WORK WITH US

Summer Stewardship Assistants

Overview:

Based out of our head office in Penticton, Stewardship Assistants will work with OSSS staff on habitat improvement, outreach, and land management projects throughout the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. The work is focused on supporting local landowners and communities in habitat stewardship and on-the-ground conservation initiatives. Specific training provided through this position includes workplace and fieldwork safety, landowner contact training, invasive species identification and management, and native plant and wildlife identification. Our Summer Assistants will gain experience with non-profits, collaborative projects, ecological restoration, land management & community stewardship/outreach, while spending their summer outside in the sunny Okanagan & Similkameen

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Location: Based out of Penticton office. Work is throughout the Okanagan & Similkameen.
Hours: 35-40 hours/week. $17.50/hour
Term: May 3 to August 2022

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be considered eligible. Some criteria are in place due to funding requirements, while others are in place in due to the specific job requirements):

• Between 15 and 30 years of age, inclusive, at start of employment (funding requirement. Additional eligibility criteria requires applicants to be older than 15, however, successful applicants are required to declare directly to funders that they are "between 15 and 30 years of age")

• Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred (funding requirement)

• Minimum of one year post-secondary education in related field, eg. Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources, etc. ( job requirement)

• Flexible schedule including evenings and weekends (job requirement)

• Able to be on your feet for 8 hours and lift 50 lbs (job requirement)

• Able to work full time from May 2022 to August 2022 (job requirement)

Assets:

• Previous volunteer or paid work experience with non-profit organization

• Knowledge of Okanagan and Similkameen wildlife.

• Experience with website maintenance and/or social media management (not personal accounts)

• Experience working outdoors in all weather conditions

• Experience working with power tools (eg. brush cutters, carpentry tools)

• Experience working and interacting with the public.

• Experience with manual labour and/or invasive species management

• Experience with event planning

• Experience with nature interpretation or landowner outreach

• Valid drivers' license. BC preferred due to insurance costs.

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Conservation and Restoration
-Assist with grassland, riparian, wetland, and low-elevation forest restoration projects implementation and monitoring.
-Assist land managers and communities in environmental protection, stewardship, and restoration.
-Assist with contacting and supporting rural landowners and Wildlife Habitat Steward clients in addressing environmental issues
-Assist Wildlife Habitat Steward clients and OSS partners with invasive plant management
-Assist with local species at-risk associated administrative work.

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Outreach
-Engage with local communities, recruit volunteers and lead community clean ups and green ups of local parks and natural spaces.   
-Assist with research, writing, and design of print and digital communications including articles, newsletters, posters, web pages, and social media posts.  
-Prepare dynamic public information displays.   
-Work with other employees as a team to plan and participate in community celebration and stewardship events including community clean ups, green ups, local farmer’s markets, ecotourism and agritourism events.   
-Prepare and deliver information to local residents and tourists

Other
-Data entry and other administrative work as needed.  
-Networking and collaboration with over 100 local partners combined through South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program and Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program memberships (e.g. Burrowing Owl Conservation Society).

Application Instructions: To apply, please fill out our online application here
 

Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.

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These positions are contingent on funding approval through Canada Summer Jobs.

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(For a pdf version of this posting, click here)