Summer jobs, Student jobs

Position: 2 x Urban Agriculture Assistants (Seasonal Work Opportunity)
Type: age 30 & under / summer
Organization: Ecosource
Location: central Mississauga, GTA, Ontario

Ecosource is seeking

2 x Urban Agriculture Assistants (Seasonal Work Opportunity)

8-week contract positions at 35 hours per week

Who we are: Ecosource is an innovative environmental organization that empowers the community to become more environmentally responsible through creative public education. We specialize in hands-on programming that aims to increase environmental sustainability in Peel Region and beyond. Learn more about our work at ecosource.ca.

The positions: Ecosource is seeking two Urban Agriculture Assistants to support food access for Mississauga residents through the production of local organic food. The Urban Agriculture Assistants will assist in the facilitation and development of in-person programs for youth and other community members at the Iceland Teaching Garden, a 15,000 square-foot urban farm in central Mississauga. A key focus will be to deliver programming to meet the diverse needs of local communities using anti-racist and anti-oppression principles.

Responsibilities:

• Support food production for local food banks and assist with daily garden maintenance at our urban agriculture site, the Iceland Teaching Garden, under the supervision of Ecosource staff.
• Help to design and facilitate programming for volunteer youth participants, corporate groups, and our summer camp at the Iceland Teaching Garden.
• Support outreach and engagement of local community members, with a focus on Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, English Language Learners, people with accessibility needs, and more.
• Track program statistics, including volunteer hours, harvest and evaluation data, and support reporting activities as required.
• Act as a representative of Ecosource to support outreach for urban agriculture initiatives.

Qualifications:

• A passion for food security, organic gardening and /or related environmental issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and anti-oppression principles, and an understanding of food system inequities and intersectionality.
• Food gardening experience (preferred but not essential, training will be provided).
• Experience working with volunteers and delivering educational programming to a diverse audience.
• Willingness to undertake physical tasks in an outdoor setting, in a variety of weather conditions.
• Energetic individual with an ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Good organizational skills, responsible and creative approach to tasks and problem solving.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle, preferred.
• Due to funding requirements, the successful candidate must be 15-30 years of age.

Application Information:

This is an 8-week contract position paid at a rate of $26.00 per hour at 35 hours per week, with the possibility for extension dependent on funding. There are two positions available, one from May to June and another from July to August. Access to personal days and 6% vacation pay are included. Some evening and weekend work will be required. A Police Check will be required upon hiring.

Ecosource is committed to fostering equity in the workplace. In alignment with our organizational value of inclusivity, it is our aim to have a staff team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/persons of colour, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ2S persons, and others. We value and welcome applicants to outline any relevant community involvement and/or lived experiences related to the job responsibilities in their applications.

Deadline for applications is Sunday, April 6th, 2023 at 9:00 pm.

If you are interested, please send a personalized cover letter outlining why you would like to support community food access and environmental justice in Mississauga. Documents must be formatted in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Please note that resumes without a cover letter or generic cover letters and resumes will not be reviewed.

Please send your cover letter (maximum 1 page) and resume (maximum 2 pages) via email to:

Monika Bianco, Community Food Systems Manager, at hiring@ecosource.ca with Urban Agriculture Assistant in the subject line. If you have a preference for the May-June or July-August role, please indicate so in your email.

Please mention you saw this at FoodWork.ca.

If you require accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

Ecosource’s work takes place in the Region of Peel on the traditional territory and treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We acknowledge the first inhabitants of these lands and those who continue to live in this region, including the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Ojibway/Chippewa and Metis peoples.