JOB: Vancouver Island, BC - BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, Program Manager

The BC Association of Farmers’ Markets is looking for a Hatch + Hype Program Manager for Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast.

About BC Association of Farmers’ Markets

A provincial non-profit, the mission of BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM) is to
support, develop and promote member farmers’ markets across all regions of British Columbia. BCAFM is a unified voice for 145+ member farmers’ markets, home to over 6,000+ farmers, food processors and artisans who share a common vision of ‘BC Grow, Make, Bake’. In addition to many other exciting projects and initiatives, BCAFM is proud to lead the BC Farmers’ Market Trail campaign and deliver the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program.

ABOUT THE ROLE

BCAFM is seeking a highly motivated, entrepreneurial, friendly and highly organized person to implement the expansion of our BC Farmers’ Market Hatch + Hype initiative to the Vancouver BC Association of Farmers’ Markets Island, Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast regions. A natural connector and networker, you will support farmers’ market organizers in project implementation and promoting new farm and food entrepreneurs and products at up to 25 BCAFM member farmers’ markets operating in those regions.

Hatch + Hype is an entrepreneurial strategy to highlight, promote, and bring focus to new and innovative Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast farm and food products from both existing and new entrant vendors selling at farmers’ markets. The strategy aims to elevate the important role of farmers’ markets as small business incubators/accelerators while growing and strengthening collaborative relationships with existing small business and economic development support networks and increasing the sale of BC and regional farm and food products through direct sales channels ie; farmers’ markets.

Equally important, Hatch + Hype is intentional and a strategy to nurture even greater diversity and inclusion at farmers’ markets and in the BC food system. The project is innovative and aims to engage more underrepresented people including members of the Indigenous, BIPOC, New Canadians, LGTBQIA2S+, Youth, Seniors among other communities to launch new farm/food entrepreneurs and businesses selling at farmers’ markets.

The Hatch + Hype Program Manager for Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast is a temporary part time contract employee who will manage the regional expansion of Hatch + Hype, including recruiting participating farmers’ markets, providing orientations and ongoing support to our participating farmers’ market members in 2023. The Program Manager will also connect the project and build the capacity of markets to grow and strengthen collaborative relationships with existing small business and economic development support networks among others across this region. This includes supporting market organizers to secure ongoing sponsorships/investment to support Hatch + Hype activities in the region in future years. This role will work collaboratively with the BCAFM Executive Director and Members & Programs Manager to implement the successful expansion of this program.

Primary Responsibilities:

Recruit, engage and coordinate with up to 25 participating Vancouver Island, Gulf
Islands and Sunshine Coast farmers’ markets
Identify Market Champions at each participating farmers’ market
Update and gather signed Market Champion and farmers’ market agreements.
Lead Market Champions orientation via Zoom
Provide regular marketing and communications content for Hatch + Hype Vendors
E-newsletter, Hatch + Hype webpage on bcfarmersmarkettrail.com, BCAFM social media and other marketing platforms
Identify sponsorship/funder/investment opportunities and connect farmers’ markets to those funding networks and build their capacity to sustain this work
Make connections with farmers’ markets to small business/economic development
networks and regional food hubs
Organize Hatch + Hype branding guidelines and marketing materials, kits for
participating markets
Identify existing tools & resources in the entrepreneur/small business ecosystem that are pertinent to this program for markets and vendors.
Manage and implement a virtual learning workshop: Hatch your Farm and Food
Business
Develop new tools in relation to the Hatch + Hype program
Share existing Hatch + Hype DIY Toolkit with other regional BCAFM member farmers’
markets.
Collaborate with 2023 project supporters including Island Coastal Economic Trust,
Vancity, Futurpreneur, Rural Islands Economic Partnership + others
Revise and implement farmers’ markets survey to evaluate impact of program.
Assist with project grant reporting
Assist with new, ongoing project grant, funding or sponsorship applications and requests
Other duties as required

Required Qualifications

Minimum of 3 years of work or lived experience in a similar project/program
management role or small business development
Strong knowledge of existing regional entrepreneur, small business, economic
development networks
Understanding of the business incubator/accelerator ecosystem, especially farm/food
Experience in marketing, promotions and communications
Strong communications skills, written and oral, and a range of creative styles and
delivery methods.
Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
Strong customer service
Flexible, enthusiastic, and collaborative working style
Ability to provide guidance, and support to busy participating farmers’ markets
Ability to work remotely
Access to a personal computer with reliable internet connection
Ability to travel
Flexible work schedule required, including work on weekends and evenings
Drivers license required

Desired Qualifications

Knowledgeable about farmers’ markets and/or the local food sector in British Columbia.
Knowledgeable about community economic development.

Job Details

Term: March 27th, 2023 (or sooner ideally) to March 31st, 2024.

Hours per week: Part Time: 21 hours per week for 12 Month Contract

Wage: $30/hr

TO APPLY

Please send your resume in PDF format with your name in the title of the document, as
well as a cover letter that includes why you are a great fit for this role to the following
email address below.

Please include ‘Program Manager: Hatch + Hype Vancouver Island/Sunshine Coast’
in the email subject line and send to: info@bcfarmersmarket.org

Please note that interviews may be conducted during the recruitment period and only
candidates invited for an interview will be contacted.

BCAFM is committed to be an equitable and inclusive employer with our hiring practices and organizational culture. We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:

First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples; members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry,
colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin; persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities; persons who identify as women; and persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

Thank you very much for your interest in BC Farmers’ Markets and this project!

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