The Ontario Public Interest Research Group — Carleton (OPIRG-Carleton) is seeking applications for a Financial and Organisational Development Coordinator. This is a 52-55 week, full-time contract position to cover a leave from approximately June 9th 2011-June 22nd 2012.
OPIRG-Carleton is a student funded and directed organization with a mandate to support research, education, and action on environmental and social justice issues. OPIRG-Carleton endeavours to foster a non-hierarchical working environment by following consensus decision-making processes. OPIRG-Carleton strives to be an anti-oppressive working environment
OPIRG-Carleton has a high turnover in volunteers and staff provide continuity and stability in this ever-changing organisation. They carry out critical support work that maintains the integrity of the organization, assist volunteers in their activism, and provide connections to other activists and organizations. They have an awareness of and interest in issues relating to combating racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, ableism and other forms of discrimination, and the ability to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. OPIRG-Carleton is a small office environment so staff work collaboratively.
Responsibilities:
Finances:
* Manage the organization’s financial resources;
* Responsible for complete financial management of the organization, including bookkeeping, budget setting, audit preparation, payroll, remittances, accounts payable, accounts receivable and so on;
* Maintain financial systems and records and provide financial information;
* Examine accounting records, perform financial analysis and prepare financial statements and reports;
* Plan, prepare and administer the annual budget in consultation with the employer;
* Provide regular financial reports to the employer and report financial concerns and irregularities promptly;
* Schedule the annual audit and assists accountant with the auditing of the books;
* Develop and deliver financial training to the Board of Directors;
* Provide financial management training to volunteers and staff, as required;
* Coordinate refund periods;
* Communicate with Provincial bookkeeper and finance committee as required;
* Write grant proposals.
Organisational & Board Development
* Coordinate strategic planning, the development of annual goal plans and budget, and staff/board recognition;
* Assist with regular, special and committee meetings of the Board, elections and participate in meetings as appropriate and/or required;
* Assist the Board of Directors in board recruitment, orientation, placement, training, policy development, and local AGM preparation and facilitation;
* Establish and maintain systems that support organizational learning and memory (e.g. overall filing systems, archives, operating manuals);
* Supervise grant and work-study staff as required and/or appropriate;
* Assist the Board of Directors in promotion and awarding of the Terry Cottam Research Bursary.
General Duties:
* Submit timely documentation of work completed via staff reports;
* Communicate with the employer on regular basis and attend meetings when required;
* Participate with other staff and volunteers in the maintenance of regular office hours, cleaning, maintenance, and improvements;
* Participate in general communications (mail, phone, fax, email) and organisational networking as required and/or appropriate;
* Participate in regular staff meetings, performance reviews, and work plan development;
* Acquire training for professional development as appropriate and/or required.
* Support and assist staff & Board of Directors in fundraising/programming/coalitions as appropriate and/or required (e.g. Speakers Tours, Demonstrations, Radical Frosh activities, etc.);
* Participate in programming to meet organizational anti-oppression/anti-racism goals as required and/or appropriate.
Provincial:
* Attend Provincial meetings and participates in provincial network activities as required.
Qualifications
MUST have demonstrable:
* Bookkeeping, payroll, budgeting and finance experience including use of simply accounting software program;
* Administrative knowledge;
* Knowledge and skills in accounting;
* Strong understanding of financial analysis and budgeting processes;
* Experience in managing financial resources;
* Experience using business accounting, spreadsheet and word processing software;
* Sound knowledge of the internet and email software;
* Ability to adapt to changing priorities, peak workloads and meet deadlines;
* Good judgement, discretion, tact and ability to deal with the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers in a diplomatic manner;
* Very good organizational, interpersonal and communication skills;
* Ability to work independently and contribute effectively in a team environment;
Additional assets include:
* Website maintenance and updating an asset but not required;
* Familiarity with social justice issues and experience with anti-oppression work also an asset;
* Knowledge of the campus, local NGOs, social and environmental organizations and community organizations an asset.
Terms of employment
Salary: $20.01/hr (+ cost of living adjustment)
Hours of work: 30 hours / week, office hours 4 days a week (generally Monday thru Thursday), plus evenings and occasional weekend meetings and events. Possibility to increase hours to include a Friday work day depending on finances.
Ideal Start Date: Tuesday June 7th 2011
Staff are supervised by and responsible to a volunteer Board of Directors and unionized under CUPE Local 1281, with a 6 month probationary period.
How to Apply
OPIRG-Carleton welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our organization, and invites aboriginal people, people of colour, women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, queer-oriented people, transgendered people, transsexual people, intersexed people, working class people, single parents, members of ethnic minorities, immigrants and people with disabilities to apply.
We regret that the OPIRG office is not currently wheelchair accessible. It is only accessible by a stair case.
We encourage applicants to describe in their cover letter the contributions and experiences they, as individuals who identify with marginalized communities, would bring to OPIRG-Carleton.
Applicants must provide all of the following in order to be considered:
1) a cover letter explaining how they meet the required qualifications;
2) a resume;
2) 3 references and;
4) a brief statement, no longer than 300 words, on their views of power and oppression.
Only those invited for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will take place on or between June 3rd and 6th.
DEADLINE for applications: Thursday, June 2nd, 2011 at 1:00pm.
Application submission by email to opirg@carleton.ca is preferred. If using this method please send your application as a PDF document.
Alternatively applications can be submitted by mail:
Hiring Committee — OPIRG-Carleton
326 UniCentre, Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa ON K1S 5B6
