Work With Us
Be a part of a forward-thinking conservation organisation committed to reconciliation and habitat restoration in Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet. With a renewed mandate, new partnerships, a Nature House, and a growing and diversifying membership, our mission is to provide wild birds with sanctuary through ecological protection and restoration, and support communities with education, culture, and reconciliation programs.
Be a leader in the emerging field of conservation and reconciliation.
The Maplewood area has been occupied by Tsleil-Waututh and Coast Salish People since time immemorial. Prior to settler contact and industrialization, the region featured contiguous mudflats across Burrard Inlet. Since 1993, on these lands and flats, the WBT has been managing the North Shore’s only Conservation Area and wild bird sanctuary with 5km of trails, nursery, and nature house.
The Indigenous knowledge of wild birds and Coast Salish culture in this public space signals a collaborative path forward where the local ways of knowing are honoured and shared in culturally appropriate ways. In this way, Maplewood Flats’ programs connect Coast Salish culture with the greater Vancouver public and promotes reconciliation and redress.
There are currently no open jobs.
Job Openings
Operations & Administration Manager
Professional development opportunities available;
three weeks of holidays to start; some evenings, weekends, and remote work options.
The Manager will help with regular operations and administrative systems for a mid-sized non-profit active in the landback and conservation space. The Wild Bird Trust of BC has co-managers sharing different leadership roles in the organisation as we work for decolonizing conservation and place-based redress at Maplewood Flats at Tsleil-Waututh Nation. You will be joining one of the first non-profits in BC that has transferred governance to local First Nations, and completed a significant period of growth from 2017-2024. As the manager responsible for internal systems, you will help focus the management team and sustain the charitable organization.
The Wild Bird Trust of BC is a dynamic and progressive non-profit conservation organization working to protect bird habitat and advance reconciliation and redress with Tsleil-Waututh Nation at the only wildlife sanctuary in the Vancouver harbour. The Operations & Administration Manager carries the responsibility of sustaining core functions, fundraising and human resources. You will play the manager role for day-to-day systems, help sustain nature house programs and services, coordinate communications staff, and co-work to produce timely reports and planning documents to support the organization. You will support organizational priorities established by the Board of Directors, and you are primarily responsible for ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of the Trust, HR systems, supervising contractors, social enterprise room rentals and programs. You will be mentored to provide leadership in the transition away from colonial administrative models towards First Nations governance models.
Core tasks
Administration: 20%
- Coordinates research and development of policies and procedures manual (emphasizing decolonization principles) for use by the organization in perpetuity.
- Direct the administration of social enterprise and revenue systems.
- Engage contractors as required.
- Engage with finance systems as supported by the Finance Manager.
- Provides support for the board and committees as requested, and supervises the Organizer, Communications Coordinator, Board Clerk, and contractors.
Fundraising: 30%
- Leads on writing narratives for annual and project grants, and directs and leverages staff and committees’ contributions towards successful grant applications.
- Collaborates with the Finance Manager to review and analyze donor & membership systems and manages and recommends areas for development and improvement.
- Supervises archiving and CRM volunteers and interns
- Promotes and builds relationships with funders towards grant submissions and reports, including Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Canada, various BC ministries, BC Gaming, Metro Vancouver and municipalities, United Way, Real Estate Foundation of BC, EcoCanada, and others.
Operations: 25%
- Human Resources: Staff liaison to Human Resources Committee. Drafts job descriptions and postings; drafts HR Policy Manual with HR Committee for board approval; onboard, supervise, train and offboard staff; manages contracts. (Estimated at 10% of duties.)
- Direct and supervise staff and volunteer systems for the purpose of delivering robust public education programming.
- Oversee Nature House facilities, maintenance staff, and operations including rental program, security, maintenance and supplies. (Outside site operations are managed by the Restoration & Site Manager.)
- Communications: Manage communications staff who carry the responsibility to maintain and improve communications systems and protocols (including social media, audience engagement, website, Wingspan, etc).
Programs & Services: 15%
- Supervises the delivery of programs, including land-based education, exhibits and displays, and ensures Coast Salish pedagogical approaches and systems are enacted and sustained.
- Manage existing staff, and proposed new and contract staff roles, as well as volunteers and committees and working groups, for delivering programs and services as required.
Relationships: 10%
- Ensure the right policies that comply with regulatory requirements are enacted and sustained, including insurance requirements.
- Explore and liaise with prospective partnership opportunities as mandated or directed by Board
- Direct suppliers and contractors as required.
- Maintain external relations as directed by the Board with Tsleil-Waututh Nation departments; CAP; Steering Committee (TWN, Port, DNV, ECCC); and public outreach
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES & QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge of environmental issues in Canada, with an interest in Indigenous Knowledge and Two-Eyed Seeing.
- Experience working with, supporting, and motivating a volunteer board of directors, including diverse backgrounds, personalities and levels of skill and knowledge.
- A minimum 2-5 years non-profit management experience.
- Demonstrated management and administrative skills in a not-for-profit setting, including budgeting.
- Skilled in research and strategic planning, and in creative problem-solving.
- Ability to identify challenges and opportunities, create effective plans, and deliver results.
- Proven ability to develop and manage projects.
- A high level of personal and professional integrity.
- Effective manager of people, providing leadership and mentorship to staff, within a respectful workplace setting.
- Effective in establishing and maintaining strong partnerships and relationships.
- Experience in fundraising within a non-profit setting.
- Successful track record and extensive experience with grant writing.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including an ability to facilitate discussions, make presentations, and to synthesize and edit documents of varying technical detail.
- Self-directed person with exceptional time management skills, and the ability to work autonomously.
- Relevant post-secondary education is preferred, though consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Application process: Submit your resume and cover letter (PDF or Word) by filling out this form on, or before Thursday, October 10th, or until filled. We strongly encourage applications by Coast Salish People.
Plant Nursery Manager
Salary $50-60,000 pending experience; Full Time
The Coast Salish Plant Nursery is a growing social enterprise that distributes native plants and decolonizing conservation through sales, education, and alliances. Are you someone who enjoys inspiring and leading people towards common purpose?
The Nursery Manager is responsible for managing day-to-day retail and wholesale operations of a burgeoning Coast Salish Plant Nursery at Maplewood Flats including leading the nursery team and activating volunteers. You will help ensure thriving native plant inventory and excellent customer relationships, while developing an expanding suite of services and partnership opportunities with Tsleil-Waututh Nation and other partners. Must be available for regular weekend work.
BACKGROUND
Since 1993, on lands of the Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation, the Wild Bird Trust of BC (WBT) has been managing the North Shore’s only wild bird sanctuary, with 5 km 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 2017 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 promote redress and ecological repair.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Plant Nursery Manager will be responsible for managing the day-to-day sales and partnership and service inquiries; establishing a native plant propagation program to service projects on site as well as in the Tsleil-Waututh community; onboarding, training, and offering employment to seasonal nursery staff and volunteers; managing stock and placing wholesale orders; developing educational and sales materials; and working with WBT staff to plan and deliver programming in service of the organization’s priorities of Tsleil-Waututh redress and decolonizing conservation.
You have diverse experience and knowledge in most of these areas: retail or wholesale operations and sales, human resources and team leadership, staff and volunteer activation/training, horticulture, ethnobotany, native and invasive species plant knowledge, and plant propagation. You will support part-time staff and volunteers engaged in organizing stock, assisting with orders and payments; collaborate with our other Managers on partnerships, our online sales platform, communications strategies, ecological education, and fundraising. You will lead our Nursery Growth Project and collaborate with the Planning Director to envision major capital infrastructure and strategies to partner with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation growing needs.
OPTIONAL SKILLS
Please highlight your experience with any of the following (optional) skills that may apply to you: Plant nursery business experience; business development; wholesale operations; POS operation; knowledge of Indigenous justice; Indigenous ecological knowledge; native plant propagation; social enterprise models; volunteer program management.
WBT Manager salary range is $50-60K reflective of experience. Vacation and benefits to be negotiated.
HOW TO APPLY
Email jobs@wildbirdtrust.org with a cover letter and resume (PDF or Word) with subject header: “Plant Nursery Manager”. We welcome applications from Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Coast Salish People. At least 80% of hours to be worked on-site, up to 20% remote. Note: Reviewing resumes until position is filled
We are hiring!
Past Positions
Editor/Writer
Eligibility: be between 19 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; and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
Digital Production Coordinator
Part-time (20hrs/wk), 14 weeks, June 7 to September 5, 2021
Are you a digital media wizard with a keen interest in decolonization? The Digital Production Coordinator will manage all aspects of producing and archiving with Zoom with simulcast to Facebook, Youtube and Instagram, including WordPress website integration. With approximately 80 educational activities annually based at the Maplewood Flats Nature House, the Digital Production Coordinator will facilitate the delivery of a juried online roster of programs and events. Working closely with the senior staff team, programs staff and Programs Committee to plan and schedule programs and presentations, the Digital Production Coordinator will deliver a robust online experience to the general public.
Records and Archive Intern
The Wild Bird Trust of BC (WBT) is seeking a volunteer Records and Archives Intern who is responsible for reviewing, researching, evaluating, cataloging, and (where necessary) digitizing the paper archives of Wild Bird Trust of BC.
As an organization with a 28+year history, we have a substantial archive in need of an inquisitive and capable archivist who has successfully completed the Core Courses in the Master of Archival Studies program. If you have a particular interest in conservation, wild birds, habitat restoration, and/or local Indigenous sovereignty, reconciliation, and redress efforts, this will add to the experience (see related historical info, below).
The Archives Intern will assist with updating our draft Records Management policy and procedures, and develop and implement an archival strategy for WBT’s current operational and historical records that is sustainable for the organization to maintain and accessible for staff, board, researchers, and the public.
Workplace Experience Opportunities (for 5 people with disabilities)
WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES at Maplewood Flats for people with disabilities.
12 weeks; part-time; $300 weekly top-up stipend to regular benefits plus we will provide skills development and supports.
WBT is pleased to offer FIVE 12 week positions through the Work Experience Opportunities grant. Participants will work 16 hours/week from April 19—June 11, 2021 or May 17—August 8, 2021. We will accept and review applications on a rolling basis until positions are filled.
We invite applications from people interested in getting involved in work experience at Maplewood Flats nature house (welcoming the public, exhibition interpretation) and social enterprise nursery (on-site retail plant sales, propagation, and wholesale operations). Participants will be selected to support these two distinct programs.
April 19 – June 11, 2021:
- Nursery Sales Clerk: Conduct customer service, with some retail experience required, and be interested in public engagement. Completing and preparing plant orders, manually process sales using a sales tablet and may assist with tracking plant inventory.
- Nursery Operations Assistant: Help with nursery plant stock and operations by organizing plants, signage, shade structures, watering, building planter boxes to sell as packaged items. Pending available time may work with other crew to assist with native plant propagation and habitat restoration.
May 17 to August 8, 2021:
- Nature House Host: welcome public and provide intro to the Chief Dan George ‘Homecoming’ Exhibition, represent the Wild Bird Trust, distribute Wingspan Magazine, opening/closing building,
We will pay you $300/week ($3600 over 12 wks) top-up to your existing govt cheque, (so you keep your regular and this is a top-up stipend) plus we will provide skills development and support.
If you are interested and believe you are eligible, the first action is to email your basic resume and/or a basic letter of interest to ed@wildbirdtrust.org.
Digital Production Coordinator
Part-time (20hrs/wk), 14 weeks, June 7 to September 5, 2021
Are you a digital media wizard with a keen interest in decolonization? The Digital Production Coordinator will manage all aspects of producing and archiving with Zoom with simulcast to Facebook, Youtube and Instagram, including WordPress website integration. With approximately 80 educational activities annually based at the Maplewood Flats Nature House, the Digital Production Coordinator will facilitate the delivery of a juried online roster of programs and events. Working closely with the senior staff team, programs staff and Programs Committee to plan and schedule programs and presentations, the Digital Production Coordinator will deliver a robust online experience to the general public.
Records and Archive Intern
The Wild Bird Trust of BC (WBT) is seeking a volunteer Records and Archives Intern who is responsible for reviewing, researching, evaluating, cataloging, and (where necessary) digitizing the paper archives of Wild Bird Trust of BC.
As an organization with a 28+year history, we have a substantial archive in need of an inquisitive and capable archivist who has successfully completed the Core Courses in the Master of Archival Studies program. If you have a particular interest in conservation, wild birds, habitat restoration, and/or local Indigenous sovereignty, reconciliation, and redress efforts, this will add to the experience (see related historical info, below).
The Archives Intern will assist with updating our draft Records Management policy and procedures, and develop and implement an archival strategy for WBT’s current operational and historical records that is sustainable for the organization to maintain and accessible for staff, board, researchers, and the public.
Workplace Experience Opportunities (for 5 people with disabilities)
WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES at Maplewood Flats for people with disabilities.
12 weeks; part-time; $300 weekly top-up stipend to regular benefits plus we will provide skills development and supports.
WBT is pleased to offer FIVE 12 week positions through the Work Experience Opportunities grant. Participants will work 16 hours/week from April 19—June 11, 2021 or May 17—August 8, 2021. We will accept and review applications on a rolling basis until positions are filled.
We invite applications from people interested in getting involved in work experience at Maplewood Flats nature house (welcoming the public, exhibition interpretation) and social enterprise nursery (on-site retail plant sales, propagation, and wholesale operations). Participants will be selected to support these two distinct programs.
April 19 – June 11, 2021:
- Nursery Sales Clerk: Conduct customer service, with some retail experience required, and be interested in public engagement. Completing and preparing plant orders, manually process sales using a sales tablet and may assist with tracking plant inventory.
- Nursery Operations Assistant: Help with nursery plant stock and operations by organizing plants, signage, shade structures, watering, building planter boxes to sell as packaged items. Pending available time may work with other crew to assist with native plant propagation and habitat restoration.
May 17 to August 8, 2021:
- Nature House Host: welcome public and provide intro to the Chief Dan George ‘Homecoming’ Exhibition, represent the Wild Bird Trust, distribute Wingspan Magazine, opening/closing building,
We will pay you $300/week ($3600 over 12 wks) top-up to your existing govt cheque, (so you keep your regular and this is a top-up stipend) plus we will provide skills development and support.
If you are interested and believe you are eligible, the first action is to email your basic resume and/or a basic letter of interest to ed@wildbirdtrust.org.
Habitat Restoration Assistant
Part-time (20hrs/wk), 14 weeks, June 7 to September 5, 2021
The Habitat Restoration Assistant will provide support to the Restoration & Site Manager in the implementation of the Habitat & Cultural Use Plan for Maplewood Flats Conservation Area (MFCA). This position is suitable for individuals who are very flexible and enjoy working and learning from a wide variety of projects. Key tasks will include producing and reviewing technical documents, entering and analysing ecological and spatial data, planning and conducting field work, working collaboratively with volunteers to remove invasive species and replacing them with native plants, providing support to the Coast Salish Nursery. Secondarily, the Habitat Restoration Assistant will provide support to groundskeeping and maintenance operations around the Pacific Environmental Sciences Compound (PESC) Environment Canada, when required.
It is expected that the Habitat Restoration Assistant is comfortable working in the field and performing physical duties as well as competent with computer skills and ability to complete technical office work. This position provides an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with others in a progressive, non-profit, science-based working environment.
Conservation Communications Coordinator
Part-time (20hrs/wk), 14 weeks, June 7 to September 5, 2021
Are you passionate about conservation and communications that make an impact? Are you enthusiastic about engaging with diverse audiences? Do you love to play with words and images? If so, consider applying for the role of Conservation Communications Coordinator at Wild Bird Trust of BC.
The Conservation Communications Coordinator will implement and monitor communication systems in support of the Wild Bird Trust of BC’s communication strategy. The role involves several diverse communication skill-sets including publicity, writing, social media, materials production and distribution, and other media publishing and broadcast as required. This is an ideal role for a youth with personal experience in a fast-paced digital environment; have moderate organizational skills, with strong attention to detail.
This position provides an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with others in a small team environment. The Conservation Communications Coordinator will bring exceptional copywriting and editing skills; experience creating social media content and writing for different audiences; can juggle multiple projects and deadlines; is comfortable managing media requests; enjoys working independently; is results-oriented.
Coast Salish Programs Assistant
The Coast Salish Programs Assistant will assist with the design and delivery of Coast Salish education and cultural programs for Maplewood Flats. Working closely with our Programs Committee, and other Maplewood Flats summer staff, you will assist with the delivery of online and carefully managed special events and community engagement opportunities for events such as Chief Dan George: Homecoming exhibit, Osprey Festival and education workshops, talks and plant walks.
Eligibility: Funded through Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS), participants in these programs are those who:
- Were registered as full-time students during the preceding academic year;
- Intend to return to school on a full-time basis during the next academic year;
- Are 30 years or under at the time of intake/selection;
- Are not attending full-time classes while carrying out the job;
- Are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident and are off-reserve Aboriginals (ie. status or non-status Indian, Inuit, or Metis); and
- Are legally entitled to work according to BC provincial legislation and regulations.
Application process: Email resume (PDF or Word) and cover letter to jobs@wildbirdtrust.org with subject header: “Coast Salish Programs Assistant”.
Plant Nursery Coordinator
Are you someone who enjoys supervising a team of people to gain new skills, coordinate day-to-day retail and wholesale operations of a 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 manage the nursery operations by supporting five team members with work experience, and ensure effective plant inventory and excellent customer service.
The contract is for approxiately 24 weeks (April to September). Flexible work hours averaging 30 hours/week; must be 30 years old or under.
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.
Restoration and Site Manager
Join a dynamic and progressive organization, and take a leadership role in ecological conservation advancing reconciliation with First Nations people.
OVERVIEW: The Restoration and Site Manager performs a central role in managing the restoration of the Maplewood Flats Conservation Area and the operations and public engagement systems for this popular nature reserve in Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet.
Balancing a mix of key priorities, the Manager is an outdoors enthusiast happy to spend a half day in the rain working side-by-side directing volunteers, while spending the other half-day in the Nature House office planning restoration projects and corresponding with partners. Equally comfortable using power equipment, planting in marsh lands, or typing reports on a laptop, the Manager inspires and motivates members and the public to be active participants in this work.
This unique position requires an individual who is progressive in their natural resource management approaches and enthusiastic to play a leadership role in one of the most exciting conservation and restoration sites in BC. The WBT is committed to placing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) at the centre of its operating principles and practices and seeks to collaborate with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation accordingly. They also work in a team environment with the Executive Director, contract staff, and Habitat Committee volunteers to implement the Maplewood Flats Habitat & Cultural-Use Plan (2020).
Digital Communications Coordinator
Are you passionate about conservation and communications that make an impact? Are you enthusiastic about engaging with diverse audiences? Do you love to play with words and images? If so, consider applying for the role of Digital Communications Coordinator at Wild Bird Trust of BC.
The Digital Communications Coordinator will implement and monitor communication systems in support of the Wild Bird Trust of BC’s annual communication plan. The role involves several diverse communication skill-sets including publicity, writing, social media, materials production and distribution, and other media publishing and broadcast as required. This is an ideal role for a youth with personal experience in a fast-paced digital environment; have moderate organizational skills, with strong attention to detail.
See full job description for Digital Communications Coordinator
Restoration Technologist
The Restoration Technologist utilizes ArcGIS and various software to support the implementation of the Maplewood Flats Habitat & Cultural Use Plan for the only conservation area in Vancouver’s harbour. Action plans and research initiatives require technological support for site mapping, processing and analysing field data, and builds interactive digital mapping of the 320 hectare site. The staffer will also provide resourcing to the Habitat Committee and Research Sub-Committee for the design of short-term and long-term restoration management strategies for the Maplewood Flats Conservation Area and other targeted sites.
The Restoration Technologist will support field research and data collection, and produce working reports for the Restoration and Site Manager. Expectations for the position include being comfortable working in the field and performing physical duties as well as competency with computer skills and ability to complete technical office work. This position provides an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with others in a progressive, non-profit, science-based working environment.
Communications Coordinator
The Communications Coordinator will implement and monitor communication systems in support of the Wild Bird Trust of BC’s Communications Committee summer 2020 work plan. The role involves several diverse communication skill-sets including publicity, writing, social media, materials production and distribution, and other media publishing and broadcast as available.
Coast Salish Programs Assistant
The Coast Salish Programs Assistant will assist with the design and delivery of Coast Salish education and cultural programs for Maplewood Flats. Working closely with our Programs Committee, members of our Board, and other Maplewood Flats summer staff, you will deliver online and carefully managed special events and community engagement opportunities related to the Chief Dan George: Homecoming exhibit, Osprey Festival and summer group education workshops, talks and plant walks.
Festival and Events Coordinator
Working with the Executive Director and the Chairs of the Habitat and Programs Committees, the Events Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing successful production and program delivery of the Chief Dan George ‘Homecoming’ Exhibit and the 14th Osprey Festival as well as supporting the development of educational events ( e.g. a speakers series, coffeehouses) for the summer and fall 2020. Adjustments to deliver these events via online platforms will ensure Covid-19 health and safety protocols are observed and in place.
Environmental Program Coordinator
The Environmental Program Coordinator will manage habitat and climate research, lead and/or program interpretive walks, coordinate a speakers series on climate change to be hosted online, as well as develop public stewardship programming for the field work season at the Maplewood Conservation Area (MCA). They will focus on engaging the public in priority projects proposed in the Maplewood Flats Habitat and Cultural Use Management Plan (the Habitat Plan), which outlines our goals for the conservation area for the next decade.
Administrative Assistant
The Administrative Assistant is a central operations team coordinator, supporting each role so that they may perform at their optimum, and be able to engage the broader volunteer membership and public in advancing the work of the organization. With experience in non-profits and social enterprise, the Administrative Assistant is resourceful, creative and comfortable multi-tasking in a demanding, fluid work setting. Priority will be on ensuring health and safety of all team members and the public through adjustments to operations systems.
Coast Salish Nursery Restoration Coordinator
The Conservation and Restoration Coordinator will work with staff and volunteers to deliver a busy summer season at the Coast Salish Plant Nursery (the Nursery), sharing their passion for local biodiversity and native plant materials. They will schedule, promote and coordinate a program of online educational demos, activities and nature walks as well as design and deliver online training modules in basic knowledge of native plant species.
Careers in birding, conservation and reconciliation
Would you like to be the first to hear about an upcoming job, or career opportunities, at the Wild Bird Trust of BC? Follow our page on LinkedIn to get the latest on WBT jobs and career opportunities in birding, conservation and reconciliation.
