Position Summary:
Farm to School BC (F2SBC) and Public Health Association of BC (PHABC) are seeking a dynamic, creative, and inspiring individual to coordinate, strengthen and expand the Farm to School Northwest Regional Hub. Reporting to the Provincial Manager of F2SBC, the Community Animator provides students with access to healthy, local food and hands-on learning opportunities that foster food literacy while strengthening the local food system using a comprehensive and collective impact framework.
Working alongside teachers, school administrators, students, local organizations, public health dietitians, farmers, and additional stakeholders engaged with nutrition, agriculture, health and education sectors, the Community Animator will place local people at the centre of all they do, believing that sustainable solutions are only ever developed when the support of a local community is strongly evident. Furthermore, as a change agent in the community, the Community Animator builds bridges and strengthens connections within the school community, and among various stakeholders that influence the environment. The Community Animator will invest in relationships that will form the solid foundation for swift and effective future partnership development.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Support F2SBC programs in the Northwest Regional Hub (which covers all communities between Terrace to Houston) to achieve the following three core elements of the program:
Promote healthy, local food in schools and enhance student food literacy
Foster hands-on learning opportunities by linking F2SBC activities to the curriculum
Support the schools and the broader community connectedness
Promote F2SBC activities on social media.
Establish and strengthen relationships with 11 F2SBC funded schools and provide ongoing support to ensure that teachers, stakeholders and partners are successfully implementing their program.
Inspire new F2SBC programs in the region.
Build and strengthen school-community capacity by facilitating and hosting regular networking and development opportunities (e.g., committee meetings, networking events, learning circles, webinars, and celebration events).
Identify and secure additional funding opportunities to strengthen and support F2SBC activities in the Northwest Regional Hub.

Qualifications
Background in Health Science, Education, Community Development, Nutrition, Agriculture, Public Health or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred minimum of 2 years of experience utilizing setting-based approaches to health promotion, working with people and communities to integrate a holistic and multi-disciplinary method to build capacity in various settings.
Understanding of local and sustainable food systems, child and youth health, health promotion, health literacy, agriculture and/or combination of relevant or related disciplines.
Comfortable with the following software/social media platforms: Word Processing, Excel spreadsheets, WordPress, PowerPoint and social media platforms (e.g.. Facebook, Twitter).
Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team player.
Leadership style and work ethic that promotes collaboration, inclusivity, creativity, open communication as well as independent decision making.
Understanding of regional food systems and school-food service systems including the network of individuals therein (e.g. principals, teachers, parents, school meal coordinators staff, and students).
Ability to network with key stakeholders within the regional food system (farmers, gardeners, food producer groups, food processors, and food distributors; including those associated with existing F2SBC programs and those keen to be supplying such programs).
In-depth knowledge of sustainable food systems, school food and/or public health

To Apply:
Submit your resume and cover letter to Richard Han, Provincial Manager of Farm to School BC at prov.manager@farmtoschoolbc.ca with subject line ‘F2SBC Northwest Animator 2020’. Application Deadline: August 14th, 2020 at 4:00PM.