Feb 07, 2015

Summer Employment Opportunity – Iris Griffith Interpretive Centre Assistants

Employment: May – August, 2015. Salary: $14 / hr, 40 hours per week.

Job Description

These jobs are based at the Iris Griffith Interpretive Centre (15386 Sunshine Coast Highway, Madeira Park, BC) on BC’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. The Centre is run by the Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve Society, a non-profit, charitable organization. The goal of the Society is to preserve and enhance the natural habitat and wildlife of the Reserve, to partake in environmental education, to assist in monitoring and improving the ecological health of the region, and to offer facilities for educational programs, research, events and studies. In 2005, the Society built and opened the Iris Griffith Centre – an educational facility and model green building designed to enable visitors to explore and appreciate the natural wonders of the Sunshine Coast and to learn about environmental stewardship and sustainability principles.

We are seeking a team of 4 Summer Students, each of whom will be given a specialty to focus on. Overall, students can expect to:

• Engage with the public:
• Initiate organization and delivery of educational and cultural programs, events, and interpretive activities at the Iris Griffith Centre and within the greater community, including children’s programs, guided nature walks, educational lectures and workshops and special community events
• Act as docents at the Iris Griffith Centre to assist and answer questions for visiting tourists, school groups, and community members
• Promote the maintenance of biodiversity on the Sunshine Coast:
• Help with the maintenance and enhancement of the Iris Griffith Centre and Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve as well as our biodiversity parks
• Organize and facilitate community restoration events
• Cultivate and care for plants in our Native Plant Nursery and create and distribute educational materials about environmentally-conscious gardening techniques, invasive species, and composting
• Assist in implementing our Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
• Assist with administrative tasks:
• Look after retail sales in our EarthFair Store and maintain inventory; produce and update public media and website materials

Qualifications:

We are seeking highly-motivated university students pursuing post-secondary studies in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Education, Horticulture or related fields. Candidates must have excellent written and oral communications skills and some knowledge of and interest in local ecology and conservation issues. Previous experience working with the public preferred. Having own vehicle is an asset, due to the relatively remote location and travel required. Applicants must be flexible and available to work weekends and some holidays.

Eligibility:

To be eligible to apply for this position, applicants must:

• Be between 15 AND 30 YEARS OF AGE at the start of the employment;
• Have been registered as full-time students in the previous academic year and intend to return to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year;
• Be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and,
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations.
• All else being equal, preference will be given to Aboriginal students, disabled students and students who are members of visible minorities.

How to Apply:

The application deadline is Friday March 27th, 2015. Please send a cover letter and resume (including names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of 3 references) by email to: Lee-Ann Ennis (leeann(at)lagoonsociety.com) and copy to Dr. Michael Jackson (michael(at)lagoonsociety.com). Alternatively, you can mail your application to: 15386 Sunshine Coast Highway, Madeira Park, BC, V0N 2H0, P.O. Box 8.