed work, to organize and manage work deadlines, and ask for support and clarification as needed;

  • Willingness to learn formal report writing and grant proposals, with directed mentorship.

 

It is important for candidates to be able to assess if we are also a good fit for them! In that spirit, we share ACAP Cape Breton’s statement of values:

  • Action: We put knowledge into action through restoration, education, and advocacy.

  • Solidarity: We support a sustainable future for all, across environmental, social, and economic spheres.

  • Humility: We are continuously learning and deepening our expertise. 

  • Holism: We recognize that the complexity of the world around us requires systems-thinking and holistic solutions to address ecological challenges. 

  • Care: We employ care and respect towards all living things, human and non-human.

  • Reconciliation: We are committed to true reconciliation with Indigenous communities, through respectful relations, good partnerships, and recognition of Mi’kmaq as custodians of the land in Unama’ki.

  • Collaboration: We recognize that good work is achieved through collaboration and partnerships.

  • Evidence: We respect diverse evidence sources, such as scientific literature, community-held knowledge, lived experience, and oral history.

  • Hope: We recognize the vital importance of hope in facing environmental challenges.

  • Community: We are community members, and our work serves the communities that surround us. 

  • Active citizenship: We believe that environmental challenges are solved through democratic participation and an informed, engaged citizenry.

CLOSED: Volunteer & Community Operations Coordinator

Position Summary: ACAP Cape Breton is seeking a Volunteer & Operations Coordinator. This is a 10 month contract position, with the potential of renewal depending on funding. The successful candidate must be based in Cape Breton, with a preference for candidates working remotely in western Cape Breton.

 

This is a new position for our organization. We’re looking for someone with an empathetic, equity and service-oriented lens on community environmental engagement. The successful candidate will be organized and able to help us create new organizational structures and materials. There is significant scope to co-define the work plan and activities.

 

The position also includes communication with other community organizations, including Mi’kmaw organizations, municipalities and councils, and individual volunteers and community leaders.

The start date for the position is negotiable; we prefer a start date in August.

 

Closing date: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will take place in the first weeks of August.

 

Apply: Please apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to jobs@acapcb.ns.ca with “Volunteer & Operations Coordinator” in the email subject line. For a position of this type, we advise submitting a resume of no more than two pages, and a cover letter of 1 page.

 

We are committed to equity in our hiring practices and operational practices. If you have questions about this position that are not covered by this description, you are welcome to contact Kathleen Aikens (ed@acapcb.ns.ca).

 

Anticipated salary: $23-$26/hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

 

Benefits: Vacation time starts at 6% paid vacation, with an additional paid week during December holidays. We observe 14 paid holidays annually. We also have paid personal & family sick days (up to 15 annually).

Access to employee health benefits and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with 75% employer coverage for both individual and family plans; Ability to set your own schedule within the required program parameters; Flexibility to take advantage of professional learning opportunities on work time. 

 

Work hours: 35 hours/week, Monday-Friday, with occasional weekend work. Our hours are typically 8:30am-4:00pm, but with significant flexibility outside fixed programs and meetings.

Occasional evening and weekend programming is required, but you will be given time-in-lieu/banked time to compensate. 

 

The main responsibilities of the position include:

  • Working with the Executive Director to implement new processes and structures related to our operational expansion.

  • Working with ACAP program leads to better integrate volunteers into projects.

  • Creating new operational materials, including volunteer orientation manual, check-lists, databases, etc.

  • Building new relationships with organizations and community groups, with a particular focus on areas outside of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

  • Working with a diversity of organizational partners, from municipalities to volunteer associations to Mi’kmaq organizations to provincial and national environmental organizations.

  • Leading and/or participating in community engagement activities and special events.

 

Required skills and experience:

  • Minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience (experience in community development and community engagement).

  • Experience working with volunteer projects or programs.

  • Demonstrated experience in managing projects to completion.

  • Enthusiasm for working with diverse community organizations. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

  • Flexibility, creativity, and the ability to work with uncertainty. 

  • ·Organized and able to create new systems and procedures from scratch.

  • Access to a vehicle for travel.

  • Commitment to incorporating environmental values, and justice, equity, diversity, and decolonization principles into your work.

  • Ability to work with a team and learn from others’ knowledge and experience. 

 

More Information About ACAP Cape Breton

 

Mission: To support resilient, environmentally sustainable communities across Unama’ki - Cape Breton

 

We value:

  • Action: We put knowledge into action through restoration, education, and advocacy.

  • Solidarity: We support a sustainable future for all, across environmental, social, and economic spheres.

  • Humility: We are continuously learning and deepening our expertise. 

  • Holism: We recognize that the complexity of the world around us requires systems-thinking and holistic solutions to address ecological challenges.

  • Care: We employ care and respect towards all living things, human and non-human.

  • Reconciliation: We are committed to true reconciliation with Indigenous communities, through respectful relations, good partnerships, and recognition of Mi’kmaq as custodians of the land in Unama’ki.

  • Collaboration: We recognize that good work is achieved through collaboration and partnerships.

  • Evidence: We respect diverse evidence sources, such as scientific literature, community-held knowledge, lived experience, and oral history.

  • Hope: We recognize the vital importance of hope in facing environmental challenges.

  • Community: We are community members, and our work serves the communities that surround us. 

  • Active citizenship: We believe that environmental challenges are solved through democratic participation and an informed, engaged citizenry.

CLOSED: Terrestrial Monitoring Intern

Position Summary:

This internship works closely with ACAP Cape Breton’s Ecological Monitoring Lead to help implement our terrestrial ecosystem monitoring program. The intern will be able to participate in a variety of projects, including forest and wetland monitoring. The intern will be exposed to a variety of work environments and participate in meetings with project partners, including university researchers, municipal staff, and other environmental organizations. Plant ecology and wetland biology will form a large component of the intern’s work. A background in ecological/biological sciences is necessary.

 

The intern will work as a collaborative team member within a supportive and flexible working environment. The equivalent of one day/week will be devoted to professional learning opportunities, both general project and professional skills, as well as environmental science. We are seeking an intern with a background in plant identification and/or wetland ecology, including experience in wetland delineation. However, we are also willing to invest significant support in interested candidates taking crash courses to increase their knowledge and skills.

 

The Ecological Monitoring Intern will support positive environmental impacts in the following ways: 1) supply key information about ecosystem health, helping our restoration team make informed and effective decisions about where and how to use their resources; 2) contribute to citizen science and public engagement in science initiatives

Hourly wage: $22.50/hour
Hours per week: 35 hours per week
Length of employment: start date as soon as possible, end date March 31, 2024; potential conversion of internship into full-time position (funding dependent)

 

If this posting is of interest to you, please apply here: https://cleanfoundation.ca/workforce-development/science-horizons-interns/

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

This position is funded through a grant from the Clean Foundation (in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada), which has the following requirements. The applicant must:

  • Be between the ages of 15-30 inclusive at the start of the internship;

  • Be a post-secondary graduate or will have successfully completed post-secondary studies before the internship start date;

  • Be legally entitled to work in Canada;

  • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or persons who have been granted refugee status in Canada;

  • Not be in receipt of Employment Insurance during the internship

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Field Data collection and management (50%)

  • Working with our Ecological Monitoring Lead to implement existing programs and develop new monitoring programs, dependent on intern interest, skills, and available funding.

  • Collaborating with the Habitat Restoration team to apply ecological monitoring data to better inform forest restoration projects 

  • Participate in regular data management and data-sharing activities 

 

Research & Professional Learning (20%)

  • Identifying ongoing professional learning opportunities related to wetland ecology, plant identification and other subject-specific skills as identified by the intern, in collaboration with their direct supervisor.

  • Participating in ongoing internal professional learning related to project management, Truth & Reconciliation, Two-eyed seeing, etc.

Community Engagement (20%)

  • Contributing to communications, public events and visits to schools and youth groups

  • Working with education and communication staff to identify opportunities to engage the public in citizen science monitoring projects.

  • Liaising with project partners, with a particular focus on university research partnerships. 

 

Administration (10%)

  • Preparing brief reports, summaries, and presentations as needed

  • Using organizational tools to keep track of hours and project tasks

ACAP rainbow photo.jpeg

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

  • A degree/diploma in environmental science, biology, or equivalent

  • Working experience with wetland ecology is a strong asset. Willingness to learn is an asset.

  • Plant identification is a strong asset; Willingness to learn is also considered an asset.

  • An ability to assess and apply findings from scientific research.

  • A collaborative mindset, able to function well as part of a team.

  • Strong communication skills and interest in engaging the public in science.

  • Commitment to learning how to integrate Two-eyed seeing approaches into ecological monitoring.

  • Access to a personal vehicle is necessary for some monitoring work. 

 

Note: If any candidate reads this position description and feels like they can make a case for their skill set, we encourage all interested candidates with background in biology, ecology and/or environmental science to apply.

Our organization is dedicated to supporting the employee with the following skill development:

  • Project management

  • Subject-specific professional learning opportunities, including through collaboration with municipal and university partners.

OUR VALUES AS AN ORGANIZATION:

It is important for interns to be able to assess if we are also a good fit for them! In that spirit, we share ACAP Cape Breton’s statement of values:

  • Action: We put knowledge into action through restoration, education, and advocacy.

  • Solidarity: We support a sustainable future for all, across environmental, social, and economic spheres.

  • Humility: We are continuously learning and deepening our expertise. 

  • Holism: We recognize that the complexity of the world around us requires systems-thinking and holistic solutions to address ecological challenges. 

  • Care: We employ care and respect towards all living things, human and non-human.

  • Reconciliation: We are committed to true reconciliation with Indigenous communities, through respectful relations, good partnerships, and recognition of Mi’kmaq as custodians of the land in Unama’ki.

  • Collaboration: We recognize that good work is achieved through collaboration and partnerships.

  • Evidence: We respect diverse evidence sources, such as scientific literature, community-held knowledge, lived experience, and oral history.

  • Hope: We recognize the vital importance of hope in facing environmental challenges.

  • Community: We are community members, and our work serves the communities that surround us. 

  • Active citizenship: We believe that environmental challenges are solved through democratic participation and an informed, engaged citizenry.

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