Community Food Programs Facilitator – Evergreen – Vancouver, British Columbia

Overview:

Evergreen is a not-for-profit organization that makes cities more livable. 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.

Seeding Healthy Communities takes a garden-to-table approach to building resilient communities. By engaging individuals from underserved neighbourhoods in a spectrum of hands-on, health promotion activities such as; community garden builds, cooking classes, health promotion activities, and food growing education, we empower people to make long-term, sustainable, healthy lifestyle choices that improve their health and the health of our communities.

The Community Food Programs Facilitator will work with Community Development Project Manager to support and deliver garden-to-table programming through 4 urban growing spaces in Metro Vancouver. This position involves working with diverse community partners and social service providers, as well as marginalized youth, seniors, newcomers, aboriginal community members, consumer-survivors of the mental health system, and other community members. Successful candidates must be under 30 years of age, full-time post-secondary students in the previous academic year and intending to return to school in fall 2015, and legally entitled to work in Canada.

Key Responsibilities:

Assist in the development and maintenance of 4 food growing spaces in Metro Vancouver
Collaborate with community partners in planning, coordinating and delivering community events and programs (i.e. harvest festivals, garden groups, community gardening workshops, community kitchen workshops; etc.) including:
Assisting with set-up, clean-up, and smooth delivery of programming and evaluation;
Engaging the public using experiential education to develop knowledge and capacity in food growing, healthy eating and issues pertaining to sustainable food systems
Assist with development of outreach materials and program resources.
Work with staff to coordinate and support volunteers

Competencies:

    Models Evergreen’s Core Values

Communication. Speak, listen and write in a clear, confident, respectful, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
Planning/Organization. Set goals and focus on priorities, create/implement action plans/budgets, document, evaluate, learn.
Flexibility. Flexible, versatile and/or tolerant in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
Leadership: Mobilize teams, lead by example, inspire others to achieve.
Proactivity/ Persistence. Act without being told what to do. Can-do attitude. Tenacious and goes the distance to get something done.
Decision Making/Problem Solving skills. Assess difficult situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Skills and Qualifications:

Ideal candidates will have

Interest, education and experience in food security, community development, food/native plant gardening, urban agriculture systems, health and nutrition
A passion for social justice and environmental sustainability, particularly with respect to food systems
Experience with community-based engagement initiatives
An ability to guide youth and diverse members of the public in group activities and discussions (facilitation training and/or experience is an asset)
Comfort and experience working with individuals of different ages, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities
Enthusiasm for working outdoors in all kinds of weather, working with your hands, occasionally lifting heavy objects, and getting dirty
Excellent communication skills
A flexible schedule, including the ability to work some evenings and weekends

Supervised by: Project Manager, Community Development

Terms of contract: This is a full time 37.5 hour/wk contract, May 25th – August 28th, at 13.25/hour.

Cover letters and resumes can be submitted by e-mail to:
humanresources@evergreen.ca
Please Reference “Programs Facilitator” in the subject line

By Mail to Attention: Human Resources
BC Office, Evergreen
251-35 West 5th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1H4

Evergreen welcomes applications from persons of diverse backgrounds and is an equal opportunity employer.

Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under Evergreens Accommodation policy. Applicants please make your needs known in advance.

We sincerely thank all candidates for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be notified. No phone calls please.

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