TERM: Upon candidate selection to December 31, 2023.
TIME COMMITMENT: 150 hours
RATE: $50/hour

The Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT) promotes, protects, conserves, and restores the ecologically significant land, waters, and wildlife habitat of the Comox Valley. It has three programs: a Land Protection Program, the Comox Valley Conservation Partnership (CVCP) and a Conservation Science Program. The CVCP program creates a forum for 27 local stewardship groups and ratepayers associations to address shared conservation issues and solutions. The work of the CVCP is guided by a Steering Committee comprised by representatives from a subset of the member groups.

An important aspect of the CVCP’s work is providing science-based environmental information to local government decision-makers, to support the development or update of regulatory tools such as official community plans, regional growth strategies, zoning and other by-laws and environmental development permit area regulations. We also support various conservation strategies and initiatives such as integrated rainwater management planning, regional water monitoring, watershed protection plans, and natural asset management.  Another important role is providing comment on land development applications through a referral process.

The CVCP was originally formed around the development of a regional conversation plan called Nature Without Borders (NWB), in 2008. One of the first of its kind in B.C., the NWB document has been extremely effective in influencing local government land use decisions, resulting in the direct protection of sensitive ecosystems.  However, the last time NWB was updated was in 2013.  Significant new policy directions have emerged since that time, including an increased appreciation of the climate crisis and the significant role of nature in providing ecosystems services to local government.  Indigenous rights have also moved into the foreground. It is time for the CVCP to update NWB to reflect these important directions and continue to push the for the protection of sensitive ecosystems and other natural systems in our community.  In fact, local governments have been asking us to update NWB to support future planning efforts.

 

SCOPE OF WORK

The CVCP requires a conservation professional to update Nature without Borders document (150 hours).

CONTRACT TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

Contract tasks will include:

  1. Review and integration of the science and policy work done in 2022 in support of the NWOB update by four Ph.D. students as part of a UBC Sustainability Scholars program;
  2. Consultation with local governments and local organizations (e.g. CVRD, Village of Cumberland, City of Courtenay, Town of Comox, CVCP Steering Committee/members, K’ómoks First Nation, and any other relevant organizations and experts);
  3. Review of updated local government policies including the City of Courtenay OCP and Urban Forest Strategy for example;
  4. Draft an updated NWOB document;

Contract Deliverables will include:

  1. Nature Without Borders report 3rd Edition

QUALIFICATIONS

The contract opportunity is open to anyone who:

  • Has a minimum of six (6) years work experience in an environmental policy-related field;
  • Has a post-secondary degree in a relevant field of study;
  • Is highly organized and is able to work independently;
  • Has excellent written skills;
  • Has direct experience working with local government processes, regulatory tools and initiatives;
  • Has experience working with Indigenous communities;
  • Demonstrates a passion for conservation of the region’s ecology and wildlife;
  • Demonstrates a confident ability to see tasks through from concept to completion;
  • Is exceptionally well organized, meticulous self-directed and efficient in service delivery;
  • Is legally allowed to work in Canada.

 

REPORTING

The contractor reports to the CVCP Program Coordinator. The contractor will be expected to self-manage the coordination and execution of tasks and follow a work plan, focusing on priorities identified in the plan. The work plan will be developed in collaboration with the Program Coordinator and Executive Director of CVLT to ensure that tasks are clearly understood, achievable, and prioritized.

The contractor will be required to prepare a brief written progress report for the CVCP monthly meeting. The contractor is expected to work collaboratively with other program staff, contractors, volunteers, and CVCP members.

SERVICE DELIVERY

As an independent contractor, the candidate will set their own working schedule, but will be required to attend meetings or events scheduled for specific dates and times. These may on occasion take place in the evenings or on weekends but will most often be during normal business hours.  The contractor will provide their own office from which to work, and provide all equipment (e.g., computer, telephone) required to produce the contract deliverables. However, the CVLT does share office space and facilities (including a boardroom/meeting space, wifi, printers, photocopiers, scanners, washrooms, kitchen, parking, storage space and a dedicated CVLT desk) in the Conservation Centre (Tin Town, Courtenay). These facilities are fully available to the contractor subject to scheduling with other tenants in the Conservation Centre.  The Conservation Centre is the normal place of CVLT business. Mileage expenses to/from the Conservation Centre are not eligible for reimbursement. Other expenses that are incurred from time to time will be reimbursed with prior approval from the CVLT Executive Director.

EVALUATION

The contractor will be evaluated based on the success of meeting the deliverables in the contract and the work plans referenced above.

OWNERSHIP OF PRODUCTS

The CVLT will own all products, materials, photographs and any intellectual property developed under this contract.  At any time when requested, and upon termination of the contract, the contractor will provide original copies to the Program Coordinator or ensure that they are archived appropriately on the CVLT cloud-based system.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Applicants are encouraged to highlight their relevant skills, experiences, and educational background as well as provide insight into personal interests, and connections to the Comox Valley’s social or environmental fabric.

Interested applicants are required to electronically submit a resume and one-page cover letter (in PDF format) with one example of technical/scientific writing to [email protected] with the subject line reading “Nature Without Borders Application”. We are receiving applications until this position is filled.