Job Description

 

VENTURA REGIONAL FIRE SAFE COUNCIL

PROGRAM ASSISTANT - JOB DESCRIPTION

To serve the mission, the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council (VRFSC) board and staff strives to create a more fire safe Ventura County. We offer employees a flexible, collaborative, and supportive work environment and are proud to offer a competitive salary, multiple benefits, and opportunities for professional growth. If you are looking to make an impact at any stage of your career, consider the VRFSC. As a growing organization, everyone has a voice that is encouraged and respected.

Title Program Assistant

Location Ventura County, California

Brief history of the Ventura Regional County Fire Safe Council

Since 2009, the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council (VRFSC) has been one of Ventura County’s treasured community organizations, committed to keeping homes, businesses, neighborhoods, and local communities more fire resilient, safer, and better prepared to withstand wildfire. The VRFSC is at a tipping point in its history and experiencing accelerated growth. After almost ten years, the VRFSC moved from an all-volunteer organization to paid staff and opened its first physical office space. Since then, we have moved again and are now a staff of six and growing fast. More importantly, we continue to implement complex, multi-year, multi-partner wildfire prevention programs. The VRFSC Board brings a deep and broad understanding of wildfire mitigation, resources, mapping, local legislation, and content expertise. The VRFSC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, established in 2009.

Programs Assistant – General Overview

The VRFSC will be hiring a full-time Program Assistant (40 hours per week). The Program Assistant will support our wildfire prevention and mitigation programs. The Program Assistant will be headquartered in the main office in Ventura, and will provide program support for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of wildfire prevention programs focusing on our emerging programs. The Assistant will occasionally meet with property owners, community groups, HOAs, realtors, businesses owners, representatives from the Fire Department and with other civic and government organizations to explain the program; gather information regarding needs, and concerns. The Assistant will also support outreach and education programs to grow awareness about wildfire mitigation and motivate enrollment in our wildfire programs. The Program Assistant will be heavily involved in fielding calls from interested community members, residents, and partners to schedule, coordinate, and answer questions. Finally, they will work closely with other program staff to discuss program development, lessons learned, challenges, and accomplishments.

Program Assistant - Job Responsibilities (70% time)

• Assist with planning and coordination of wildfire prevention and mitigation programs and their activities.
• Monitor phone system to field calls from interested homeowners, partners, residents, or other organizations.
• Assist in the scheduling of Home Wildfire Risk Assessments - Coordinate with homeowner and program staff.
• Assist administrative staff in maintaining inventory system for outreach and education materials.
• Coordinate program communications among the rest of the team.
• Coordinate, track interactions, and relationships between staff, clients, administrators, and other program stakeholders.
• Schedule and organize program-related meetings and events.
• Help oversee the use of technology for program operations, such as video conferencing technology, presentation software and other communications technologies, for instance.
• Create and maintain program records, reports, presentations, and proposals.
• Assist Communications & Outreach Specialist with managing marketing and communications (social media, newsletter, etc.).
• Reach out to homeowners or other interested residents on a call list who have signed up to be included in one of our programs.

Other programmatic responsibilities (20% time)

• Help support, facilitate, and document Fuel Break Programs and Chipper Days to remove unwanted vegetation to reduce the flammable fuel load in communities that border the wildland urban interface.
• Help support development of the community wildfire protection plans as needed.
• Help gather content to support the monthly VRFSC newsletter and social media.
• Assist in scheduling and attending program related meetings and be responsible for compiling meeting minutes.
• Assist in grant reporting by gathering and compiling information to be included in grant reports.
• Track and update databases used to monitor community engagement.

Administration (10% time)

• Participate in ongoing staff meetings and occasional board and committee meetings.
• Track and monitor all programmatic and financial expenditures per VRFSC’s policies and procedures, and report monthly.
• Assist with the general responsibilities and requirements of the VRFSC such as administration and facility Support, answering phones, ordering office supplies, and assist as needed with various administrative tasks and facility issues.
• Prepare reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.

Other Duties as assigned

The VRFSC is a dynamic organization, and change is the norm. It is expected that employees will support the work of the whole team in carrying out the mission and may involve performing not only the functions listed in this document, but also working outside the parameters of the job description, as the need arises and within reason.

Minimum Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to support a broad range of diverse wildfire safety education and outreach activities and programs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong customer service skills is a huge plus.
• Bilingual in English & Spanish is a huge plus.
• Skilled in precise and detail work.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office suite of products: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience working with Google Workspace.
• Experience with fire science, wildfire prevention work and disaster preparedness is a plus.
• Experience planning, managing, and evaluating nonprofit programs or grants is a plus.
• Must possess a current, valid California driver's license, current proof of automobile insurance coverage, and reliable transportation.

Personal Attributes

• Strong interest and belief in the mission of the VRFSC and genuine commitment to improving wildfire safety and making a positive community and regional impact.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
• Ability to support new and large-scale initiatives with professionalism and enthusiasm.
• High level of integrity and ethical conduct, with strong commitment to documented results.
• Enthusiastic and positive team player with the flexibility to re-prioritize and multi-task.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity and create frameworks and plans to solve problems.
• Must thrive under pressure and be able to accept constructive feedback.
• Willing to work occasional late nights or weekends to meet business needs.

Compensation and benefits

• Starting pay range from $18/hour to $24/hour.
• Benefits include dental, vision, retirement plan/match, medical (starting 2024), and generous paid time off.
• Training in job-related skills will be provided free of cost.
• Opportunities for job growth and skills development.
• Opportunity to work with leaders in the field of wildfire science, research, GIS mapping, environment, etc.
• Opportunity to be part of a growing nonprofit with immense room for professional growth.

Application Process

Please return your cover letter and resume as soon as possible, but not later than Monday, October 2, 2023. We will be in touch about the interview process as we get closer to that date.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary

Pay: $18.00 - $24.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council is very serious about our precautions around COVID-19. As a result, we have a mandatory vaccination policy and proof of vaccination status is required to be considered for this position.

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

*Please mention you saw this ad on AcademicJobs.*

Apply Now