Organizational Coordination Intern

Internship period: May through August 2008, with possibility of extension.

Background: LVEC is an intentional community and ecological education center that has operated for 18 years under a 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Through 2006, decisions were made by community-wide consensus in its weekly or bi-weekly Purpose Circle meetings, with assistance of a Core Group that met weekly as an "executive committee" to pre-digest community issues requiring attention and/or decisions.

In February 2007, we adopted a "decentralized decision making model" composed of six "guilds" that provide oversight and support for our various program areas, including setting policies and procedures, budgets and spending plans, and related decisions. Recently we have streamlined the decision-making further by creating a management team and overhauling the bylaws at the Board of Directors level. The Executive Director holds the long-term "big picture" for LVEC, and assists members and staff as needed to provide for the smooth operations of the non-profit, the residential community, and the various income-generating business components. To assist LVEC in moving forward with significant structural and process changes pertaining to community membership, decision-making, financial operations, and others, we are seeking an intern to carry out the following:

Internship responsibilities and duties:

• Serve as assistant to and work partner of the Executive Director
• Be centrally involved in creating and improving the various organizational systems and structures necessary for the operation of LVEC, including financial, governance, and human resources/staffing
• Attend meetings and serve as scribe/recorder of actions taken and decisions made in these meetings, as requested
• Carry out individual projects that enhance LVEC's organizational effectiveness
• Other job-related duties as they arise, including preparation for Board meetings
• Commit to working 30 hours per week in this internship, plus up to 10 additional hours of community service time (a requirement of ALL members and interns)
• Ten of the 30 hours may involve a temporary reassignment to cover priority community needs, e.g., conference support, facilities maintenance, etc., though generally most or all of the weekly hours will be focused on OC work

Preferred Skills and Experience of candidates:
Ability to grasp the "big picture";
Interest in organizational issues and community administration;
Mediation and facilitation;
Excellent oral and written skills;
Good listener;
Sees needs and is willing to take on challenges to meet them;
Knowledge of systems thinking and concepts;
Self-starting and ability to work independently, with guidance

Supervisor/Mentor: LVEC Executive Director

 

How to Apply

Send a completed internship application, along with a resume pertinent to this position and 3 work-related references, to the address or email address listed below. Contact us by phone or email with questions.

Internship Coordinator: intern at lostvalley.org
Phone: 541-937-3351 x102
Lost Valley Educational Center
81868 Lost Valley Lane
Dexter, OR 97431