Employment Opportunity – Expedition Participants & Logistics Manager (Maternity Leave)

About SOI Foundation

The SOI Foundation is recognized globally for delivering life-changing polar expeditions. But that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our mission.

 Our planet is facing unprecedented challenges, making youth voices, ideas, and action more important than ever. Through educational expeditions, cross-cultural experiences, science and outreach initiatives in the Arctic, Antarctic, and places in between, the SOI Foundation inspires new perspectives, ideas, connections and collaborative solutions for a nature-positive world. The outcome is a global network that takes action and contributes to building healthy communities and a sustainable future for people and our planet.

Driven by growing momentum towards a nature-positive world, the SOI Foundation is entering a period of significant growth as we expand and diversify our youth-focused programming. Within this context, we are looking for a candidate to collaborate with the Expedition Education Manager and support the Expedition Team in the student intake process, participant logistics, permitting, program delivery, and managing junior expedition staff.

Do you have extremely strong organizational skills?
Do you have a positive and collaborative attitude?
Do you have a desire to problem solve?
Do you have the unique ability to juggle multiple tasks?
Are you looking to join an amazing team and contribute your energy and skills to furthering our strategic plan by mobilizing the needed resources?

If your answer is YES, then we look forward to hearing from you!

Position Summary

The Expedition Participants & Logistics Manager is responsible for the overall coordination of key elements of SOI’s expedition programs. Working in collaboration with the Expedition Education Program Manager, the Expedition Participants & Logistics Manager supports SOI’s Expedition Team in the youth participant intake process, participant logistics, permitting, program delivery, and managing junior expedition staff. The Expedition Participants & Logistics Manager is a core member of the SOI Expedition Team and reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Oversee a successful youth participant intake process:

• Collaborate on the youth application launch with the Communications team;
• Develop and execute a youth recruitment strategy, in collaboration with teams;
• Oversee the youth application process, including the review and selection of self-funded youth participants;
• Coordinate SOI’s volunteer Scholarship Review Board, ensuring timely and equitable review of all scholarship applications;
• Oversee the youth selection process (and scholarship allocation), keeping in mind diversity and inclusion;
• Support scholarship funding partners in selecting scholarship recipients. 

Coordinate the selection, hiring and management of junior expedition staff:

• Recruitment, selection, management and evaluation of members of the team;
• Manage the Expedition Coordinator and Intern(s) in the areas of participant registration and onboarding, participant logistics (accommodations, transportation, catering, venue bookings), travel bookings and documents, inventory management, and knowledge/database management;
• Collaborate closely with the Expedition Education Program Manager to oversee the work plans and task lists for the Expedition Assistant and Intern. 

Collaborate closely with the Expedition Education Program Manager:

• Lead the development and implementation of each expedition program;
• Collaborate on the creation of printed expedition materials and digital content;
• Support the procurement of expedition supplies and assist in managing inventory of expedition related equipment;
• Coordinate the development and execution of the pre-departure and post-expedition program;
• Coordinate post-expedition wrap-up. 

Additional Duties:

• Apply for, obtain, and report on all required permits from the relevant Canadian and international authorities as they pertain to the expedition itinerary, community visits, and the expedition education program;
• Contribute to program development for expedition programs;
• Collaborate with the Partnerships team to support funding proposals, reporting, and client relationship management;
• In collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer, develop and manage expeditions budgets and expense management;
• Lead on documentation of knowledge management of Expedition Planning cycle and data management for expeditions;
• Contribute to a collaborative and positive work environment by participating in SOI events, representing SOI at external events and conferences when applicable, attending all-staff meetings, and assisting with other duties as assigned.

Character Profile & Key Competencies

• 3 -5+ years of work experience in a dynamic work environment, with experience in youth programming, logistics, event planning and/or project management;
• Strong project management skills demonstrating ability to prioritize, coordinate, delegate, and meet deadlines on multiple assignments
• Excellent problem solver who knows the right balance between tenacity and creativity;
• Great communicator with excellent verbal and written communication skills (including professional writing, facilitation, and public speaking)
• Experience managing staff
• Strong computer skills; experience with CRMs and/or information management systems an asset (ie. Salesforce, Monday.com)
• Experience working in the travel industry or organizing large group travel is an asset (ie: organizing itineraries for group travel, booking travel and accommodations, etc.)
• Service oriented, flexible and adaptable: “flexibility is key!”
• Experience and/or affinity with SOI’s areas of focus: youth development, climate change, ocean health, and capacity building in the North is preferred; 
• Bilingual EN/FR or EN/Inuktitut is an asset

Eligibility 

Open to Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents and persons who have been granted refugee status in Canada. We thank all applicants for their applications. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

This full-time, 1-year maternity leave position (with possibility of extension) is based at the SOI Foundation office in Gatineau, QC (in the Ottawa area).

Application Process 

SOI offers a dynamic, people-oriented working environment, an exciting international network of alumni, a strong partnership network and state-or-the-art programming.  Additionally, SOI offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

To apply for this exciting position, please email your resume and cover letter to tammy@soifoundation.org. This posting will remain open until the position is filled and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Start date for this position is as soon as possible.

SOI is committed to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in its staff and programs and invites all qualified applicants to submit a resume and cover letter.