URBAN FARMING & GARDENING

URBAN FARMING & GARDENING

Position: Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator
Organization: Greenest City Environmental Organization
Location: Toronto, Ontario

The Urban Agriculture Coordinator will focus on supporting community members in growing food at three community food-growing spaces, centred on the development and sustaining of the Milky Way Urban Agriculture, Community and Climate Action Hub. The Coordinator will work with community members and leaders on weekly programming and workshops. This includes facilitation of workshops, training, volunteers and participants in sustainable food growing practices. The ideal candidate will have skills in community development, facilitation, working with youth, seed saving, composting, food growing, harvesting – with market garden skills as an asset.

Tasks

• Work with existing sustainable food growing spaces and community food growers using strong community building skills and leadership
• Start up and facilitate youth-led climate action and food growing initiative
• Develop partnerships to offer programming in the food growing and community spaces
• Maintain and beautify existing food growing spaces and infrastructure in all weather.
• Develop and support Steering Committees for Milky Way and HOPE garden
• Support the development and build of the Milky Way Urban Agriculture Hub – by working with Greenest City staff and partners to source contractors, work with community members and manage the project timelines
• Facilitate community engagement events, workshops and trainings with volunteers and community members locally and city-wide. With COVID restrictions, supporting online workshops and meetings are essential.
• Be able to lift soil, use shovels, wheel barrels, move tables and chairs
• Work with team to support volunteer recruitment and retention
• Ensuring and following all processes and systems such as data management, inventory, procurement, and registration.
• Curriculum design and program design in collaboration with team
• Work well with team members
• Communicate with partners in the neighbourhood and city-wide
• Represent Greenest City and its mission in the community;
• Must be available for evenings and weekends – schedules will be in collaboration with team
• Participate in team meetings, evaluation activities, staff training and reporting requirements and handle other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Community Development experience/education, Youth worker,
• Minimum 3 years of full season plant growing experience
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully with people of different ages, genders, abilities, cultural backgrounds, and individuals who experience marginalization
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of social justice
• Demonstrated experience in project coordination and event coordination
• Excellent facilitation skills
• Experience working with young people and young leaders
• Evidence of strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Good computer skills
• Self-starter and meets deadlines
• Have a strong commitment to the environment

Assets

• Fluent in languages other than English
• Knowledge and skills of market gardens and farm management
• A good sense of humour
• Experience living/working/volunteering in the Parkdale community

Individual is required to

• Abide by Greenest City’s equity and diversity policies
• Conduct a vulnerable sector police check (paid for by Greenest City)
• Commit to at least one weekend day/month and evenings as scheduled within the program

Hours and Compensation: 35hrs/week at $22/hr, Health Benefits allowance
Start date: As soon as possible

How to apply:

Please email your resume and cover letter to Angela ElzingaCheng at: [email protected]

Please put: Urban Agriculture Application in subject line.

Deadline for applications: Friday, April 23, 2021

Please note:

Greenest City is committed to equity in its policies, practices, and programs. We support diversity in our teaching, learning and work environments, and aim to ensure that applications for members of underrepresented groups are seriously considered under our Anti-Racism, Access and Equity policy. All qualified individuals who would contribute to the further diversification of our community are encouraged to apply and may chose to identify as such if they wish to identify additional assets. .

Additionally, any requests for accommodation (Skype interviews, request for a question-based interview or experiential-based interview, etc.) may be made via email.

Only candidates selected to move forward in the hiring process would be contacted.