Project Coordinator Jobs in Canada

Job Posting

Back to Our Roots Urban Farm (BTOR) is a brand new urban farm in
Dartmouth Nova Scotia, at the Nova Scotia Hospital which services
patients/clients of the Addictions & Mental Health Program, and their
loved ones, for the Provincial Health Authority (Halifax Area, Eastern
Shore, West Hants). It is a community farm as a piece of health
infrastructure. This farm is a seed now, and we are looking for a
strong but gentle leader to grow it into a strong community asset.
This farm mimics the Common Roots Urban Farm in Halifax, and has full
access to all the organizational core documents of theirs to adapt to
BTOR. There are multiple parts of the garden: the community garden,
the market garden, and commons.

We are looking for an energetic and competent person to take the lead
developing the farm this first year. This means starting the community
garden section through laying out, building the first 20 plots,
finding community members to fill them, allocating them and getting
that going; finding a shed and getting it filled with tools; siting
elements as per the design; connecting and working with the
therapeutic staff at the Nova Scotia Hospital to identify patient and
program opportunities to develop the market garden and commons areas
of the farm. The position includes partnership and program
development, including grant writing.

The farm is still in its formation phase; this will be a dynamic and
challenging work opportunity. The successful candidate needs to be
organized, motivated, passionate, a good convenor and garden creator.
This is a demanding role with many unanswered questions and some
guidance in the form of a new Steering Committee. We need some
flexible, fun and hardworking person with social, organizational, and
landscaping skills.

Position will be supervised by the Steering Committee of BToR which
meets monthly. The direct supervisor will be Shauna Blundon, supported
by Jayme Melrose of CRUF. This is a contract position managed by Brian
Rankine.

Start date: May 11, 2015

End date: December 15, 2015

Compensation: $1600 every two weeks, for 36 weeks. ($28,800)

Continuity: Potential for contract renewal dependant upon securing
funding and goal satisfaction.

Goals
• To begin the BTOR Urban Farm in its physical form, as per the final
design, within our budget, with as much grace, joy and inspiration as
possible.
• Creation of a healthy culture of joyful fun, safe, creative, and
collaborative working together.
• Development of core organizational structures for governance,
administration, and communication.
• To get a nucleus of Plotters to start the community garden.
• To cultivate a nucleus of Market Garden, and explore which groups
could farm what produce, for what markets. Deliverable: Business Model
Canvas.
• To pilot a Host program.
• To install a nucleus of commons areas.

Duties Include
• Initiate a branding process to develop an identity including a logo,
facebook page, twitter account, website, letterhead, etc.
• Create a file-sharing and communications mechanism, including a
Weekly Update system.
• Siting and guiding the building of farm elements including beds,
pathways, compost and shed.
• Guiding, empowering, and supporting people – staff, patients, and
community members in building the farm.
• Assist the Evaluation Working Group in developing an evaluation plan
including keeping detailed records as per the CRUF evaluation plan.
• Research a feasibility study for the market garden. Creation of a
Business Model Canvas for the Market Garden built on exploring many
options for labour, product, and market for produce.
• Development of a financial accounting and reporting system.
• Assist with social media photographic and written content.

Required Skills and Experience
• Four summers working full time in farm, community farm, or public
garden environments.
• Minimum two successful years at a post-secondary institution. Must
have confident clear communication skills in written, mathematical,
and professional.
• Minimum two years working in a leadership role.
• Self-motivated, organized, very willing to ask questions, develop
and implement systems.
• Deeply interested in urban farms, community farms, and community
food systems including researching governance and funding models.
• Willing and able to work outside for many hours in various weather
conditions.
• GoogleDrive and MS Office efficient.
• Own vehicle an asset.

Workplan Timeline

Monthly Schedule

May:
• Orientation to CRUF & NSH.
• Assist plowing and cover cropping.
• Development of Plot system.
• Develop core organizational structures.

June:
• Install first plots, and shed.
• Develop first market garden block.
• Create the Weekly Update.
• Develop core organizational structures.

July:
• Develop the Host program with volunteer services: begin intake.
• Explore market garden potential.

August: (The month NS is on vacation)
• Make plans with NSCC.
• Plant crops for fall harvest.
• Build compost system.

September:
• Engage new NSCC students.
• Engage with the community.
• Work with Steering Committee to develop funds for 2016.

October:
• Order mulch, cover crop empty areas.
• Keep growing greens for late harvests.
• Install a few season extension elements.

November:
• Gathering all the data, putting it into reports.
• Putting the farm to bed for the winter.

December:
• Submit all documents. Make workplan for 2016.

To Apply:

Apply by 4:00pm Sunday April 27th. Email a cover letter and resume
(including contact information for two references) to Jayme Melrose
at:
commonroots@partnersforcare.ca

Call (902) 441-4288 with any questions.

Back to Our Roots Roots Urban Farm is committed to employment equity
and encourages applications from traditionally under-represented
groups such as women, visible minorities, First Nations, and persons
with disabilities.

We thank all applicants for their time and interest, but only
shortlisted applicants will be contacted.