$22.50/hour; 24 weeks (April to September*) Flexible work hours averaging 30 hours/week; must be 30 years old or under. The Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats is operated by Wild Bird Trust of BC, on the unceded territories of the Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation.
Are you someone who enjoys supervising a team of people to gain new skills, coordinate day-to-day retail and wholesale operations of a small business? Consider applying for this contract role to support the stable operations of a burgeoning Coast Salish Plant Nursery at the Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats. Your role is to help coordinate the nursery operations by supporting five team members with work experience, and ensure effective plant inventory and excellent customer service.
BACKGROUND
Since 1993, on lands and waters belonging to the Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) since time immemorial, the Wild Bird Trust of BC (WBT) has been managing the North Shore’s only wild bird sanctuary, with 5km of trails, plant nursery, and nature house. Prior to settler contact and industrialization, the region featured contiguous mudflats across Burrard Inlet. The reintroduction of Indigenous knowledge of wild birds and Coast Salish culture in this public space in 2016 signals a collaborative path forward where the natural and social history and local Indigenous knowledge can be honoured. In this way, Maplewood Flats’ programs connect Coast Salish culture with the greater Vancouver public and promotes reconciliation and redress.
The Coast Salish Plant Nursery is a modest social enterprise that connects plants with people through sales, education and consulting. To support the nursery operations, we are working with this BC government funded program. The Work Experience Opportunities (WEO) Program is a provincial initiative to provide work experience opportunities to those with barriers to employment. Participant eligibility included any individuals qualified to receive income assistance or disability assistance, as well as Indigenous people on reserve qualified to receive federal assistance.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Nursery Team Supervisor will be working closely with the Restoration and Site Manager in onboarding, training, and offering employment and life skills supports to 5 participants engaged through WEO. The ideal candidate will bring their experience and knowledge in retail or wholesale operations, human resources or team supervision, staff and volunteer training. You will support WEO participants engaged in organizing stock, assisting with orders and payments, collaborate with the Site & Restoration Manager to maintain nursery infrastructure, and collaborate with Communications Director with our online sales platform. If time allows, support product development and ecological education that is at the core of our social enterprise, and participate on next steps for our Nursery Growth Project.
OPTIONAL SKILLS: Please highlight your experience with any of the following optional skills that may apply to you: Nursery business experience wholesale operations; knowledge of Indigenous issues and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK); horticulture, ethnobotany; native and invasive species plant knowledge; social enterprises; volunteer program management.
*Contract duration is approximately 24 weeks starting ASAP with the total contract duration dependent on securing funding, with $16000 the estimated total to be confirmed upon hiring. Employment funding requirement for candidates to be 30 years old or under, and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or received refugee protection.
HOW TO APPLY: email jobs@wildbirdtrust.org with a cover letter and resume (PDF or Word) with subject header: “Nursery Coordinator”. We welcome applications from Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Coast Salish People. At least 75% of hours to be worked on-site, upto 25% remote. Reviewing resumes until position filled.
