Slam Coordinator

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on July 16, 2021.

Description

The Slam Coordinator oversees VanSlam, a Vancouver Poetry House weekly open mic and spoken word event at Café Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. The Slam Coordinator has strong interpersonal skills, coordinates with hosts, performers, volunteers, technicians and restaurant staff, managing the event in a lively environment. Outside the Monday-night event, the Slam Coordinator oversees scores and helps with social media and marketing. Booking performers is done in coordination with the Artistic Director with a focus on diversity and equity.

This position reports to the Artistic Director.  This is a one-year renewable contract position paying $800 a month for total compensation of $9,600. The time commitment is equivalent to one day per week.

Responsibilities

Event Curation
The Slam Coordinator will book feature poets and hosts and curate themed events. We anticipate that most events will consist of an open mic, a slam competition and a feature poet but the Slam Coordinator will have latitude in developing the event series with the Artistic Director. 

Slam Competition Management
The Slam Coordinator will keep track of competing poets’ scores throughout the season. For each evening competition is held the Slam Coordinator will find judges and timekeepers in the audience. 

Event setup
Each Monday will begin at 8pm and conclude at 11:30pm. The Slam Coordinator will set up the stage for the evening with the help of volunteers and the sound technician. This requires some lifting of equipment such as mic stands and a portable ramp. Equipment is stored at the venue between events.

Cash handling
The Slam Coordinator is in charge of the cashbox used by volunteers at the door. The Slam Coordinator will hand out prize money to completing slam poets.

Qualifications

  • Our business cards say more poetry to more people in more places. We are an organization that celebrates Spoken Word. You must have familiarity with the larger Spoken Word community, its art form, and its practices.
  • You will need to be located in the Lower Mainland to do this job.
  • You will need to come with ideas for the future, and basic knowledge of what Vancouver Poetry House values and promotes.
  • You must demonstrate the skills you bring that will allow you to book events with an emphasis on diversity 
  • Performance skills are an asset
  • Strong written and spoken communication skills are an asset
  • Strong organization skills are an asset
  • Leadership skills are an asset
  • Social media skills are an asset

What to Send the Hiring Committee

Something that tells us you understand and meet the requirements for the position. It can be a resume, or it can be something else.

Email ONE pdf file titled “yourname.pdf” to hiring@vancouverpoetryhouse.com

References will be requested at the online interview.

What happens next

We will collect all applications and contact successful applicants to set up online interviews. We will review the applications on July 16.

Education Coordinator

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on July 6, 2021.

Description

The Education Coordinator works as part of a collaborative team helping Vancouver Poetry House Society maintain and grow our WordPlay program and expand our teaching relationships with external partners. This position could be suitable for someone living outside of the Vancouver area who is able to work in a virtual office environment.

The Education Coordinator supports and promotes the WordPlay program, assists the Artistic Director and General Manager in liaising with education partners and assists the General Manager in organizing professional development of teaching poets. 

This position reports to the General Manager and the Artistic Director. The scope of work will be set by the General Manager. This is a one-year renewable contract position paying $800 a month for total compensation of $9,600. The time commitment is equivalent to one day per week.

Responsibilities

  • Professional communication with teachers, poets and school representatives;
  • Assist General Manager to adapt our program to new partners;
  • Support professional development opportunities for teaching poets;
  • Promote educational programs;
  • Review health and safety requirements with poets yearly.

Qualifications

  • strong written and spoken communication skills 
  • strong organizational and time management skills
  • a second language is an asset
  • teaching skills are an asset
  • curriculum development skills are an asset
  • social media promotion skills are an asset

What to Send the Hiring Committee

Something that tells us you understand and meet the requirements for the position. It can be a resume, or it can be something else.

Email ONE pdf file titled “yourname.pdf” to hiring@vancouverpoetryhouse.com

References will be requested at the online interview.

What happens next

We will collect all applications and contact successful applicants to set up online interviews. We will review the applications on July 6.

 

Volunteer Coordinator

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on July 6, 2021.

Description

The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for generating and maintaining a body of volunteers for multiple events throughout the year. These include, but are not limited to, VanSlam, Verses and workshops. The roles volunteers take are varied and include, but are not limited to, venue captains, active listeners, time-keepers, door personnel and score-keepers. The Volunteer Coordinator’s responsibility is to meet with the various program leaders to determine program needs and situate and/or train volunteers as necessary.

This position reports to the General Manager and requires significant collaboration with the General Manager and the Artistic Director as well as Program Leaders. The scope of work will be set by the General Manager, but will not exceed the duties as outlined below. This is a one-year renewable contract position paying $800 a month for total compensation of $9,600. The time commitment is equivalent to one day a week.

Responsibilities:

  • Promote the volunteer program to gain community support of the program and the organization
  • Working with the General Manager develop an intake and interview process for potential volunteers to ensure the best match between the skills, qualification, and interests of the volunteers and the needs of the organization
  • Recruit volunteers, train and support them as needed
  • Work with the General Manager to develop goals, policies, forms and records for the volunteer program
  • Communicate with volunteers through social media and email
  • Maintain volunteer database, update as necessary
  • Work with Active Listeners to ensure support and training as needed
  • Track and distribute perks available to eligible volunteers
  • Organize volunteer appreciation events

Qualifications:

  • Strong teamwork skills, creative problem solver, tenacity and a love of people
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Highly organized front-of-house communicator and presenter
  • Knowledge of current trends, resources and information related to volunteerism
  • Certification in Volunteer Management an asset

What to Send the Hiring Committee

Something that tells us you understand and meet the requirements for the position. It can be a resume, or it can be something else.

Email ONE pdf file titled “yourname.pdf” to hiring@vancouverpoetryhouse.com

References will be requested at the online interview.

What happens next

We will collect all applications and contact successful applicants to set up online interviews. We will review the applications on July 6.

Vancouver Poetry House Statement of Values

Participatory and Cooperative

Vancouver Poetry House is a member-driven organization. We work to reduce barriers to literary art so that we can ensure accessibility and full participation for the communities we serve. We value diversity and the array of knowledge that different life experiences bring. 

Social Justice and Community

We value respectful dialogue, attempt to resolve conflict and misunderstandings in ways that respect each individual’s lived experience and act to build bridges of communication across misunderstandings. We nurture healthy, sustainable environments for the arts to thrive. We challenge systems of oppression through sharing the health-bringing arts to the wider community and by offering a place of solace and sharing to anyone who attends or takes part in our programs.

Professionalism in the Arts

We seek to develop and share myriad skills essential to living a sustainable life as an artist. VPH seeks to provide opportunities to build skills that help members fulfil their capacity for artistic development and career goals.

Vision

A sustainable literary arts community rooted in social justice where new creativity can grow from old forms

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Get involved.

Volunteer.

 

Want to help but don’t have much time? Go here.

Want to volunteer at Slam or Verses? Go here.