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Staff Vacancies

Join the team

Sunseed is run by voluntary staff members. Coordinators' contracts last for a year, while assistants come for 3 or 6 months (both can be extended). You will find the upcoming vacancies and the general work conditions below.
If you are interested in a certain position, please do apply as eventually it will be open.

Now recruiting:

Operations Coordinator (August 2021)

Sunseed is a non-formal education project for the transition towards sustainability that has existed for more than 30 years and is now in the process of adopting a more inclusive structure inspired by sociocracy. In this context, the goal of the Operations Coordinator is to have an oversight on the legal requirements, the finances and future of the project.

Minimum 1 year voluntary work contract.
Payment 210€/month as a coordinator.
6 hours of work/day.

Core Responsibilities

● Keep constant communication between the staff on site, trustees, lawyer and external business administrator.
● Do monthly internal accounts with the cooperation of coordinators and other community members.
● Elaborate final year’s financial review.
● Manage legal documents including insurances, taxes, deeds, local facilities, contracts and agreements, etc.
● Take care of legal responsibilities of Sunseed to the UK and Spanish state.
● Predict income and examine expenditure to identify areas where more resources are required.
● Make invoice and staff payments.
● Update the admin & trustee Google drive and folders regularly.
● Create work systems and be willing to teach the community on admin tasks.

Requirements

● Fluent in both Spanish and English
● Experience in accounting and finance management
● Good communication skills (including the ability to work as part of a closely integrated team), confidence, sensitivity, patience and open-mindedness to work with all members of the group
● Ability to live in a basic communal environment with limited resources and the desire to live and work closely with community members
● Committed to be an equal amongst the members of the team

Desirable Skills

● Familiar with Spanish law
● Previous experience in Sunseed and aware of its challenges
● Commitment to promoting sustainable living and the aim of Sunseed
● Previous knowledge of NGO administration
● An understanding of organisational structures, particularly sociocratic organisations

Appropriate Technology Coordinator (August 2021)

Sunseed is a non-formal education project for the transition towards sustainability. The community of volunteers live in an off-grid (electricity & water) village called Los Molinos del Rio Aguas and committed to teaching visitors & volunteers how to live a low-impact lifestyle.
The Appropriate Technology department coordinates the maintenance and improvement of community infrastructure, technologies and services at Sunseed. The two key areas are sun and water: renewable electricity generation and consumption, solar water heating, and solar cookers, water service provision, maintenance of the ram pump & waste water system, and overseeing of the water distribution system of Los Molinos del Rio Aguas.
The coordinator supervises volunteers in choosing and carrying out project work and may run research of his/her interest. Collaboration with other departments to correspond to the needs of the community and find possible solutions is a vital part that Appropriate Technology plays in the project.
The coordinator’s role is a volunteer position with a compensation of 210 euros and a minimum commitment of one year. 
Core Responsibilities:
● Ensure electricity generation and overview consumption
● Water service provision
● Maintenance of ram pump and distribution system (shared with Eco-Maintenance)
● Maintenance & improvement of waste water system (shared with Eco-Maintenance)
● Maintenance & improvement of solar water heating 
● Maintaining and encouraging the use of the solar cookers at Sunseed
● Overseeing the appropriate technology tools
● Guiding & mentoring volunteers & interns
● Sorting, acquiring and storing AT materials
● Ensuring safety related to the use of AT equipement
● Planning and monitoring a departmental budget
Requirements:
● Fluent in English
● Background in engineering, mechanics or technology
● Design skills of low technology solutions
● Experience in some of the following: off-grid electronics and electricity : photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines, batteries. Basic solar water heating, common plumbing systems, working with manual and power tools.
● Optional experience in: woodworking, arduino-based systems/ microelectronics, programming, solar devices such as solar cookers, solar dryers
● Teaching and demonstrative skills
● Planning and direction of projects
● Ability and interest in working with upcycled materials
● Interest in Appropriate Technology, its importance in the world and its role in the development of a sustainable lifestyle

Operations Assistant (August 2021)

Sunseed is a non-formal education project for the transition towards sustainability that has existed for more than 30 years and is now in the process of adopting a more inclusive structure inspired by sociocracy. In this context, the goal of the Operations Coordinator is to have an oversight on the legal requirements, the finances and future of the project.

Minimum 3 months voluntary work contract.
Payment 25€/month for 3 months commitment, 50€ for over 3 months commitment.
6 hours of work/day.

Core Responsibilities

● Keep constant communication between the staff on site, trustees, lawyer and external business administrator.
● Do monthly internal accounts with the cooperation of coordinators and other community members.
● Manage legal documents including insurances, taxes, deeds, local facilities, contracts and agreements, etc.
● Make invoice and staff payments.
● Update the admin & trustee Google drive and folders regularly.
● Create work systems and be willing to teach the community on admin tasks.

Requirements

● Fluent in English
● Background in accounting and finance management
● Good communication skills (including the ability to work as part of a closely integrated team), confidence, sensitivity, patience and open-mindedness to work with all members of the group
● Ability to live in a basic communal environment with limited resources and the desire to live and work closely with community members
● Committed to be an equal amongst the members of the team

Desirable Skills

● Fluent in Spanish
● Previous experience in Sunseed and aware of its challenges
● Commitment to promoting sustainable living and the aim of Sunseed
● Previous knowledge of NGO administration
● An understanding of organisational structures, particularly sociocratic organisations

Required skills:

  1. Commitment to Sunseed’s vision, mission and goals

  2. Commitment to environmental stewardship and social change

  3. Willingness to share knowledge and ideas and encourage learning, teaching and community integration

  4. Ability to give short talks and guided tours

  5. Ability to be flexible, co-operative and welcoming to all visitors

  6. Ability to provide mentoring for visitors and supervise their projects

  7. Good communication skills, good spoken and written English

Desirable skills:

  1. Some knowledge of Spanish and willingness to improve language skills

  2. If over 25, a full driving license valid for driving in Spain

  3. Interest in living off-grid in a sustainable way

Benefits

Vegeterian food

Locally sourced mostly organic food included

Paid holidays

24 days of paid holidays per year

Amenities

Internet, cosmetics, detergents, library, etc. provided

Scenic landscape

Unique location within a natural reserve with a natural pool

Coordinator
€ 210

Monthly

APPLY
  • Contract of 12-24 months
  • Accommodation: basic single room
  • 2 paid days off a month
  • 150€ travel assistance at the end of each contract year
All staff are responsible for their own insurance and up-to-date tetanus jabs.
Assistant
€ 25/50*

Monthly

APPLY
  • Contract of 3-6 months
  • Accommodation: basic shared room
  • 40€ travel assistance at the end
  • 2 days paid holidays per month
*25€/month for 3 months commitment, 50€/month for more than 3 months commitment. 

Committing to Sunseed 

Living at Sunseed as a community member means more than simply doing your job well. You will be expected to put your environment first and personal needs second.

You will be expected to take part fully in community life, relevant meetings and to assist in duties that are outside of your post like sharing communal duties such as cooking and cleaning, as well as setting a good example in areas such as enthusiasm, safe practices, punctuality and socialising.

All staff participate in the planning and implementation of tasks in their department and contribute to the overall longer-term strategic development of the project.

All staff are responsible for supervising volunteers and implementing the Health and Safety guidelines in all activities. This is of the utmost importance for staff involved in supervising unskilled volunteers in potentially hazardous situations.

All staff are expected to follow and oversee Sunseed’s mission and policies (vegetarian, no-chemical, no-drug), procedures (grievance) and agreements (communal).