SUSTAINABLE FOOD & AGRICULTURE

Position: Seed Program Coordinator/ Farmer
Organization: FarmFolk CityFolk
Location: Abbotsford, Lower Mainland, BC

About Us

FarmFolk CityFolk (FFCF) is a not-for-profit society connecting, empowering, and inspiring people to strengthen BC’s sustainable food systems. We develop, operate, and act as a catalyst for projects that support access to and production of local, sustainable food; support local growers and producers; provide access to and protection of farmland; and connect, educate, and celebrate with communities across BC. For over 25 years FFCF has been a leader in local food and sustainable agriculture working with businesses, policymakers, NGO partners, government, universities, and the public to achieve our mandate.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced farmer and program coordinator to join the team. We live by our values of collaboration, courageousness and joyfulness. This is an awesome opportunity for someone keen to practice seed production with the support of an experienced seed farmer. This role is a nice mix of hands-on farming and program coordinating, based partly at a farm site we lease in Abbotsford, and partly from home. We are looking for someone already familiar with mixed vegetable farming in BC. Maybe you grew up on a farm in the region, or finished a Sustainable Ag program or practicum. You understand the seasonal cycle of farming, and know enough about crop production to know when there is a pest or nutrition problem to be addressed. You’re not scared of getting dirty or using farm tools, including a walk behind tractor. You may not be a seed saving expert, but are keen to learn.

The successful candidate will have the chance to work with a team delivering a wide range of public-focused and farmer-focused programs and events. We work closely with community partners across BC, and are a regional coordinator for the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security with partners across the country. You may be growing out variety trials and recording data, or coordinating field days for farmers or the public. You may also be saving the waste product of seed production (food) and getting it to a community partner for use in a meal program, and hitting the road in a truck pulling a trailer full of seed cleaning equipment to farmers across southern BC. You know your way around the GSuite and social media, and are a good communicator. You’re happy spending days in the field (potentially by yourself), and can also jump into teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Co-coordinate planting, maintenance, harvesting, and processing of vegetable seed crops at the Research and Education Seed Farm in Abbotsford
• Maintain all records needed for Organic certification, complete application process and annual inspection
• Support the Canadian Organic Vegetable Improvement Project, including liaising with farmers across BC
• Support the Seed to Food program, diverting the food leftover from seed production to community partners
• Support the Seed Trailer Tour, travelling with it across BC to farms and supporting farmers in processing seeds
• Maintain farm tools, equipment, and storage areas
• Support other BC Seed Security Programming, including the biennial Seed Gathering
• Work closely with BC Seed Security Program Manager to refine and enhance existing programs based on participant feedback and emerging best practices.
• Support the gathering of data and stories to evaluate and celebrate program results.
• Make program cost requests to the Manager.
• Support grant writing and overall fundraising initiatives.
• Actively participate in strategic plan development.
• Ensure all initiatives align with board approved strategic plan.
• Develop and monitor annual work plan ensuring alignment with Managers annual goals.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and partners including but not limited to funders, donors, partner organizations, farmers and the public.
• Develop communications content such as newsletter articles and social media, ensuring strategic and brand alignment as well as following communications guidelines.
• Maintain organized, clear, and comprehensive files and written procedures for all aspects of the role.
• Develop volunteer roles and recruit, train, supervise, support and evaluate them.
• Support tracking and reporting for grants.
• Other related duties as required to fulfill the role.

Hiring Requirements

• 2+ years applied farming experience, including seed saving, nutrient management and pest control
• 1+ years program coordination experience
• Diploma in a related field such as sustainable agriculture, or a combination of experience and training.
• Deep knowledge of, and passion for, sustainable food systems.
• Tech savvy and proficient in word-processing, databases, websites, G Suite, and email.
• Physical mobility, and willingness to move through a range of outdoor work environments, including lifting and digging
• Organized and able to juggle multiple priorities and work to deadlines.
• Willingness to learn, commitment to personal growth and accountability, enthusiasm for experimenting with new tactics and tools and shares our values: collaborative, courageous and joyful.
• Ability to inspire, motivate, and support volunteers.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends. Ability to travel with expenses paid.
• Reliable vehicle required: all mileage will be reimbursed. Comfortable driving a truck with a trailer.

Role details

• Application deadline: May 27, 2022
• Wage: $22.53/ hour, 35 hours per week. 3 weeks paid vacation/ year.
• Medical benefits available after 3 month probation period
• Start date: Monday June 15, 2021. This will start as a 9 month contract until March 15, 2023, with a very strong possibility of extension depending on funding.

This role is partly based at a farm in Abbotsford, and partly a work from home role. The successful candidate will need a reliable, fast internet connection and personal computer (if this is a barrier, please let us know). $50/month work from home month allowance provided. All necessary software will be provided.

FFCF staff and board are committed to an anti-oppression learning journey, and committed to integrating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles into our work and workplace culture. We humbly acknowledge that we have a long way to go. We encourage BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, individuals from other diverse communities to apply.

To Apply

In order to apply, email David Catzel, BC Seed Security Program Manager at bcseeds@farmfolkcityfolk.ca

Please:

• use the subject line ‘Seed Farm Program Coordinator’
• send one pdf file containing both your cover letter and resume
• use the file name ‘Seed Farm Program Coordinator – First Name Last Name’

This role may be funded partially by a wage subsidy. Please indicate clearly in your cover letter if you are:

• Under 30 years of age
• Underemployed or unemployed
• A recent graduate
• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee in Canada
• Have previously been hired under a Youth Employment Skills Strategy grant

We thank all applicants for their interest but only those receiving an interview will be contacted.

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