*Please Note That This Is An HRSDC-Funded Position. To Qualify, You Must Be A Current Student, Planning To Attend full time School In Fall 2015, And Under 30 Years Of Age.
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION IS Friday May 15, 2015 at 5:00pm.
The West End Food Co-op is Toronto’s only multi-stakeholder food co-operative, bringing together its Eaters, Workers, Community Partners, and Producer Members around local food. With our food co-op grocery store and our Sorauren Farmers’ Market, we offer a multi-faceted approach to accessing local and organic foods, along with our community-based social programming. Examples of our programming include our food and preservation workshops, the Co-op Cred work-learning program, Farm-Direct, Co-op Kids’ program, and much more. Please visit westendfood.coop for more information about us.
As the Local Food Procurement Assistant, you will work with our Coordinator Team in sourcing and procuring produce and other food products from local producers to supply the co-op. This will include connecting farmers at our farmers market to our other programs, supporting our “Farmer Direct – In Season” program, and supporting the co-op in improving our ordering systems. You will also work on communications and marketing, focussed on promoting our local Producer-members, and participate in our weekly Sorauren Farmers’ Market set-up, take-down, outreach and educational activities for the public.
This role is a great fit for a bright self-starter with an interest in local food issues, and strong communication, and interpersonal skills.
The West End Food Co-op is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to self-identify and apply for this position.
Responsibilities Include
Sourcing local and sustainable products and suppliers
Ordering, receiving and transporting produce and other ingredients/products
Co-plan, organize, and implement the Direct from Farmer bulk buying program with the co-op program manager
Assisting Kitchen Coordinator in recipe standardization and development/nutritional breakdown
Kitchen duties: costing, updating standardized recipes, inputting kitchen production lists
Support other staff in running food related programs and workshops
Assisting in farmers’ market set-up, take-down, operations, outreach and educational activities
Help organize and staff events and other activities
Communicate by phone, email and in person with co-op suppliers and partners
Ongoing administrative duties
Attend relevant meetings
Qualifications
Demonstrated interest in food issues (social, environmental, access, local)
Experience and knowledge of fresh food, especially local fruit and vegetables
Excellent reading, writing, interpersonal and communications skills
Computer, email, and internet literacy
Comfortability in doing physical and kitchen work
Experience and skill in planning and organizing events
Demonstrated ability to work within a diverse community (people of different ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds)
Experience with post harvest handling, produce display and storage will be considered assets
Knowledge and understanding of local food system is an asset
Experience working in kitchens (including food handling certificate) is an asset
Interest and willingness to ride a bicycle and pull a bicycle trailer is an asset
Additional Requirements
Reliable transportation (bike, ttc, car) to our Food Hub at Queen and Dufferin and our Farmers’ Market in Sorauren Park
Reliable internet access and work space for work outside of the office
Available mainly weekdays, including Mondays from noon through eight pm.
Some evening and weekend hours required
Salary: $12 per hour, 30 hours per week, for 9 weeks.
Start Date: June 29th, 2015
Please Note: You must be a current student, returning to school in the Fall of 2015, and between 15 to 30 years of age in order to qualify. This is an HRSDC-funded position.
Please submit your cover letter and résumé to jobs@westendfood.coop Please note, due to the number of applicants only those candidates who qualify for an interview will be contacted.