Job Description: 2021 RPIRG Green Patch Coordinator
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**This position is ONLY being offered to current University of Regina students, including those registered through Campion College, Luther College, and the First Nations University of Canada**
The RPIRG Green Patch is a 5400 sq ft vegetable garden behind the Dr. John Archer Library at the University of Regina. It’s a source of sustainable, locally grown organic food – part of a campus movement for community engagement and sustainable development. The Green Patch also includes an adjacent perennial orchard that was planted in spring 2019.
The Green Patch is run by the Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG), a student-run, student-funded non-profit organization dedicated to community-based research, education, and action. RPIRG exists to provide its members with the resources to be active and engaged campus and community members and has been in operation since 2007.
We are seeking a knowledgeable and self-motivated student to supervise and coordinate the 10th season of the RPIRG Green Patch.
For more Green Patch information, please visit our website www.rpirg.org/greenpatch or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RPIRGGreenPatch
Responsibilities
- Recruiting and managing volunteers for garden planting, maintenance, harvesting, and distribution of produce
- Manage and work alongside other potential garden staff
- Planning garden plot contents and leading spring planting
- Ensuring the general maintenance and tidiness of the garden and maintaining detailed records
- Participating in and reporting to regular staff meetings and creating activity reports
- Engage in campus and community outreach to raise awareness of the garden – including giving tours, liaising on potential research projects, connecting with existing and potential community partners, and assisting with 10th anniversary special programming
- Producing a post-harvest report with a summary of activities and future recommendations
- For 2021: assisting with the planning and coordination of special 10th anniversary programming
Skills and abilities needed (in rough priority order)
- Knowledge of planting seasons and ideal growing conditions for various plants and vegetables in the southern prairies
- Knowledge of organic garden upkeep and maintenance, including watering, weeding, pest management
- Experience planting and harvesting a variety of plants and vegetables
- Volunteer management, recruitment, and retention
- Interest in and willingness to work in a leadership/management role with student and community volunteers and garden staff
- Self-motivated, ability to work with little supervision while taking directions from staff
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Outreach and training strategies an asset
- Computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, social media) an asset
- Event and workshop planning an asset
- This position requires a considerable amount of physical labour – not necessarily heavy lifting, but lots of bending, squatting, handling produce, and more. The Green Patch is not currently accessible to most wheelchair or other mobility devices.
RPIRG does not expect a successful candidate to have strong levels of experience in all of the above listed skills, and will provide any needed training and support.
Contract Period: Approximately April 21 – October 6, 2021
Hours of Work: 30 hours per week. Hours are flexible, and space for doing administrative work can be arranged or can be done from home with some reimbursement for work from home expenses.
Location of work: University of Regina main campus – Regina, Saskatchewan
Remuneration: $20/hour plus vacation pay and paid sick days. Opportunities for professional development are also available.
Application Deadline: Monday, April 5, 2021 at 9am
**RPIRG actively encourages and prioritizes applications from people who self-identify as being part of groups, communities, or having identities that experience barriers to equity.**
To apply, please prepare the following:
- Resume and Cover Letter, all in one document – please include your name in the title of the document. Your cover letter should explain how your skills and experience will benefit you specifically in this role, and ideally speak to how you would approach coordinating this project
- Contact information of two references
And send it to:
Krystal Lewis, Executive Director (pronouns: she/her)
Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG)
info@rpirg.org
If you would prefer to apply in a different way or have questions about this position, please contact Krystal with the email address above to discuss.
**This position is ONLY being offered to current University of Regina students, including those registered through Campion College, Luther College, and the First Nations University of Canada**