Overview

ABOUT OCEAN BRIDGE & YOUTHTOSEA

Ocean Bridge is an innovative response to the challenge of ocean conservation in Canada and includes three distinct programs: Ocean Bridge, Ocean Bridge Direct Action and YouthToSea. These National service-learning programs connect Canadian youths and young professionals (ages 15-30) from coast to coast to coast empowering them to make a difference towards ocean conservation. Each year, 280 young people join a national network of youths that work both independently and collaboratively to co-create and deliver service projects to address ocean literacy and ocean health in Canada. Youths are supported in creating community, building capacity, and adopting a culture of service for oceans through asynchronous and synchronous distance education, immersive learning journeys, and mentorship.

YouthToSea specifically engages youth participants ages 15-18 in and around the Vancouver Lower Mainland. This 10-month program provides opportunities for youth to develop their problem-solving, critical-thinking, and communication skills while working towards a common goal of protecting and conserving our ocean. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in monthly weekend or evening activities and excursions, and design and implement local community service projects.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Reporting to the YouthToSea Assistant Manager, the YouthToSea Program Specialist is responsible for facilitating the delivery of effective educational youth programs to build the next generation of ocean advocates, providing ocean service experience opportunities, developing core job skills, and inspiring participants to conserve aquatic ecosystems. The position works directly with the youths (ages 15 to 18) during group coaching calls, co-leading immersive educational programs, and facilitating the end-of-year service showcase. The YouthToSea Program Specialist will also assist in coordinating all YouthToSea activities including logistics, liaising with vendors and community partners, and implementing risk management and emergency plans. Additionally, they will facilitate youth participation on the online learning environment, and will guide youth in planning and implementing service projects for their local communities.

This is a full-time contract position based in Vancouver, BC.

Candidates who are considered for employment will be subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Contributes to the successful delivery of the YouthToSea program by:

  • Delivering the program to 80 youth participants (ages 15 to 18) and ensuring all procedures and protocols for safety and quality of programming are achieved;
  • Supporting the recruitment of youth to participate in the program, while ensuring that participants represent the socio-economic diversity of Canada;
  • Coordinating monthly meetings, mentorship calls, and the online discussion forum;
  • Ensuring continued youth engagement with the online learning environment;
  • Assisting in design, development, evaluation, coordination and delivery of a variety of experiential activities, outreach initiatives;
  • Liaising with subcontractors, vendors and external partners;
  • Identifying and coordinating collaboration opportunities between the Ocean Bridge and YouthToSea programs and service activities;
  • Supporting delivery of the Ocean Bridge program as needed;
  • Maintaining a good working knowledge of marine conservation efforts and issues;
  • Maintaining a good working knowledge of best practices in experiential education and service learning
  • Acting as a member of the Ocean & Climate Literacy team and actively participating in team activities, projects, and programs when possible;

Provides administrative support, accountability and tracking for YouthToSea by:

  • Coordinating administrative aspects of YouthToSea programming and delivery. This includes planning, internal and external relations and communications, program evaluation, directly communicating with participants and guardians, report writing and assisting with budgeting;
  • Acting as a link between registrants, internal and external contacts, Ocean Bridge, and the Ocean & Climate Literacy Division;
  • Assisting in tracking attendance, bursary funds, participant paperwork, program contacts, youth participant data, hours of service, and reach;
  • Assisting with updating and maintaining internal/external website, phone line, email box, volunteer manuals, policies, communications, grant proposals, newsletters, promotional and educational material where applicable;
  • Creating excursion emergency management plans and stays up-to-date with organizational risk management policies and procedures.

 Provides mentorship to youth participants by:

  • Recruiting, training, motivating, supervising, and evaluating a team of youth who facilitate programs;
  • Designing and implementing leadership training and conservation education programs for youth participants;
  • Coaching youth participants in monthly video conference sessions, 1 on 1s, and continual support as needed;
  • Supporting youth in identifying, planning and leading their community service projects;
  • Supporting youth in identifying and achieving personal and professional development goals;
  • Being mindful and supportive of the health and wellness of participants;
  • Connecting youth to community partners;
  • Ensuring youths’ action projects are planned and delivered in accordance with Ocean Wise health & safety policies and local COVID-19 guidelines.

Consciously desires to improve Ocean Wise and its processes by:

  • Maintaining and supporting organizational safety standards; promptly aiding in Emergency protocol.
  • Continually improving our impact on the environment and greening of operations through support of Environmental Monitoring System protocols.
  • Abiding by all organizational policies and procedures.
  • Performing other duties of a similar nature or level.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

  • Minimum of 5 years work experience in youth engagement, experiential education or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience;
  • Experience teaching, supervising or mentoring youths required; emphasis on experience working with youth from diverse socio-economic backgrounds;
  • Public speaking skills and experience working with groups of all sizes;
  • Standard First Aid or Wilderness First Aid certification required (may receive after employment);
  • Outdoor Council of Canada Field Leader training or equivalent an asset;
  • Experience developing and delivering innovative, engaging educational programs for youth;
  • Supervisory experience an asset;
  • Experience working closely with underaged youth;
  • Experience in problem solving and resolving interpersonal issues;

Skills

  • Demonstrated ability in development and implementation of leading-edge conservation and environmental education practices;
  • Must be creative, flexible, and enthusiastic;
  • Strong problem solving and decision-making skills;
  • Respectful and youth-centered management skills;
  • Fluency in online learning environments;
  • Ability to work independently and to exercise initiative, working well under minimal supervision;
  • Strong organizational ability;
  • Familiarity with Windows, Microsoft Office products, internet and email applications, Cisco WebEx;
  • Ability and maturity to work with a wide variety of ages and demographic groups;
  • Ability to take charge and motivate others;
  • Ability to supervise peers of a close age;
  • Ability to observe and assess youth participant behavior, enforce safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior management techniques;
  • Self-motivated, enthusiastic, sense of humor, patience, self-control;
  • Active demonstration of Ocean Wise Conservation Association’s values and mission.

Working Conditions:

  • Will involve evening, weekend, overnight and multiday overnight work both in and out of town when COVID restrictions allow;
  • Involves physical activities including but not limited to kayaking, canoeing, hiking, ropes courses and shoreline cleanups when COVID restrictions allow;
  • The job requires the ability to stand or sit for extended periods of time;
  • The incumbent will work in a remote office setting with the usual ergonomic risks;
  • Exposure to variable weather conditions including heat, cold, rain, wind, snow;
  • Responsibility for self, staff, youth, and child participant health and safety; promote participant health and safety; appropriately assess, evaluate and implement program policies and procedures;
  • The job requires the ability to safely carry loads up to 25 kgs at a time.