Cortes Island Academy in partnership with the Cortes Foundation

Location: Cortes Island, BC
Position: Part-time (10–15 hours/week, with opportunity for growth)

About Cortes Island Academy

Cortes Island Academy (the Academy) is an innovative, place-based educational initiative that offers accredited secondary programming (Grades 10–12) alongside leadership, middle school, blended learning, and educator learning opportunities.

Bringing together educators, artists, scientists, knowledge holders, and community leaders, the Academy creates transformative learning experiences rooted in community, creativity, and the natural world.

Based in the ancestral territories of the toq qaym?x? (Klahoose), ???am?n qaym?x? (Tla’amin), and ?op qaym?x? (Homalco), the Academy works in close partnership with Indigenous communities, local organizations, and visiting facilitators to support young people in becoming thoughtful leaders, creative problem-solvers, and active contributors to their communities.

Position Overview

The Program & Education Coordinator plays a central role in keeping the Academy organized, connected, and moving forward.

This role combines administration, communications, program coordination, grant management, and occasional educational support. The successful candidate will work closely with the Executive/Creative Director while collaborating with the Cortes Island School Principal, facilitators, students, community partners, funders, contractors, and volunteers to keep multiple programs, partnerships, and communications running smoothly.

The Academy is a fast-moving, entrepreneurial organization. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys coordinating multiple projects, communicating with many different people, and bringing order to complexity. Every day is different, and the ability to manage competing priorities is essential.

While there may be opportunities to facilitate or teach, this is primarily an administrative and coordination role.

Key Responsibilities

Program Coordination & Administration

- Coordinate the day-to-day administration of the Academy's programs and initiatives.
- Keep projects, calendars, communications, and timelines organized across staff, facilitators, students, volunteers, and community partners.
- Maintain organizational systems, including student learning platforms, Dropbox, shared documents, records, and program resources.
- Coordinate the annual student recruitment and application process.
- Support the development and implementation of new educational initiatives, including blended learning, leadership programming, middle school initiatives, and educator learning opportunities.
- Coordinate partnerships with schools, Indigenous communities, local organizations, and other collaborators.
- Support curriculum development and assist with program delivery, including teaching or facilitation where appropriate.

Grants & Organizational Development

- Research, write, and coordinate grant applications and reports.
- Track reporting deadlines, budgets, deliverables, and funding requirements.
- Prepare reports demonstrating program outcomes and community impact.
- Help identify new partnerships, collaborations, and funding opportunities.

Communications & Recruitment

Coordinate the Academy's communications and outreach, including:

- Managing the student learning platform (Moodle, Brightspace, or similar).
- Preparing newsletters and website updates.
- Managing social media and digital communications.
- Taking and organizing photographs and videos to document student experiences.
- Developing promotional materials and supporting student recruitment.
- Coordinating media and community outreach.
- Supporting clear communication across the facilitation team and with community partners.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is highly organized, adaptable, and enjoys helping innovative educational programs succeed.

Qualifications include:

- Experience coordinating projects, programs, or organizations involving multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent organizational and administrative skills with strong attention to detail.
- Strong writing skills, including grant writing, reporting, and storytelling.
- Experience with newsletters, websites, communications, and social media.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while working independently.
- Interest in experiential, place-based, environmental, or community-based education.
- Experience working with youth, schools, Indigenous communities, or rural and remote communities is an asset.
- Teaching, facilitation, outdoor education, or STEM experience is welcomed but not required.

Position Details

Salary: $30–35/hour, depending on experience.

Hours: Approximately 10–15 hours per week, with opportunities for growth as the Academy expands.

This position may pair well with an additional part-time teaching or outdoor/STEM co-facilitator role.

Extended health benefits may be available.

During the school semester (September through February), the successful candidate is expected to work on Cortes Island in person at least one day each week. Hybrid work is possible during the spring and summer, with some on-island work required depending on programming and organizational needs.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume outlining your experience and interest in the position to hrcortesislandacademy.ca.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will remain open until the position is filled. We expect to move quickly once we identify the right candidate.