Biodiversity & Forest Relations Organizer

BIODIVERSITY & FOREST RELATIONS ORGANIZER

PERMANENT, FULL TIME

ANNUAL SALARY $58,500 – $66,300

Who We Are & About the Work

Sierra Club of British Columbia Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization whose mission is to support people stewarding abundant ecosystems and a stable climate, while building resilient, equitable communities. To do this, we engage with and learn from diverse communities and knowledge systems, including communities most impacted by the ecological challenges we all face. We are committed to learning from the governance systems of the Indigenous Nations on whose territories we live and work. Learn more through our strategic plan, where we describe our intentions and invite you to join us on a new pathway together. We welcome interest from women, people of Indigenous ancestry, people of colour, LGBTQQIP2SA and other diverse communities, and we are interested in the broad range of transferable skills you may bring.

For further perspective on our work, consider our Forest Action Takers Guide, intended to engage community partners in collaborative approaches. The lens provided in A Pathway Together further describes our invitational and inclusive approach. The voice of MENEȽOT expresses an invitation to model stewardship and restore relationships with the natural world.

The strategic plan’s goal of uplifting local leaders is central to our work throughout the province in biodiversity and forest conservation policy and initiatives. This may involve working directly with government agencies, translating technical or scientific data to facilitate understanding and invite broader participation, and supporting community networks to build the power that shifts policy.

The essential quality we seek is a solid knowledge of and commitment to environmental and social justice issues in B.C. This requires a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and a passion for bringing positive change to the land and waters known as British Columbia, and all the beings who call this place home, moving all of us along the pathway together.

Some Responsibilities

We acknowledge the following may seem daunting but encourage all applicants to consider transferable knowledge and skills.

• Through an intercultural lens, uphold local Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders and move towards mutual equitable conservation that supports biodiversity
• Convene community dialogues that build support for re-imagining community futures
• Facilitate, synthesize and incorporate community input to inform approaches and strategies
• Work with government agencies to bring policies into alignment with community and ecological needs and priorities
• Join initiatives led by Indigenous and environmental groups centered on biodiversity and repairing relationships
• Create outreach using accessible language to alleviate barriers to community participation in policy development
• Collaborate with the Lead Organizer, Communications Leads, Cultural Voice and other staff to facilitate meaningful empowerment of community-led work
• Track and evaluate outcomes, contribute to grant writing and reporting

Helpful Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated experience in community engagement and organizing (experience doing relational organizing an asset)
• Personal experience living or working in a resource-based community that aids your ability to connect credibly and build relationships in those communities
• Experience working in Indigenous and non-Indigenous contexts, and comfort with navigating intercultural dynamics
• Knowledge of forest, salmon and/or water policy including conservation, economics, tenure systems, and barriers to change
• Understanding of how the climate and ecological crisis are connected to ongoing colonialism and racial injustices
• Track record of commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion
• Communications skills for sharing community-based stories and policy analysis
• Self-directed, motivated, able to work independently and as part of a team

How to Connect

We welcome your response to this invitation by email to shelley@sierraclub.bc.ca. Responses will be reviewed beginning August 15, 2022, with an expected start date of September 25, 2022.