FARM JOB: Vancouver, BC- Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society, Farm Program Lead

Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society in Vancouver, BC is seeking a Farm Program Lead!

ABOUT Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society

The Fresh Roots Farm Team cares for three ~½ acre farms on secondary school grounds in Metro Vancouver. The farms produce annual vegetables, flowers, and herbs which are sold at our markets and through a CSA, raising about $50,000 for the organization and producing between 6 -10 thousand pounds of food each year. The vegetables also nourish kids and youth in our programs, and contribute to food security programs. We strive to foster spaces that model sustainable ecosystems and act as the living classroom for our education programs.

Our schoolyard farms are the fertile ground for both delicious food and powerful learning. We envision resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems which support human growth and connection. To bring that vision to life, we cultivate educational farms and place-based programs where youth develop healthy relationships with food, land and community through growing and sharing food that nourishes themselves, their communities and the planet!

DESIRED QUALITIES

Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Fresh Roots centres learning pathways and is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and safe workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience or current skills don’t align perfectly with every desired trait listed below, we encourage you to reach out anyway. You may in fact be just the right candidate for this – or other – roles with Fresh Roots.

Skills & Experience:

Experience and passion for leading teams of peers and youth
1+ season working on a veggie production farm – specialized experience with urban
farming or flowers is particularly relevant
2+ years management experience
2+ years working in nonprofit or community-based organizations
Able to work independently and as part of a small, diverse team.
Able to manage, multi-task, prioritize duties, problem-solve and remain flexible within a fast-paced and changing environment
Able to effectively communicate across various mediums including social media, slack and via newsletters
Motivated to take initiative and responsibility
Must pass a criminal record check to be able to work with children and vulnerable populations
Must meet AAFC YESP project requirements: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/programs/youth-employment-and-skills/step-2-eligibility
Must have BC Driver’s License Type 5
Access to reliable transportation for commuting to Vancouver and Coquitlam.

RESPONSIBILITIES

In this key role under the direction of the Director of Farm Operations (DFO), the Farm Program Lead (FPL) will work with our community (including youth interns, volunteers, and the field crew) to grow and distribute food. We are specifically looking for applicants who come from or have experience in minoritized communities since we tend to serve those communities in our work.

Key responsibilities:

Lead our SOYL Interns in farming & market activities at our Vancouver Technical Secondary Site: establish a supportive atmosphere for skills acquisition, guided by values in food security and accessibility
Build relationships with our stakeholders including school teachers, market goers and CSA subscribers, youth and their families, neighbourhood houses, and the FR team
Connect our stakeholders to the farms through various programming including volunteer events, markets, farm tours, and workshops.
Assist the DFO to implement the farm & distribution plan on the sites across Metro Vancouver. This includes harvest of produce, crop planning & cultivation, and irrigation support.

POSITION DETAILS

Location: Split between Metro Vancouver sites according to programming needs. Ideal applicants will have their own transportation.

Dates: (ASAP) May – October, 2024 with the possibility of extension into November and a returning contract in the early spring of 2025.

Hours: Fresh Roots employees work an average 37.5 hrs / week. Expect more hours during peak season (July-Sept) and less in the shoulders.

Schedule: Monday – Friday; must be available to work some evenings weekly and occasional weekend events.

Compensation: $22-24/hr, DOE plus 4% in lieu of vacation.

Plus:

5 paid sick days
Fresh Roots observes all statutory holidays
Allowance for external training workshops
Discount on produce and access to culls

TO APPLY

Apply directly through this site (https://freshroots.bamboohr.com/careers/70) with a resume and your choice of: a short cover letter (500 words max) uploaded as a document, OR a video (3 minutes max) linked in the “website, blog, or portfolio” line. Review of applications will be on a rolling basis, beginning immediately, until the position is filled.
Your cover letter or video should introduce yourself, share why you want this position and what you hope to gain from the position if hired.

Please note that we are not judging videos based on your video editing skills, and neither videos nor cover letters are preferred. Choose the option that best lets you shine.
Fresh Roots is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.

We regret that due to the high volume of applicants only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Email: info@freshroots.ca

Deadline to apply: ASAP before May 20, 2024

When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org

Please note that Young Agrarians does not have the capacity to pre-screen job opportunities. Please screen your potential employer to ensure that you are entering into a fair exchange that meets your needs and expectations. Try asking the farm for references of past workers, or ask people in the community if you are unsure.

LEARN MORE ABOUT Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society

Website: https://freshroots.ca/about/job-opportunities/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshrootsfarms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshrootsfarms/

Filter by Popular Categories