Community Organizer - Jobs in Lower Mainland, BC

Job Description

GSA is the only organization with a focus on the health of the marine environment of the entire region of the Strait of Georgia (the northern arm of the Salish Sea). Our focus is on building awareness of the fragility, complexity and importance of the natural world in this region, and working with others to advocate for its protection. Our mission connects the health of the natural environment with the health of the people who live here, building power in diverse communities so that this rich environment supports everyone for generations to come.GSA’s work is built on principles of collaboration, using the best available science and being solutions oriented. We strive to collaborate with communities to identify threats to the region, develop solutions to those threats, and work over the longer term with others to mitigate these threats. The spirit of ‘alliances’ that our founders nurtured is still present within GSA and in the way we work to protect this region.Like many organizations, we have recognized and are learning the ways we have benefited from and perpetuated white supremacy culture and colonialism in our sector and our organization. As a primarily white-led organization, we are committed to change, to recognizing our responsibility to interrogate and address harmful patterns in our work, and create a more diverse and equitable organization, as we have fallen short in the past. We are committed to embedding our work in equity, diversity and inclusion and ensuring that our mission is one that is inclusive of all communities and people, and we look forward to the Community Organizer joining us on this journey and bringing their unique perspective to our team.We particularly welcome applications from individuals who are from marginalized communities, as we continue our journey of learning and unlearning, transforming into a more just, equitable and inclusive organization and bringing that lens to the work.Most of the staff at GSA work from their home offices on the unceded territories of many Coast Salish Nations. We also have 2 offices, one on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) people (known as Vancouver) and one on the territories of the Snuneymuxw people (known as Nanaimo).About the positionGSA is hiring a Community Organizer, who will be responsible for building our grassroots infrastructure and capacity, with a focus on patiently building relationships,and training grassroots activists; developing and strengthening our community relationships and partnerships, spending time listening to community concerns in order to help broaden our networks and better reflect the interests of communities we are active in; and supporting our campaigns around climate action, protection of at-risk species (with a particular focus on the Lower Fraser River), fossil fuel infrastructure development, pollution and contaminants, and other threats to ecosystems and communities by engaging and connecting communities to our work, as well as mobilizing supporters around strategic asks to decision makers.The Community Organizer will do a wide variety of organizing work, including volunteer recruitment, skills-based training, events planning, one-on-one check-ins and debriefs, public presentations, and hosting network meetings. You will also help develop our internal grassroots infrastructure and systems, working on everything from database protocols to training tools. You will work independently, as well as with stakeholders and changemakers around the Salish Sea (virtually and in-person when it is safe to do so), and you should be comfortable taking many ferry rides. The work will be dynamic and fast paced, with days potentially being very different from one another.This position works closely with other team members, and reports to the Executive Director.You will succeed in this role if you are adaptable and organized, able to change focus when necessary while keeping in mind our core priorities. You are patient, a good listener and are curious about people with a different lived experience than your own. The work can be both challenging and rewarding, and rewards determination and good communication. You should have experience as a volunteer or grassroots activist working with others over a long period of time to achieve a specific goal. The work will involve dealing with a variety of perspectives on values, tactics, and political approach, and you should be comfortable having and working through difficult conversations.Experience and QualificationsWe understand that not all experience looks the same, and encourage applicants to share how their experiences relate to the qualities below:Knowledge and understanding of grassroots groups and their dynamicsRecruiting, training, and supporting volunteers and/or mobilizing grassroots supportersBuilding, supporting and working in alliances and coalitions across sectors, groups and communitiesExperience with databases or CRMs, in particular SalesforceExperience managing several key priorities and projects at the same timeExperience engaging underserved/marginalized groups or communitiesIt would also be helpful if you have any of the following skills, qualifications or equivalent experiences, though they are by no means required:Comfort in connecting and working with colleagues online, in an organization where staff are not all located in one officeExperience with systems thinkingAn ability to write plain language communications on scientific topicsAn understanding of digital engagement and mobilizationAre a member of a marginalized community impacted by threats to the marine environmentCompensation: $48,000, plus health and other benefitsPreferred start date: as soon as possibleLocation: The position can work from our Vancouver office or anywhere in the Lower Mainland. Even prior to the pandemic, most of our staff work from their homes throughout the region, so this position can also work from a home office. GSA provides systems and tools to create a rich team environment in our geographically distributed structure. However, regular travel is significant in this position, and will be required post-pandemic.Application processWe are accepting applications until June 4th at 5 pm (Pacific) through the online form on our website. Please submit information about yourself, your lived experience or any information that is important for this application via this form.Georgia Strait Alliance is strongly committed to equality, diversity, anti-racism, and to being a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from Indigenous persons, members of racialized communities, women, persons with disabilities, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities to advance the mission of GSA. GSA will make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities upon request.Because we’re a small staff with limited capacity, please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.