Job Posting

Position: Natural & Cultural Heritage Coordinator
Organization: Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association
Location: Vancouver, BC

The Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association’s (VBGA) work takes place on the unceded Ancestral shared lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are honoured to be on the lands where these Nations have lived since time immemorial, and where they continue to maintain stewardship.

Our mission of connecting people to plants is rooted in place-based education. We work to honour the Host Nations’ knowledge and protocols and will continue to build relations on trust and respect for the caretakers and Knowledge Keepers of the land that supports us. In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, we recognize that our work of promoting environmental sustainability and stewardship would not be possible without Indigenous perspectives and knowledge.

The Role:

Working at both VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory, the Natural & Cultural Heritage Coordinator will engage with various audiences including, but not limited to, children, adults, teachers, VBGA and Park Board staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners, which can involve leading tours, running educational programs, participating in outreach events, and working alongside various communities. They will also coordinate and contribute to maintaining and building new meaningful and reciprocal relationships with the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, on whose unceded land our work takes place. They will also coordinate relationship building with diverse cultural groups within our community. Other responsibilities include developing and implementing educational resources and tours, coordinating training sessions for staff and volunteers, as well as incorporating relevant natural and cultural heritage into existing educational programming.

Responsibilities

• Become familiar with VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory collections, with an emphasis on collections related to cultural and natural heritage.
• In collaboration with the education team, develop and lead educational programs, tours activities, and exhibits for various audiences including children and adults.
• Coordinate and contribute to maintaining and building new relationships with Indigenous communities based on respect, understanding and mutual trust with a respect for protocol, custom, culture, and history.
• Coordinate and contribute to maintaining and building new relationships with diverse cultural institutions, organizations and communities based on respect, understanding and mutual trust with a respect for protocol, custom, culture, and history.
• Identify potential areas develop opportunities for improved Indigenous inclusion and collaboration.
• Coordinate quarterly medicine wheel ceremonies for current ceremony leaders.
• Provide leadership to other staff and volunteers during various education programs.
• Coordinate training sessions for staff and volunteers related to cultural and natural heritage
• Assist with various administrative tasks associated with educational programming.

Qualifications and Eligibility*

• In recognition of the critical importance to this role of a lived understanding of Indigenous communities, history, values, and ways of knowing, this competition prioritizes Indigenous applicants (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).
• Experience and/or training with Indigenous perspectives, an appreciation of generational knowledge, and understanding of the distinct and unique connections Indigenous Peoples have with the land and environment
• Comfortable delivering educational programs to diverse audiences including children and adults
• Cultural sensitivity awareness through training and/or lived experience and experience working respectfully with various cultures
• Strong customer service and communication skills
• Flexible work schedule to accommodate for occasional evening or weekend programming

Assets:

• Familiarity with Indigenous focused programs and organizations in the Lower Mainland
• Knowledgeable and interested in plants, botany, ecology and/or gardening

*We encourage you to apply if you think you are the right fit, but do not meet all the qualifications.

Salary: $26-28/hour

Start Date and Hours: May 2025; Full-time 35 hours per week

Submit cover letter and resume to: Dennis Chen, Senior Manager of Community Engagement dchen@vandusen.org

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

Closing Date: May 18, 2025