Employment Opportunities

Contract: Program Assistant
Organization: BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association
Location: Burlington Beach, Burlington/Hamilton, Ontario

Eligibility: age 30 & under (see below)

We are seeking a passionate, organized, flexible, self-motivated, experienced professional to join our team serving as a Program Assistant, responsible for community engagement services and assisting team members with the research, planning, promotion, delivery, and evaluation of a variety of locally-focused environmental programs, events, presentations, and activities.

Programming areas include:

• Climate change & low carbon living solutions such as Make the Switch and our active transportation and e-mobility programming
• Nature-Friendly Burlington programming and biodiversity/nature research and habitat restoration activities, and community education
• Zero-waste programs and events and services
• Youth Network programming

Specific responsibilities for this role include the following :

• Community outreach and engagement services at Burlington Beach (including weekends and holidays)
• Conduct research for various topics and issues and prepare content and reports
• Prepare and execute communications that grow and engage BurlingtonGreen’s online and offline community
• Identify and facilitate opportunities to engage youth in various environmental programs, campaigns, and projects
• Prepare and contribute to project workplans capturing key logistics and planning actions to ensure professional, organized, smooth-flowing experiences for community participants
• Work with our team of professionals to recruit and support the work of volunteers
• Prepare and implement marketing materials (posters, brochures, advertisements, media releases) and digital communications (website content, monthly e-newsletters, and social media platforms) for programs and various initiatives.
• Represent the core values of BurlingtonGreen when engaging with the community, stakeholders program participants
• As required, ensure the right equipment and supplies are in place for each program, service, and initiative
• Document relevant information, milestones, and evaluation data and prepare documents, correspondence, and background materials for meetings, including creating summary reports and presentation materials as needed
• Execute expenditures as per the approved budget process
• Work in accordance with applicable health and safety legislation, policies, and procedures
• Perform work and assignments accurately and according to professional standards

Educational and skill development for the Program Assistant will be extensive and varied in the areas of research, written and oral communications, presentations to diverse audiences/community sectors, program facilitation, leadership, digital platform(s) navigation, content and creative design work, time management, organizational planning, evaluation, metrics tracking, team and volunteer collaboration, creative problem solving, and habitat restoration fieldwork stewardship skills.

Qualifications:

As a strong candidate, you have a passion for helping to engage the community to create a healthier, more environmentally responsible Burlington and the following qualifications:

• A combination of post-secondary education/experience in a relevant field such as environmental science, outdoor education, community programming, public relations, communications, project management
• Collaborative team player with a positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organization, and interpersonal skills including speaking in front of groups in person and online
• Experience delivering creative, engaging education programs, community presentations, and events to a diverse audience
• Excellent research, analytical, evaluation and reporting skills
• Experience preparing work plans and organizational forms to capture logistics and planning actions with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Enthusiastic and creative self-starter, with demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to work in an outdoor environment, including performing functions related to community outreach and environmental stewardship, such as digging, planting, pruning, weeding.
• Knowledge of environmental issues in Burlington and commitment to the environment as demonstrated through previous volunteer commitments and/or employment.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace tools, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Hootsuite and various social media platforms, and Canva graphic design software
• Available evenings and weekends and holidays and willing to travel within Halton Region, with a current valid driver’s license and access to a car including to transport supplies to and from events in Burlington, Ontario
• An understanding and commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusivity
• Valid Vulnerable Sector Screening Report (will be requested on offer of hire)
• Completion of AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) training (will be requested on offer of hire)

Key competencies:

• Detail-oriented, extremely organized, conscientious with top-notch time management skills
• Enjoys working outdoors and in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects on the go at any given time, and can handle competing priorities
• A proactive self-starter who easily spots opportunities for continuous improvement and knows how to act on them
• A strong commitment to deadlines and following through on projects to the end
• Reliable, responsible, sound judgment, tact and ability to maintain confidentiality
• Diplomatic nature, can handle simple conflict situations with sensitivity
• The ability to remain calm under pressure
• Dynamic, proactive, creative, flexible
• Works productively, embracing and acting on the organization’s mission, strategic priorities and associated deliverables
• Projects a professional image of the organization
• Maintains a courteous and friendly relationship with staff, Board Members, and volunteers

Qualifications – desirable:

• Experience in a charitable, non-profit environment
• Valid Emergency First Aid + CPR
• Experience with Mailchimp and various social media platforms

Eligibility:

This position is dependent on funding through the federal Canada Summer Jobs Grant program and requires the successful candidate to:

• be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
• have a valid Social Insurance Number and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations

Terms of employment (pending funding):

• Ideal start date for this opportunity is April 21, 2025
• Weekdays, weekends and holidays, plus occasional evening work will be required
• Work will primarily take place at BurlingtonGreen Eco Hub by the beach during the summer with some home office shifts during the spring and fall.
• Successful candidate will be required to complete a Police Reference Check
• Position is a full-time (35 hours/week) contract position at a rate of $21 per hour, for 16 weeks with potential for extension

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are invited to email their cover letter and resume to our Executive Director at hr@burlingtongreen.org no later than April 9th at 5:00pm.

In your cover letter, tell us what’s motivating you to apply and what skills or expertise you have that will be most important to be successful in the role you are applying for, and where you might be challenged.

Please include your full name in the email subject line and for your cover letter and resume file attachments. Please note that we will not accept résumés without an accompanying cover letter. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, so applicants are encouraged to apply early. We thank all applicants, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Note: in-person, video or phone interviews will be scheduled during business hours.

BurlingtonGreen is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us at hr@burlingtongreen.org .