JOBS & SUMMER JOBS

Hiring: Garden & Youth Project Lead (x4)
Type: age 30 & under / summer
Organization: Seeds of Diversity Canada | Youth in Food Systems
Location: Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge area, and beyond, Ontario

ABOUT SEEDS OF DIVERSITY 

Seeds of Diversity Canada is a national non-profit organization based in Waterloo, Ontario, dedicated to the conservation and use of biodiversity in seeds, plants, and pollinators.

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

We are seeking four students to help facilitate and grow our youth food programming in the Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge area and beyond. See our website for background about our program.

The positions are 8 weeks for 35 hours per week paid at $19.00/hour.

Positions will begin between May 15th and July 10th, 2023. Roles and responsibilities will vary based on start and end dates - see Job Responsibilities below for more details.

Note: These positions are contingent on Canada Summer Jobs funding.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Since this position is supported by the Canada Summer Jobs program, applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 30 years.
• Applicants with work experience or education in sustainability, environmental science, or the humanities will be preferred.
• Must have transportation to and around the Region of Waterloo (personal vehicle, public transit, cycling). Opportunities to carpool may be available. Mileage is compensated if using a personal vehicle to travel for work-related duties.
• Must be available to work primarily during our standard hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm Monday - Friday, though there is considerable flexibility.
• Must be available to work some evenings and Saturday mornings for workshops and events.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Job responsibilities will vary, and will involve a mix of remote work (60%) and in-person work (40%) throughout the Region of Waterloo. Our program has experienced significant growth over the last year, opening up a wide range of opportunities for exploring your areas of interest while gaining experience in food & sustainability work. The following are some of the key anticipated responsibilities, based on start and end dates of employment:

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May 15th, 2023 - July 7th, 2023 (1 position)

• Garden planting and maintenance at several community and school garden sites, including engaging youth aged 14-19 in the spaces;
• Leading the execution of Season 3 of our Food Leader Interview Series, including the facilitation of youth training, overseeing the editing and uploading of completed interviews, and coordinating food leaders for workshops and panel discussions;
• Alongside the Program Manager, co-leading the planning of our Youth Advisory Council, including the evaluation of the pilot project, stakeholder engagement, and the development of a work plan;
• Alongside the Program Manager, conducting primary and secondary research as needed;
• Communicating effectively with staff and community partners to successfully carry out projects;
• Contributing to communications - social media, monthly e-newsletter, website updates;
• Contributing to other projects as needed.

June 12th, 2023 - August 4th, 2023 (1 position)

• Garden planting, maintenance, and harvesting at several community and school garden sites, including engaging youth aged 14-19 in the spaces and supervising hands-on education workshops with community facilitators;
• Co-leading the design and execution of our 2023 Youth Food Market project, including the facilitation of youth sessions and overseeing weekly/biweekly pop-up market stalls
• Alongside the Program Manager, conducting primary and secondary research as needed, and assisting with evaluation of projects;
• Communicating effectively with staff and community partners to successfully carry out projects;
• Contributing to communications - social media, monthly e-newsletter, website updates;
• Contributing to other projects as needed.

July 10th, 2023 - September 1st, 2023 (2 positions)

• Garden planting, maintenance, and harvesting at several community and school garden sites, including engaging youth aged 14-19 in the spaces and supervising hands-on education workshops with community facilitators;
• Co-leading the design and execution of our 2023 Youth Food Market project, including the facilitation of youth sessions and overseeing weekly/biweekly pop-up market stalls;
• Alongside the Program Manager, contributing to the development of food systems learning modules and other learning opportunities for youth participants;
• Communicating effectively with staff and community partners to successfully carry out projects;
• Contributing to communications - social media, monthly e-newsletter, website updates;
• Contributing to other projects as needed.

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Please indicate in your application which of the above start and end dates is most suitable for you, including flexibility based on your availability this summer. Please note that individuals must be available for all in-person working days for the duration of their contracts. Each position will involve two in person garden days each week, as well as occasional evening and/or Saturday work.

WHO YOU ARE

We are looking for students and/or young professionals with an interest in food, gardening, and/or youth engagement, and those who see the value in working with young people to inspire change in our food systems.

The following attributes / experiences are essential to these positions:

• An interest in food, climate action, youth empowerment, and/or the environmental nonprofit sector
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Comfort leading and facilitating in-person and virtual workshops/meetings
• Familiarity with a range of computer software and programs. Some of the applications we use include: Google Workspace, Wordpress, Mailchimp, Slack, and Asana
• Familiarity with social media, including storytelling through posts
• Experience or interest in working with high school students, and presenting as a mentor

The following attributes / experiences are nice-to-have:

• Gardening experience - planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, identifying issues
• Research skills and applying research-informed best practices to projects
• Experience sending a high volume of emails accurately and professionally
• Experience working with remote-first teams

All candidates must have a computer and inter net access in order to be successful in these positions.

All candidates must have access to transportation in and around Waterloo Region. All sites are located on bus routes; carpooling will be available when public transportation is not a feasible option.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants for this position are required to send a copy of their resume in a PDF or Word Document file. Please apply by sending an email to info@youthinfoodsystems.ca and include “Garden & Youth Project Lead” in the subject line. Please include in the body of the email which start and end dates you prefer. Please mention that you saw this posting at GoodWork.

Interviews will be held virtually on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

We thank all applicants for their interest; we strive to communicate with all applicants within two weeks of application.