Job
Title: Research Associate, Food System Policy
Organization: Institute for Sustainable Food
Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Location: Richmond, British Columbia
Title: Research Associate, Food System Policy
Organization: Institute for Sustainable Food
Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Location: Richmond, British Columbia
The Institute for
Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS)
is seeking applications for a one-year Research Associate position focused on
food system policy.
Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS)
is seeking applications for a one-year Research Associate position focused on
food system policy.
About ISFS
ISFS is an applied
research and extension unit at Kwantlen P
research and extension unit at Kwantlen P
olytechnic University (KPU). We
investigate and support regional food systems as key elements of
sustainable communities, focusing predominantly on British Columbia but also
extending our programming to other regions. Our applied research focuses on the
potential of regional food systems in terms of agriculture and food, economics,
community health, policy, and environmental integrity. Our extension
programming provides information and support for farmers, communities,
business, policy makers, and others. Community collaboration is central to our
approach.
ISFS
employs a multidisciplinary team of agriculturists and researchers with
expertise in food systems, agriculture, economics, farm business management,
ecology, and public health. Our office is on KPU’s Richmond campus, located at
8771 Lansdowne Road, Richmond BC. The campus is served by rapid transit (Canada
Line – Lansdowne Station), by which downtown Vancouver can be reached in about
30 minutes.
employs a multidisciplinary team of agriculturists and researchers with
expertise in food systems, agriculture, economics, farm business management,
ecology, and public health. Our office is on KPU’s Richmond campus, located at
8771 Lansdowne Road, Richmond BC. The campus is served by rapid transit (Canada
Line – Lansdowne Station), by which downtown Vancouver can be reached in about
30 minutes.
More
about us and our work is at http://www.kpu.ca/isfs
about us and our work is at http://www.kpu.ca/isfs
Position
Overview
Overview
- Contract:
35 hours/week for one year, with possibility of renewal - Salary:
$25-27/hour dependent on qualifications and experience - Position
start date: July 5th, negotiable for the right candidate - Application
deadline: June 5th, 2016
Responsibilities
and Tasks
and Tasks
The
primary responsibility of the research associate will be project management and
execution of the ISFS project: Building an accessible food system policy
database for B.C. communities (please see the project overview below). This
project has been conceptualized and initial work has been undertaken. The
research associate will develop and execute a one-year work plan to achieve
project goals and deliverables, which are:
primary responsibility of the research associate will be project management and
execution of the ISFS project: Building an accessible food system policy
database for B.C. communities (please see the project overview below). This
project has been conceptualized and initial work has been undertaken. The
research associate will develop and execute a one-year work plan to achieve
project goals and deliverables, which are:
- An
online, open access searchable bank of B.C. municipal policies related to
food systems. - A
report on findings from interviews with planners about what makes food
system policy effective. - A
set of indicators municipal governments can use to monitor their progress
in advancing local food systems and policy development. - Workshop
or webinar with planners, community groups, food policy councils etc. to
launch/share the website, share findings from the interviews, and review
the municipal indicators for monitoring advancement of local food systems.
The
research associate will also contribute to a second project under way at ISFS,
development of a Regional Food Systems Resources website. Key tasks on
this project include:
research associate will also contribute to a second project under way at ISFS,
development of a Regional Food Systems Resources website. Key tasks on
this project include:
- Management
and supervision of the development of a resource collection (academic and
non-academic resources that will comprise one aspect of the website. This
work entails collaboration with the project lead, and supervision of
student employees. - Work
with KPU’s Marketing Department to develop and test the website as it
relates to the resource collection.
The
research associate may also develop, in collaboration with other ISFS staff, a
near and longer term food system policy and planning research program plan and
funding strategy, and prepare grant applications. For the right candidate and
dependent on funding there may be opportunity for contract renewal associated
with this research program.
research associate may also develop, in collaboration with other ISFS staff, a
near and longer term food system policy and planning research program plan and
funding strategy, and prepare grant applications. For the right candidate and
dependent on funding there may be opportunity for contract renewal associated
with this research program.
Qualifications,
Skills and Experience
Skills and Experience
The
successful applicant for this position must:
successful applicant for this position must:
- Hold
a master degree in planning, policy, food system studies, or other
relevant discipline - Be
interested in local policy and sustainable food systems - Be
experienced with project development and management - Have
qualitative research experience and training - Have
a demonstrated ability to conceptualize a complex project and effectively
plan and execute steps to complete it - Have
strong interpersonal communication skills - Have
strong writing skills demonstrated by their lay and/or academic
publication record - Have
demonstrated their ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and with
a multi-disciplinary team
The
following will be considered assets:
following will be considered assets:
- Experience
in a supervisory role including as a TA - Proficiency
working with Atlas.ti qualitative software - Knowledge
of the food system policy landscape of BC - Experience
working in a municipal government setting or with municipal planners - Grant
writing experience and/or training
To
Apply
Apply
Please
submit your cover letter and resume to Kent Mullinix (Director, ISFS) at kent.mullinix
kpu.ca* and copy Caitlin
Dorward (Senior Research Associate, ISFS) at:
caitlin.dorward @kpu.ca*
Please use the subject line: Research Associate – Food System Policy.
submit your cover letter and resume to Kent Mullinix (Director, ISFS) at kent.mullinix
kpu.ca* and copy Caitlin
Dorward (Senior Research Associate, ISFS) at:
caitlin.dorward @kpu.ca*
Please use the subject line: Research Associate – Food System Policy.
Application
deadline:
June 5th, 2015.
deadline:
June 5th, 2015.
