Ontario Job Creation Partnerships (JCP) is an employment program provided by Employment Ontario. To participate, you must be unemployed and meet one of the following conditions: have established a claim for Employment Insurance benefits or that the Employment Insurance benefit period ended within the past three years; or established a claim for Employment Insurance maternity or parental benefits and were paid benefits within the past five years, and are re-entering the labour force after having left it to care for newborn or newly adopted children.
Summary
The Project Assistant will assist in the development and delivery of our urban forest projects. The ideal candidate is passionate about trees, enjoys working on a number of different projects at a time, has a solid technical background and excellent communication skills.
Pay
Pay is equivalent to EI Benefits ($423/week for a 37.5 hour work week).
Qualifications
* Bachelor’s Degree in Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Biology, Forestry , Botany or Landscape Architecture and/or an Environmental Technician or Ecosystem Restoration Diploma or other related degree/diploma.
Experience
* Preferably some experience in the administration of environmental programs as well as ecological restoration projects
Skills
* Flexible, used to dealing with multiple projects at a time
* Excellent time management skills
* Good tree and plant identification skills
* Report writing skills
* GIS and/or Microsoft Access experience an asset
* Volunteer management experience skills an asset
* Experience in site planning and/or invasive species removal an asset
* Public speaking and education skills an asset
Other requirements
* Valid Ontario driver’s license and access to a vehicle
Responsibilities
The Project Assistant will assist with the delivery of several ReForest London programs, including our Park Naturalizations, Greening our Schoolyards, Aftercare and the Million Tree Challenge.
The position will involve a mix of research, field work and participation at community meetings. Tasks may include any of the following:
* Develop a project database so accurate records about all projects can be created and maintained.
* Develop summary sheets of best practices for planting and aftercare
* Develop and implement a monitoring and invasive species removal program for our sites
* Work with schools to ensure upkeep of previous plantings
* Assist with community planting and aftercare events
* Help develop Million Tree Challenge partner toolkits and lunch and learn presentations
* Help administer the TD GreenStreets program
* Assist with vegetation inventories
* Research policy recommendations related to urban forests
* Attend community planning meetings for environmentally sensitive areas, forest management strategies, etc.
* Create a map of past RFL planting sites using ArcGIS
* Locate additional planting sites in Medway Creek watershed and other private and city-owned properties
* Help develop a draft micro-nursery and native seed collection proposal
* Participate in job-relevant ReForest London Board committees.
While all of the above tasks are being considered for this position, the position itself is a new one for our organization and we would look forward to working with the successful candidate to tailor the position to their particular skills and interests.
Please note that this position will include some physical labour (manual European Buckthorn removal, tool management, and planting and handling trees on planting days).
To apply
Apply by January 9, 2012 to amber@reforestlondon.ca. Send cover letter detailing how your skills, experience, and education fit with this position, along with your resume, in Word or PDF format. All applications received will be acknowledged with a reply email. However, only those to be invited for an interview will be contacted. Start date is January 23, 2012. No phone calls please.
