Community Food Coordinator (Cumberland)

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

The Food Action Committee project Our Food: Reconnecting Food and Community is building a project team for its second phase. We are seeking several positions, including Community Food Coordinator. This position will report to the Food Coordinator. The overarching goal of Our Food is to strengthen communities' relationships to food. Our Food aims to rebuild food production (gardening) and preparation skills (cooking, preserving, and root cellaring) and foster community-based food solutions.  We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy and access good, healthy, local food. This is the foundation of happy, healthy communities and environments.

Cumberland County will be a new site for the Our Food Project in 2013.  The Community Food Coordinator (Cumberland) will be the lead and, apart from potential summer students, the sole staff member in the area.  The position will be supported by the rest of the project staff, based in Halifax.

The Community Food Coordinator (Cumberland) duties include:

• Working with at least three community organizations in Cumberland County to develop and/or expand community food initiatives;
• Developing and delivering cooking, preserving and gardening workshops;
• Assisting with the development of food infrastructure, such as root cellars, garden beds, seed bank etc.
• Working with project team to assist with data collection on the impacts of the program;
• Writing for Food Action Committee blog;
• Training and supervising summer students;
• Supporting the work of the Food Action Committee and the Ecology Action Centre;
• Other duties as required.

Interested Candidates should possess the following skills and experience:
.

• Strong knowledge and practical experience of gardening techniques in this climate;
• Strong knowledge of and practical experience in cooking with seasonal foods and canning and other preserving techniques;
• Experience working with diverse communities;
• Experience with project management;
• Strong organizational skills, friendly and patient;  
• Self-directed & creative problem solving skills;
• Strong communication skills;
• Passionate about community food initiatives;
• Basic photography/videography skills are an asset;
• Basic building skills are an asset;
• Willingness to learn, experiment and adapt;
• Criminal record check my be required;
• Driver’s license and access to a vehicle.

Terms of Employment
Start: Mid to Late March 2013
End: Feb 14, 2017

6 month probationary period
35 hours per week @ $20.00
Benefits plan and 4 weeks paid vacation per year

Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.  Some evening/weekend work will be required.

Location: This position will be based in Cumberland County.  The staff member will either work from home or be based in a shared office with a local community partner (this is to be determined).  There will be bi-weekly video conference calls with the rest of the project team.  Some travel to Halifax will be required.

TO APPLY
Please email a cover letter and resume (including 2 references) to Marla MacLeod, Food Coordinator, at marla@ecologyaction.ca. Please submit your application in the form of a pdf document with required elements in the following order: cover letter, resume, references. Please specify in your cover letter which position you are applying for.   You are welcome to apply for more than one position; however, please submit separate applications (in separate pdf files) for each application.

DUE DATE: Monday Feb 18, 2013, 4 pm

We thank all applicants for their time and interest, however only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

The Ecology Action Centre is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from traditionally underrepresented groups such as women, visible minorities, First Nations, and persons with disabilities. Diversity is a stated value of the Ecology Action Centre.  Moreover, diversity in the EAC community is a strength that must be cultivated.  It is the responsibility of every employee of EAC to foster a culture that embraces and promotes diversity.

The Centre welcomes new members and volunteers:www.ecologyaction.ca