Sport and Physical Activity Coordinator Interior Region (one position), Northeast Region (one position), and Vancouver Island Region (one position)

Do you love talking to people? Making connections in community? Working with a fantastic team? Are you passionate about sport and healthy living? Love organizing events? Want to give back to community and make a difference?

Then this job is for you!

About the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation CouncilThe Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is a provincial organization established for the purpose of improving the health outcomes of Indigenous people by supporting and encouraging physically active individuals, families, and communities. The programs and services delivered by I·SPARC are designed to build capacity and increase access to sport, recreation, and physical activity in First Nations, Aboriginal Friendship Centres, Métis Chartered Communities, schools, and other delivery agencies throughout British Columbia.

General Description

The Regional Coordinator is a connector, facilitator and collaborator who engages with local community partners and stakeholder groups in the design and delivery of community-based, culturally-relevant sport, recreation, and physical activity programs for Indigenous people throughout their respective region. The Regional Coordinator is one of six (6) Regional Coordinators across the province who work with their Regional Leads and Regional Action Team to implement a Regional Action Plan to help I·SPARC achieve its Five-Pillar strategy. What does this mean in short? Program delivery, people engagement, and positive community experience!

Directly reports to the Manager, Sport Development and Community Engagement, with oversight from the Director, Sport and indirect reporting relationships to other members of the I∙SPARC Senior Management team (e.g., General Manager).

Key Responsibilities

Program Delivery 

  • Serve as primary communicator and amplifier for sport, recreation, and physical activity opportunities for Indigenous people within the region
  • Communicate on a consistent basis and work with the Regional Lead and Regional Action Team to implement regional priorities
  • Activate and support partner / stakeholder in regional program design and delivery
  • Develop an annual program delivery plan and objectives for the region
  • Network with peers (other Regional Coordinators) to share information, resources, cross-promotion, implement best practices, etc.
  • Coordinate annual Regional Engagement Meetings (REM)

Partnerships 

  • Engage and build networks with First Nations, Friendship Centres, and Métis Chartered Communities to promote activities in the region or provincial activities and events that welcome participants from all regions
  • Build and expand working relationships in the region with Indigenous and Non-Indigenous stakeholders
  • Support partnerships with Indigenous communities, Indigenous education departments, First Nations schools, health and recreation departments and key organizations such as First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) hubs, mainstream regional sport organizations (e.g., PacificSport), youth sport associations and clubs, events, businesses, etc.
  • Identify opportunities to establish new relationships and strengthen existing relationships in the region

Communications 

  • Build regional, community and individual awareness of I·SPARC programs and initiatives in Indigenous sport, recreation, and physical activity
  • Develop and implement a communications / marketing plan for the events targeting Regional Action Teams, First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities and Friendship Centres and beyond in each region across the province
  • Promote Indigenous sport, recreation and physical activity opportunities throughout the network as well as utilizing regional social media channels
  • Develop promotional materials and social media content for local, regional and provincial events
  • Manage official social media channels (as required)

Sport Development 

  • Coordinate community sport youth development camps and clinics
  • Build community leadership capacity (coaches, officials, course conductors)
  • Develop and engage schools (e.g., First Nations schools and public schools with a high Indigenous population) in regional sport opportunities
  • Support the evaluative processes of the sport development programs (e.g., implement surveys or other evaluative tools)
  • Facilitate the regional decision-making process for equipment grant program

Sport Performance 

  • Connect with Coordinator, Performance Sport to support the promotion and delivery of Provincial Championships & Athlete Development Camps in their region
  • Support Team BC’s regional selection processes (e.g., basketball and soccer)
  • Serve as member of Team BC Mission Staff (in lead up to and during North American Indigenous Games)
  • Promote Premiers’ Awards
  • Support regional nomination and selection process for all I∙SPARC recognition programs
  • Support coordination of annual regional Premiers’ Award recognition event

Healthy Living 

  • Connect with Coordinator, Healthy Living to support the promotion of Regional Leadership Training Sessions (RTS) in their region
  • Support the delivery of the province-wide Healthy Living Strategy within your region

Other Duties 

  • Participate in weekly Regional Coordinator teleconferences
  • Report and evaluate on program delivery from within your region
  • Utilize required reporting tools to track and manage quantitative and qualitative data from all regional programs, clinics, and events
  • Process expenses and maintain a regional budget in a timely fashion
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Director, Sport or Manager, Sport Development and Community Engagement

Education and Experience

  • Completion of a post-secondary degree or diploma
  • Three (3)+ years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector and / or the sport, recreation, education or health sectors
  • Background in the areas of sport, recreation, and physical activity
  • Experience delivering sport programming
  • Or some combination of education and experience
  • NICE TO HAVE: Established networks / connections among Indigenous communities and sport, physical activity, recreation, health or education organizations
  • NICE TO HAVE: Applied knowledge of Indigenous community development in BC
  • Class 5 Driver’s License and a clear drivers’ abstract
  • The ability to submit a criminal record and vulnerable sector check

Knowledge and Skills

  • Event and project management experience
  • Program delivery experience at the grassroots level
  • Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Strong verbal, written communication and presentation skills
  • Social media savviness and ability to create and post social media content
  • Proficiency in Microsoft applications (Word, PowerPoint and Excel)
  • Ability to think strategically and build consensus around a vision
  • Knowledge and awareness of cultural protocols
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision, take initiative, set priorities, organize work, and manage your time
  • NICE TO HAVE: Experience with Canva and / or MailChimp
  • NICE TO HAVE: Experience with Microsoft SharePoint and Teams

Other Attributes

  • Able to work in both a small, virtual team environment and with the broader I∙SPARC organization
  • A self-starter who can set and achieve goals, organizing and managing a diverse workload with deadlines
  • Detail- and service-oriented with the ability to listen, understand and respond to community and partner needs
  • Personable, respectful, down-to-earth and friendly
  • Diplomatic and tactful in approach; strategic communication skills
  • Customer service oriented with proven ability to build relationships
  • Able to think critically, be resourceful, think outside the box, and act logically, evaluating situations and generating steps to achieve success
  • Able to ignite that creative spark and apply it to their work

Term: This is a full-time staff position.

Salary: The salary range is $47,000-$52,000 annually, which includes a comprehensive health benefits and vacation package.

Location: Office space will be established in a British Columbia location central to the successful candidate. Flexibility in work location with an ability to travel throughout the province to events/forums.

To Apply: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references (name, title, relationship, and contact info) to the attention of Michelle Webster, Manager of Sport Development and Community Engagement by completing the following online form:  https://isparcbc.wufoo.com/notifications/employment-app-regional-coordinator.

All applications are appreciated, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Pursuant to section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code, preference may be given to qualified applicants of Indigenous ancestry