Employment/Career Opportunities – Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
I. Overview
Canadian employment opportunities in sustainable agriculture and food systems were inventoried from those posted on Foodwork.ca (local and sustainable food jobs) and GoodWork Canada (Goodwork.ca) between January and November of 2014.
They provide insight into the new types of cross-over positions that combine skills and knowledge in areas such as farming, education, culinary, nutrition, alternative procurement, business and marketing, advocacy, food security, food justice, and community development as well as the kind of job progression that is possible.
The dozens of seasonal internship and apprenticeship opportunities (usually work/stay plus small weekly honorarium and end of season bonus) have not been included here, due to their large number and the fact that they are not salaried positions. Many beginner farmers choose to pursue 2-3 such placements assuming progressive levels of responsibility before starting their own farm operation.
Internships/apprenticeships are brokered efficiently through organisations such as:
C.R.A.F.T. Ontario (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) Eligible farms must practice ecological farming principles in order to join the collaborative.
See: http://www.craftontario.ca/
Canada-wide S.O.I.L. (Stewards of Irreplaceable Lands)
See: http://www.soilapprenticeships.com/
The US ATTRA (National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service), which also carries extensive listings of Canada-wide internships.
See: https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/internships/
The US Farm-Based Education Network which promotes on-farm education programs.
See: http://www.farmbasededucation.org/
The North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program (NABDAP) which co-ordinates approx. 40, 2 year, structured, internships combining field and classroom. Placements include Canada. See: https://www.biodynamics.com/nabdap
Sustainable Food Jobs US only, but the number and scope of the positions provides useful data on the evolving job market. See: http://sustainablefoodjobs.wordpress.com/about/
A few cross-over positions (agriculture and environment) are listed by the Canadian Environmental Network (environment /agriculture) http://jobs.rcen.ca/
Of note, the job boards listing more conventional agri-business positions such as AgCall http://www.agcallhr.com/ and AgCareers.com http://www.agcareers.com/canada-central-region.cfm have multiple positions for which a background in agronomy is key. These include herdsman, dairy specialist, crop inputs specialist, business agronomist, grain merchandiser, ag. service technician as well as overseas advisory positions. Trent S. Ag graduates are not qualified for these, and so they are not included.
Select job descriptions have been included in full (Appendix A), to illustrate the kind of skills mix required in these emergent fields
II. Employment Opportunities
1. Farm work/work-stay on family farms (organic, permaculture, ecological)
The majority of farming positions are on non-capital intensive, small-holder operations with a focus on vegetable production and small-scale livestock production, (e.g. non-quota, pasture-raised poultry, pork and egg production), and distribution via farmers’ markets, farm stands and CSAs. Most are presented as a seasonal ‘apprenticeship’ or trainee type opportunity with the provision of food and accommodation (work/stay), a small weekly stipend and possibly an end of season bonus.
This list excludes most of the unpaid entry level positions (they are too numerous to inventory), but includes those at a more senior level and those that are salaried. Despite the need for considerable experience, many of these positions do not pay a living wage.
Edible Plant Nursery Manager, f/t, Earth Learning, Greater Everglades, Florida, United States (19/08)
Greenhouse Co-ordinator, f/t, Sprouts For Life, near Brantford/Simcoe, SW Ontario (08/07)
Vegetable Farm Supervisor, f/t, Delta, Greater Vancouver BC (12/04)
Farm Supervisor, f/t, Pitt Meadows, Greater Vancouver, BC (12/04)
Organic Farm Manager, f/t, housing, Meadow Sweet Farm, GTA / York Region, Ontario
Organic Field Foreman/Farm Manager 2015/2016 Seasons, f/t, housing, Foxglove Farm and the Centre for Arts, Ecology and Agriculture, Salt Spring Island BC (Aug 25)
Production Gardener, PEI Farm Centre Association F/t position combines public education and growing http://www.peifarmcentre.com (22/04)
Agronomy Team Leader - Sustainable/Permaculture Smallholder Farms, f/t, Ethiopia, Africa (Aug 23)
Field Manager, The Sharing Farm http://www.sharingfarm.ca
Location: Richmond, Greater Vancouver, British Columbia
Field Assistant Fiddlehead Farm (Organic). F/t paid ($800 per month), plus food stipend and housing http://fiddlehead-farm.ca, Demorestville, Prince Edward County, Ontario (01/07)
2. Urban food production, community gardening, food forests
Community Garden Assistants, The Stop Community Food Centre, Toronto http://www.thestop.org (03/04)
Urban Agriculture Development Intern, f/t, Roots to Harvest, Thunder Bay, Ontario (19/08)
Urban Garden Programming Officer p/t Dalhousie Urban Garden Society ,Halifax, Nova Scotia (12/11)
Assistant Coordinator, p/t UVic Campus Community Garden (CCG)
http://web.uvic.ca/~ccgarden/ Victoria, British Columbia (15/11)
3. Farmers' markets, food co-ops, food hubs
Project Manager, BC Association of Farmers' Markets, Vancouver BC P/t 8 month contract (15/08)
Market Manager, f/t Regent Park Market, Toronto http://regentparkfarmersmarket.ca
(03/04)
Co-op Manager, f/t, By the Bushel Community Food Co-op, Peterborough, Ontario (15/08)
Business Consultant, On the Move Organics - RFP - transition to a co-op (13/08)
Food Program Coordinator, Evergreen http://www.evergreen.ca
Food Hub Sales Coordinator. Eat Local Sudbury Cooperative. Sudbury, Ontario
http://www.eatlocalsudbury.com (04/07)
Good Food Markets (GFMs) Hub Animator, Riverdale Food Working Group, Toronto http://riverdalefood.org (24/06)
General Manager Two Rivers Food Hub http://tworiversfoodhub.com/general-manager/ Smiths Falls, Ontario (7/10)
Manager Langley Community Farmers Market, Langley Community Farmers Market Society http://www.lcfm.ca/ Langley, Greater Vancouver, British Columbia (02/11)
Tuesday Market Manager, (seasonal), Salt Spring Community Market Society
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia (02/11)
4. Local/organic food restaurants, cooking & hospitality , community kitchens
Note: list excludes positions which are culinary/chef only.
Cooking and Growing Assistant, The Stop Community Food Centre (12 wk. summer contract)
Education and Outreach Coordinator, part-time, 8 month contract, Seasoned Spoon Café, Trent University, P’gh. http://www.seasonedspoon.ca
Food Director (oversee entire product line, focus on identifying new products, create interesting recipes). Farms & Forks Organics http://www.OrganicFoodDelivery.com
Toronto, Ontario (4/11)
5. Food education: schools/youth programs, public programming, outreach
Urban Agriculture Development Intern, paid internship (Northern Ontario secondary school graduates), Roots to Harvest (04/06)
School Food Coordinator, f/t renewable contract. Ecosource. Peel region http://www.ecosource.ca (13/05)
Children’s Garden Program Lead, Evergreen http://www.evergreen.ca
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Academic Assistant, The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the UBC Farm, Vancouver, BC. http://www.ubcfarm.ubc.ca (01/05)
Young Agrarians Program Coordinator BC Young Agrarians & FarmFolk CityFolk Society http://youngagrarians.org/ Vancouver, British Columbia (24/09)
Farm Manager and Education Facilitator OUR Ecovillage http://www.ourecovillage.org
Location: Shawnigan Lake, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Urban Agriculture Development Intern (paid, full-time internship -29 years of age or under) Roots to Harvest http://www.rootstoharvest.org Thunder Bay, Ontario
(17/10)
Agriculture Program Coordinator (14 Month Contract) Canadian Organic Growers http://www.cog.ca National Office in Ottawa, Ontario (8/10)
Growing Schools Project Coordinator LifeCycles Project Society http://lifecyclesproject.ca Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Agriculture Outreach Coordinator Organic Alberta http://organicalberta.org
Edmonton, Alberta (12/11)
Clients & Services Representative, Elementary School Lunch Clubs
Real Food for Real Kids http://www.rfrk.com, Toronto, Ontario (14/11)
6. Alternative purchasing/procurement
Procurement Coordinator, f/t, Real Food for Real Kids, Toronto, Ontario (15/08)
Local Food Procurement Assistant, West End Food Co-op, Toronto, Ontario
http://www.westendfood.coop
7. New business start-ups
Just Food Start-up Farm Program 2015, Just Food, Ottawa, Ontario
[funding program for new farmers] (19/08)
8. Government agencies
None posted that align with principles of sustainable agriculture and /or relate to food systems
9. Food advocacy/security/justice - non-profits, community organizations, charities
Administration
Executive Director, f/t, Meal Exchange, Toronto, Ontario (22/08)
Executive Director, f/t, The Table Community Food Centre, Perth, Ontario (07/29)
Managing Director, f/t New Brunswick Food Security Action Network/ Réseau d’action sur la sécurité alimentaire du Nouveau-Brunswick
http://www.nbfoodsecurity.ca / www.securitealimentairenb.ca (02/09)
Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network Coordinator, Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network , Prescott-Russell & Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry Counties, Ontario http://www.agro-on.ca (22/05)
Food Security Coordinator, All Things Food, Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Eastern Ontariohttp://www.allthingsfoodbouffe360.ca
Regent Park Community Food Centre Manager, Regent Park Community Food Centre at CRC, Toronto http://www.tcrc.ca (28/07)
Park Coordinator. Regent Park Community Food Centre at CRC. Toronto http://www.tcrc.ca (03/06)
10. Food/Community Animator
Drop-in and Food Bank Animator, The Stop Community Food Centre, Toronto (03/04)
F/t summer contract. http://www.thestop.org
Community Food Animator, Westend Food Hub Alliance, Edmonton, Alberta (16/05)
http://www.trinityunitedchurchedmontonab.com/west-end-food-hub-alliance....:
Director, Community Engagement, North York Harvest Food Bank, (28/06) http://www.northyorkharvest.com
Good Food Markets (GFMs) Hub Animator, Riverdale Food Working Group, Toronto (24/06) http://riverdalefood.org
11. Farming Organizations
Executive Director, f/t, National Farmers Union, New Brunswick (Jly 17)
12. Agriculture and Environment
Director for Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, York Region
Director for Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Durham Region. http://www.greenbelt.ca (Aug 28)
Environmental Farm Plan Director – Alberta.
Plan operated by ARECA http://www.areca.ab.ca). (Sept 23)
Land Negotiator (Conservation Programs Specialist)
Organization: Ducks Unlimited Canada http://www.ducks.ca
Location: Camrose, Alberta (Sept 23)
Appendix A: Sample Job Descriptions
Position: Food Program Coordinator
Organization: Evergreen http://www.evergreen.ca
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Overview:
Evergreen is a not-for-profit organization that inspires action to green cities.
By deepening the connection between people and nature, and empowering Canadians to take a hands-on approach to their urban environments, Evergreen is improving the health of our cities - now and for the future.
Evergreen’s Food Program works at the individual, community and systems level to empower Canadians to become active participants in building stronger regional food systems that promote the health of the individuals and the environment. By engaging citizens in growing, cooking, celebrating and procuring food regionally from farmers that promote environmental integrity we build a model for green cities around the world.
Evergreen is seeking a Food Program Coordinator to coordinate all food related activities at Evergreen Brick Works.
Responsibilities
Support the delivery of food programs, more specifically:
• Saturday & Sunday Farmers’ Market Coordinator
• Coordinates the Market set-up & take down logistics and Farmers’ Market volunteers
• Ensures vendors and market operations are in compliance with Farmers’ Market rules and regulations.
• Maintains accurate and complete records on the market and vendors throughout the year, including collecting and processing fees.
• Responsible for mediating disputes between vendors or between vendors and customers.
• Prepare the weekly report which includes issues and/or suggestions to keep management inform.
• Assist the Food Program Manager in the strategic development of the Farmers’ Market Seasonal applications
• Research on New Vendor Recruitment/Selection and Retention
• Communications and Promotions
• Kitchen Programs
• Support the ground logistics required for the delivery of food related workshops.
• Recruitment & Coordination of Farmers’ Market and Food Program Volunteers
• Use existing tools to ensure the volunteer capacity to deliver food programs on site including festivals and events
• Supporting Food Festivals
• Operational support to ensure the smooth delivery of themed Farmers’ Market or other free-standing festivals at Evergreen Brick Works.
Competencies:
• Flexibility/adaptability. Flexible, versatile and/or tolerant in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency. Adjust quickly to changing priorities and conditions. Cope effectively with complexity and change.
• Proactivity/Enthusiasm/Persistence. Act without being told what to do. Passionate and excited over work. Can-do attitude. Tenacious and goes the distance to get something done.
• Calm under pressure. Demonstrate composure in stressful situations.
• Customer-focus. Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external customers/donors to meet or exceed their expectations and receives positive feedback from internal and external customers/donors.
• Other. Able to work independently on specific projects
Skills and Qualifications
Essential
• Post-secondary graduate and/or 3 years’ related experience.
• Interest in/knowledge of environmental issues with emphasis on farmers’ markets, food systems and food related programs
• Excellent conflict management skills
• Time management and organizational skills
• Ability to work with individuals of all ages, cultures, backgrounds and abilities
• Team player who can self-motivate and work independently outside of the office
• Intermediate Excel and Word skills.
• Experience using database programs or demonstrate ability to learn.
Assets
• Previous experience coordinating a farmers' market or food programs
• Experience in food service management / Food Handling Certification
• Experience working with volunteers.
• Additional languages
Working conditions:
• Working indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions with visitors, vendors, volunteers and children
Physical requirements:
• Standing for extended periods of time; ability to walk the market during market hours.
• Lifting heavy objects on a regular basis (able to set up and move tables or tents as needed)
Terms of contract:
Weekly work schedule is Wednesday to Sunday inclusive.
Reporting Relationships: Supervised by: Food Program Manager
Position: School Food Coordinator
Organization: Ecosource
Website: http://www.ecosource.ca Location: Peel Region, Ontario
(Full-time, 35 hours per week, to December 2015, renewable contract)
Who we are: Ecosource is an innovative environmental organization that empowers the community to become more environmentally responsible through creative public education. We specialize in hands-on programming that aims to increase environmental sustainability in Peel Region and beyond.
The position: Ecosource is seeking a School Food Coordinator to lead the Alternative Avenues to Local Food Procurement in Ontario Schools Project. The Alternative Avenues Project is led by Ecosource in collaboration with community partners across the province to assess current purchasing practices, identify barriers and provide training to increase the quantity of local foods procured in Ontario School programs. Through Regional School Food Action Hubs this project works to improve access to local food in schools, food literacy in school programming and public sector procurement. The Coordinator will be working with a geographic focus in Durham Region, Thunder Bay and Peel Region in the contexts of student and teacher-led food programs (especially secondary school hospitality programming), some traditional cafeteria food-service and Student Nutrition Programs. Ecosource is seeking an enthusiastic and innovative individual to lead the implementation of this project. You are a highly organiz ed, innovative and enjoy a fast paced environment. You are knowledgeable about the Ontario food system and institutional food procurement and are keen to oversee collaborative research and deliver education through in-class workshops, field trips, webinars and training sessions for students, teachers and community food groups.
Responsibilities include:
• Collaborating with community food groups, school boards, teachers, food distributors and food service and Student Nutrition Program providers to research local food procurement practices and establish baseline data
• Delivering training sessions to teachers and community food groups on local food purchasing and bulk buying opportunities
• Overseeing on-the-ground school animation and student engagement events by collaborating organizations in Thunder Bay and Durham Region
• Delivering student engagement events and workshops
• Networking with local farmers, food processors, food distributors, food operators and Student Nutrition Programs to create new purchasing opportunities
• Facilitating multi-stakeholder food strategy groups
• Communicating the lessons of the project by overseeing the creation of promotional film clips, delivering presentations and webinars, compiling a final report with case studies and writing material for websites, social media and e-newsletters
• Acting as a representative of Ecosource to media and community
• Exploring new opportunities to diversify program funding on an ongoing basis with Ecosource staff
• Tracking program statistics, impact of programming in the community, reporting and budget management
Qualifications:
• A comprehensive knowledge of Ontario’s food system and food value chain from producer to consumer
• Minimum of 2 years experience working with school or other institutional food procurement
• Strong belief in creating social and environmental change through community education
• Experience working with secondary school students and teachers
• Excellent communications skills, both oral and written, and comfort delivering both youth and adult education and formal presentations to key stakeholders
• Familiarity with the communities within the Regions of Durham and Peel is an asset
• Sound program planning, development and implementation skills
• Excellent networking and public relations skills
• Energetic individual with a sense of humour, an ability to work independently, and a team oriented work ethic
• Strong computer skills, including all MS Office applications and online communication tools
• Post-secondary education in environmental studies, food systems, education or related field and/or equivalent work experience
• Experience working in the not-for-profit sector and working with diverse stakeholder groups are definite assets
• Valid driver’s license and access to reliable vehicle for transportation are required
• The successful candidate must be able to work at both Ecosource’s Mississauga office and travel to Durham Region
Executive Director (Jly 29, 2014)
Organization: The Table Community Food Centre
Website: http://thetablecfc.org Location: Perth, Ontario
The Table Community Food Centre is seeking an energetic, innovative leader to fill the role of Executive Director.
The Table CFC is a locally operated, non-profit organization in Perth, Ontario committed to increasing access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community and challenges inequality. Our goal is to ensure that everyone in our community has enough safe, good quality food to have a healthy life. Our primary focus is on meeting the needs of low-income community members in a welcoming and respectful environment. Programming includes a healthy food bank (The Good Food Bank), regular drop-in meals, community kitchens and gardens, seniors and after-school programs, community action training and a community advocacy office. The Table is an affiliate of Community Food Centres Canada.
As Executive Director you will oversee and manage all aspects of The Table’s operation, working closely with the Board of Directors and managing a staff of approximately 10 full and part-time employees as well as working with Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC) helping to build awareness and knowledge of the community food centre model, and to ensuring that ongoing collaboration takes place with CFCC and other CFCs in the areas of communications, fundraising, evaluation, policy and programming.
As a candidate for this position, you are passionate about working with, and resolving issues relating to poverty. You understand and are committed to building community advocating for food security and social justice.
For more information about The Table Community Food Centre and this position go to: thetablecfc.org.