COQUITLAM BC

Title: Coquitlam Community Canvasser
Organization: Neighbours United
Location: Coquitlam, BC

• Start Date: As soon as possible, ideally by September 21, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2024 with possibility for extension
• Terms: Part-time 16-20 hrs/week,
• Salary: $25.68/hr
• Positions open: 4

We're hiring a team of door-to-door canvassers to have conversations with everyday people about the impacts of climate change and local solutions! If you love listening, storytelling and talking with people, we want you to join our community canvass team.

About the Organization:

Neighbours United is an innovative and inclusive non-profit organization that focuses on building equitable, healthy and livable communities. We coordinate hundreds of volunteers in suburbs and rural towns each year to defend our homes against climate change.

Neighbours United leads successful campaigns and programs. We are the first group in Canada to develop a deep canvass on climate and energy. Deep engagement canvassing is a transformational practice for having vulnerable, emotional, and non-judgmental conversations to decrease polarization and move people to become more supportive on an issue.

Neighbours United builds bridges across divides by listening to people with different views to find common ground. In the face of climate change already impacting our communities, we believe in the power of the everyday citizen to create the change we need.

Neighbours United practices employment equity and is dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We welcome applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black People, People of Colour, women, people with disabilities, youth, members of the LGBTQ2SAI+ communities, new immigrants, refugees, or members of other minorities.

Neighbours United is committed to a safe work and volunteer space for everyone. All staff and board members have completed anti-oppression training. All new staff are required to complete anti-oppression training upon starting with Neighbours United if they have not previously completed similar training in the past two years

About the Role:

The Coquitlam Canvassers will have conversations with Coquitlam Residents around municipal climate action by door knocking. The team will consist of 4-6 Canvassers, and two team leads. These deep conversations focus on helping Coquitlam residents connect the impacts of climate change in the Lower Mainland to their own personal lives and consider zero carbon policies.

Successful candidates must be available each week for at least 2 of the following canvass shifts:

• Tuesday 11-4 PM
• Thursday 12:45-5:45 PM
• Friday 3:30-8:30 PM
• Saturday 12-5 PM

The ideal candidates are based in Coquitlam, as shifts require being in person in the community and neighborhoods of the city.

Key Responsibilities:

• Have deep canvass conversations while door knocking for three hours of each shift.
• Accurately record data and contribute to debriefs to better inform our efforts, and be able to pivot as necessary based on what we are seeing to be most effective.
• Participate in Leadership Development and Anti-Oppression Trainings
• Meet regularly with the Coquitlam Community Organizer, individually and as a whole Canvasser Team.
• Other responsibilities, as assigned by the Coquitlam Community Organizer

Essential Skills and Experiences:

• Strong listening skills, and the ability to talk nonjudgmentally with individuals with a wide range of viewpoints.
• Proven strong interpersonal, conflict resolution and communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment and passion to environmental justice and its intersections.
• Ability to work with diverse people
• Ability to be emotionally resilient during work hours
• Willing to vulnerably share stories and experiences from your life
• Enthusiastic about learning, risk-taking and willing to make mistakes in the process
• Able to work in a team, and ability to be motivated to work on your own
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Mandarin is a strong asset, as part of our team will canvass in Mandarin. Other bilingualism (Korean, Farsi, French, etc) is an asset as well.
• Able to knock on neighborhood doors for up to 3.5 hours outside, in all weather.
• Legally entitled to work in Canada
• Able to work at least 4 of the shifts listed above

Bonus if you have:

• Experience in community organizing, campaigning, or canvassing
• Experience with social work, crisis support, or trauma-informed care
• Access to reliable transportation

Compensation and Benefits:

Neighbours United is a Living Wage Employer. Employment benefits include:

• 5 paid sick days pro-rated
• Vacation pay, paid out at 4% of base pay in each payroll cycle.
• Technology hardware provided.
• Paid Statutory holidays (for staff that have worked the including Boxing Day and Easter Monday, and additional consideration for days of cultural or religious significance
• Paid time for Leadership Training and for Organizational Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training
• This position may be extended beyond the initial 5 month commitment, depending on campaign needs and funding.
• Opportunity for position advancement within the organization

To apply:

Applicants are encouraged to identify in their applications if they are Indigenous Peoples, Black People, People of Colour, women, youth, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ2SAI+ communities, new immigrants, refugees, and/or are members of other visible minorities.

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, with the intention to hire as soon as possible.

Send a letter answering what does climate change mean to you and a CV to jessica@neighboursunited.org with the subject line reading “Coquitlam Community Canvasser Application.”

Please mention you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.

We thank all who apply and only those considered for the position will be contacted for interviews.