JOB OPPORTUNITY

Regional AgriDiversity Coordinator Contract

Job Title: Regional AgriDiversity Coordinator
Organization: National Farmers Union - Ontario (NFU-O)
Location: remote from home, anywhere in Ontario

• Reports to: Executive Director
• Position: approximately 21 hrs/week from June 2024-March 2025 and 16 hrs/week from March 2025-March 2026, with seasonal flexibility
• Duration: June 3, 2024 to March 31, 2026
• Compensation: $23.50/hour + vacation pay + benefits (after 3 months probation)

The NFU-O is looking for a highly organized person with a passion for ensuring that farmers thrive in agriculture, particularly those who face additional barriers to success. The Regional AgriDiversity Coordinator will bring strong administrative skills and a desire to support farmers throughout their learning journey. They will work easily with a variety of people. They will have strong organizational and communication skills. They will be comfortable working independently and with a team. They will take initiative in their tasks, but be willing to check in and learn from feedback. They must be committed to the NFU and NFU-O’s mission of raising the collective voice of farmers across Ontario and Canada, including climate change, agroecology and food sovereignty goals.

The Regional AgriDiversity Coordinator will work closely with the NFU AgriDiversity Project Coordinators to maximize training, grants, mentorship and networking opportunities for equity-deserving farmers in Ontario to succeed. The coordinator will also ensure that the project supports and builds connections within and to the NFU and NFU-O.

Tasks include:

• Research training & funding opportunities available to farmers within Ontario
• Advertise for and recruit equity-deserving farmers in Ontario to participate in two different cohorts to receive training and mentorship support: one running approx. Oct 2024- Sept 2025 and the second running approx. from Feb. 2025 - March 2026.

• Work with the cohort members in Ontario to offer opportunities to co-create in-person gatherings for skill sharing, training & networking
• Work with the NFU staff to administer monthly cohort meetings
• Identify and help to secure mentors for members of the cohort in Ontario

• Work with the NFU staff to manage a regular “help desk” for farmers with grant/funding applications

The Regional AgriDiversity Coordinator will have:

• A background in agriculture to relate to farmers’ needs
• An understanding of the Ontario agricultural community and farming practices
• Strong and successful project management experience
• Proficiency in online communications including Gmail, Google tools (Sheets, Docs, Drive), Zoom
• Webinar hosting/logistics
• Meticulous attention to detail, accuracy, conscientiousness
• Commitment to diversity, inclusivity and respect
• Excellent written and spoken English: French fluency is helpful
• Ability to work collaboratively while taking responsibility for their work
• Ability to work from home

It is strongly preferred that the Regional AgriDiversity Coordinator is a member of the BIPOC community.

The Regional AgriDiversity Coordinator is a contract position funded by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) within their AgriDiversity program.

To apply:

Send your cover letter detailing how your skills, interest and experience fit with this position, along with your resume, in PDF format by May 21st, 2024 to Krista Long, Executive Director at careers@nfuontario.ca with the subject line “Regional AgriDiversity Coordinator.”

Please indicate you saw this posting at FoodWork.ca.

Only those applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. Interviews will take place the week of May 27th, 2024.

NFU-O is a collaborative and team-oriented work environment. As a grassroots farm member organization, we know our strength comes from diversity and we are committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels that they belong. We encourage applicants of diverse race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, religion, ability, sexual orientation, and gender expression. The NFU-O will provide support and accommodation in its recruitment process that considers an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodations during the interview process, please include them with your application.

About the National Farmers Union - Ontario

The NFU-O is an accredited farm organization in Ontario that works towards the development of economic and social policies that will ensure dignity and income security for farmers, while protecting and enhancing rural environments for current and future generations. The NFU-O believes that agriculture should be economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable and should lead to enriched soils, biodiverse natural ecosystems, financially-viable farms, high quality, healthy and safe food for people, and thriving rural communities. Learn more at: http://www.nfuontario.ca