Summer jobs, Student jobs

Position: Environmental Assistant
Type: age 30 & under / summer
Organization: Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary
Location: Swan Lake, Victoria BC (on site)

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society is hiring one ‘Environmental Assistant'. (Contingent on successful Canada Summer Jobs funding)

To be eligible to participate in this initiative, individuals must meet the Canada Summer Jobs criteria:

• Between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive)
• Legally entitled to work in Canada
• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or granted refugee status

About Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary:

The Nature Sanctuary Society is a registered non-profit charity organization that fosters understanding and appreciation of nature through direct experience. For 50 years the Sanctuary lands have provided a conserved space for an incredible array of native plants and animals, and educational programming for millions of people to forge deeper connections to nature.

We acknowledge the lək ̓ʷəŋən-speaking Peoples (Songhees and Esquimalt/Kosapsum) on whose territory the Nature Sanctuary stands, and the lək ̓ʷəŋən-speaking and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples — including the W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) — whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.

We respect the vital relationships of First Peoples with these lands and waters for countless generations. We are honoured to receive Indigenous guidance and welcome collaboration in stewardship and appreciation of the Nature Sanctuary.

The Nature Sanctuary lands are owned by Saanich, except for two small parcels which are Nature Trust BC Lands. The lands are governed by the volunteer Board of Directors of the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society, a non-profit and Registered Charity organization, under the terms of a Land Management Agreement between the Society and the Municipality of Saanich.

Read more about the Nature Sanctuary by navigating the links at the following URL.

About the position:

The Environmental Assistant will help with ecological restoration and conservation of the lands and waters. To be successful in this role, you should have a pleasant personality and the ability to work in all types of weather. You should also be able to communicate well with the public of all ages. An interest and aptitude for carefully tracking data are desirable.

Specifications:

• One (1) position available on site in Victoria, BC
• Full time 35 hours/week, $22.00/h, 8-week contract with possibility for extension
• General team schedule is Monday – Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm (0.5h unpaid lunch)
• Some schedule flexibility required to support occasional meetings and other events

The Environmental Assistant will:

• Regularly take readings of water quality at Swan Lake and other inflows on site.
• Regularly conduct biodiversity surveys including those for plants and animals (e.g. endangered Western painted turtles and other rare and threatened species)
• Conduct other tests (such as soil analyses), and monitoring of other relevant information (e.g. temperature, precipitation, etc.).
• Use mapping software (e.g. GIS) for documentation.
• Analyze data and produce tables and graphs to represent the data.
• Write reports summarizing the data for both a scientific audience and public/general science communication.
• Communicate with visitors and the public about the initiatives taking place on site.
• Contribute to public relations/communications/social media posts regarding biodiversity monitoring happening at Swan Lake and Christmas Hill.
• Collaborate with other team members on restoration and conservation initiatives.
• Additional related duties as required.

Responsibilities:

• Regular, punctual attendance at work, in person, on site.
• Attention to detail in environmental testing and monitoring.
• Clear communication skills (written, verbal) with colleagues, the public and in crafting reports.
• Hold an understanding of environmental science including native vs invasive species, factors that are beneficial vs adverse to our local ecosystem, etc.
• Able to work independently after having received training.
• Able to represent data in clear, easy-to-interpret and accurate methods.
• Skilled in computer software required for tracking data and creating reports, including, but not limited to mapping software, MS Office Suite (including using Excel for creating graphs).
• Willing to work outdoors, in all weather, to complete duties of this position.
• Work collaboratively with other team members and volunteers.
• Collaborate along with all team members to maintain cleanliness and safety of all building areas as well as the overall site and trails.
• Engage in all aspects of the organization’s risk management, safety procedures, and protocols.
• Track and analyze data to inform planning, budgeting, and engagement strategies, and use insights to recommend process improvements.
• Track activity attendance, engagement, and participant feedback for internal reporting.
• Proactively contribute to documentation needed for organizational continuity, fully participating in the development and maintenance of shared management systems and tools (e.g. tracking spreadsheets).
• Maintain composure and professionalism while using forward-thinking problem solving as any challenges or stressors arise.
• Approach projects and time at work professionally, understanding the need to represent the values of the organization in one’s daily approach to task completion.
• Maintain openness and capacity for dialogue around feedback and coaching.
• Maintain tidy, organized work area, with respect for tools and all property.
• Fully participate in daily work to create a welcoming and inclusive experience for all visitors, staff colleagues, and volunteers.
• Able to report to Supervisor(s) and take direction from Supervisors and Mentors.
• Provide a positive representation of the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary Society in interactions with colleagues, visitors, and the public.

Qualifications:

• Experience with GIS and/or other mapping software
• Able to use gardening tools and assist with site maintenance
• Excellent communicator and able to work comfortably both independently and in a team environment
• Willing to work both outdoors and indoors in all types of weather
• Ability to identify hazards and work in a safe manner (possible need to wear CSA certified steel toe work boots and other personal protective equipment for some tasks)
• Willing to regularly work on Saturdays
• Must be able to provide a clear Criminal Record check following an offer of employment

Assets:

• Fluent in French, both written and spoken
• Familiarity with iNaturalist
• Class 5 driver’s license and reliable transportation to get to events and other programs off site
• Anti-oppression training or skills
• Experience working in the non-profit setting
• Scientific skills including plant identification would be an asset

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of this work, however the list is not exhaustive and other duties and responsibilities will occur. The Nature Sanctuary retains the right to amend responsibilities as needed.

Eligibility:

To be eligible to participate in this initiative, individuals must meet the Canada Summer Jobs criteria:

• Between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive)
• Legally entitled to work in Canada
• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or granted refugee status

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society is committed to creating mutually respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples. We strive to create opportunities for knowledge-sharing and understanding. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a community-focused organization. We are committed to building a diverse staff and will be hiring through an equity lens.

We centre human dignity and growing our connections to each other and to our environment. We believe that each of us is responsible for addressing discrimination and that we co-create peace and good relationships as a daily practice.

To learn more about our workplace and possible accommodations, please email hiring.swanlake@gmail.com

To Apply:

Please send your resume and cover letter demonstrating your experience as it relates to the job requirements to hiring.swanlake@gmail.com

• Please use the position title as the subject line.
• Attach a single PDF file for your one-page cover letter and your resume with two references (email addresses and phone numbers). Please name the file your first and last name (e.g. JesseSingh.pdf).
• Your cover letter should express why you are interested in this position and clearly outline what past experiences that you have had that qualify you for the work.
• Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

Application deadline: March 23, 2026. Please apply as soon as possible for consideration.

This position is scheduled to begin around July 6, 2026.

We are grateful to all applicants, however, due to the volume of applications that we receive and the size of our staff team, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

We are unable to provide feedback or career coaching, but refer people to the following provincial resources and other local resources [URLs embedded].