Position Location: West Coquitlam
Application Deadline: February 21
Position start date: March 15
Position end date: Nov 1st, with the possibility of extension
The Position
In partnership with the Indigenous Education Department of School District 43, we have been developing and maintaining an outdoor education center that includes 7 acres of forest, a salmon-bearing stream, an orchard, a native plant nursery, and a small farm. We are looking for a person with connections to the local indigenous culture and plants who is interested in food production, environmental education, and youth empowerment!
In this key role, the Suwa’lkh Program Lead will work to plan, run, and support all our different youth programs while continuing the ongoing maintenance and development of the site. This is a role with potential for growth and development, as well as longer-term employment.
As the Suwa’lkh Program Lead you will work with the Suwa’lkh Project Manager to:
- Implement our crop plan including seeding, transplanting, weeding, fertilizing, harvest, and documentation
- Run the weekly market stand on-site (May through October)
- Run our native plant propagation program including plant propagation, sales, and distribution
- Lead youth in forest restoration work including the removal of invasive species, and planting of native plants
- Lead youth in all activities pertaining to food production, harvest, preparation for our salad program, and sales at our market stand
- Collaborate with our summer program staff to design and lead workshops for our summer programs
- Facilitate curriculum-aligned programs for high-school classes using existing lesson plans
- Help our Experiential Learning team lead Field Trips
- Create new lesson plans for use in field trips and summer programs
- Run events and other special activities in our community
- Develop passive education opportunities such as signs and other materials
- Maintain orchard and develop new learning sites in the forest
- Maintain irrigation and farm tools
Qualifications
- Experience in farming, gardening, or landscaping
- Experience working with youth
- Knowledge of native plants and First Nation traditions both a huge asset
- Interest in farm, environmental, and/or food systems education
- Able to teach farming/gardening and/or cooking skills to youth
- Experience with sales or handling cash
- Experience running Farmers Market stand is an asset
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Organized with good attention to detail
- Able to prioritize and balance many different tasks
- Able to work independently and in a small team
- Comfortable using and learning new technology, including Google Suite
- Physically able and happy to work outdoors in all conditions for up to 8 hours a day
- Able to work remotely from home or another suitable location
- Driver’s License required
- Able to pass a criminal record check
- Must meet Canada Summer Jobs Requirements
- FoodSafe certification an asset
Key Details
- Location: West Coquitlam, remote work will also be required.
- Pay rate: $17.00-$18.75 per hour.
- Hours: 32-40 hours per week, season dependent.
- Dates: March 15th – November 1st, with the possibility of an extension
How to Apply
Submit a short cover letter (500 words) and resume using the link on this page. The review of applications will begin on February 1st. Candidates will be asked to provide 3 references at the time of the final interview.
Fresh Roots is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.
We regret that due to the high volume of applicants only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
About Fresh Roots
We believe in Good Food for All! Fresh Roots cultivates educational farms and programs where students dig into meaningful connections with the land, food, and each other, inspiring communities to build just food systems.
About the Suwa’lkh School Program
With 7 acres of forest and a salmon-bearing stream, fruit tree orchard, and food production farm, this little piece of heaven in the heart of commercial West Coquitlam hosts an alternative school for underserved urban youth and the Indigenous Education Department of SD43. Here we use First People’s Ways of Knowing and Being to teach our youth and create young leaders. Our programs include food production, weekly salad program, native plant propagation, forest restoration, weekly market, field trips, field classes, summer leadership program, and more!