Charity & nonprofit leadership 

Hiring: Black Creek Community Farm Lead (Interim)
Farm: Black Creek Community Farm
Location: North York, Toronto, Ontario
Term: 18-month parental leave contract

FoodShare acknowledges that the sacred land in which we operate is situated upon the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee (Ho-den-oh-sho-nee), the Anishinabeg (Ah-nish-in-nah-beg), and the Mississaugas of the Credit. This territory is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Anishinabeg and Haudenosaunee allied nations to peaceably share and care for the lands around the Great Lakes. FoodShare recognizes the many Nations of Indigenous People, who presently live on this land, those who have spent time here and the ancestors who have hunted and gathered on this land known as Turtle Island.

FoodShare Toronto is one of Canada's leading food justice organizations, working alongside communities to build equitable and sustainable food systems.

For more than four decades, FoodShare has advanced the belief that everyone has the right to nutritious, culturally appropriate food through community programs, urban agriculture, education, advocacy, and partnerships that address the root causes of food insecurity. As a community-driven program of FoodShare Toronto, Black Creek Community Farm (BCCF) is an eight-acre urban farm in the heart of Toronto's Jane and Finch community. As Toronto's largest urban farm, BCCF is both a thriving agricultural space and a community hub, connecting healthy food, employment, education, and environmental stewardship to strengthen local food systems and create opportunities for the diverse communities which it serves.

It is within this context that FoodShare Toronto invites nominations and applications for the position of BCCF Lead (Interim).

This eighteen-month parental leave contract offers an exceptional opportunity to guide one of Canada's most respected urban agriculture organizations through an important period of transition while advancing a vision rooted in food justice, equity, sustainability, and community leadership.

Reporting to FoodShare Toronto's Director of Programs, the BCCF Lead will provide strategic and operational leadership across all aspects of the Farm's work. Working closely with the Management Team, FoodShare leadership, community partners, funders, volunteers, and residents, the successful candidate will ensure the continued delivery of high-impact programs while maintaining organizational stability, advancing strategic priorities, and strengthening relationships throughout the Jane and Finch community. The BCCF Lead will provide leadership across strategic implementation, financial stewardship, communications, community partnerships, and day-to-day operations. As the organization's primary ambassador, they will nurture relationships with funders, government agencies, and community-focused organizations and individuals, while ensuring that BCCF's work continues to reflect its longstanding commitment to food justice, anti-oppression, and community-centred leadership.

Qualifications

Among the qualifications being sought in candidates, the successful individual will bring a deep commitment to food justice, equity, anti-racism, and community-centred leadership. While all candidates are encouraged to apply and describe how they would contribute to BCCF's continued success, the following credentials and experiences are viewed as strong indicators of success in the role:

• A) Demonstrated leadership experience within a nonprofit, charitable, community-based, or mission-driven organization, including responsibility for strategic implementation, organizational performance, financial stewardship, and operational leadership;
• B) Experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, fostering an inclusive workplace culture, and successfully managing organizational change while balancing multiple priorities;
• C) A demonstrated understanding of food justice, anti-oppression, racial equity, and the systemic barriers affecting diverse communities, together with the ability to build authentic relationships within the Jane and Finch community or similarly diverse communities;
• D) A proven ability to secure funding in one or more of the following areas; grants, foundations, government, corporate partnerships, and / or donor engagement, while building strong relationships with funders, community organizations, public agencies, and community partners;
• E) Excellent communication, relationship-building, and public representation skills, complemented by strong organizational abilities and proficiency with common organizational technologies, and;
• F) Experience in urban agriculture, community food systems, or environmental sustainability, along with relevant lived experience.

The salary range for this position is between $84,825 – $93,015 CAD per year. This posting reflects an 18-month contract intended to provide leadership continuity during the incumbent’s parental leave. The duration of this assignment aligns with organizational and operational needs.

How to Apply

Embedding food justice in all FoodShare’s work includes training all staff and board members on anti-racism and the ways oppression is manifested in our food system and food movement. For more on how FoodShare is putting these values into action, read through their Combating Anti-Black Racism Action Plan.

FoodShare Toronto is partnering with BES Executive Search, a firm committed to ensuring that every search mandate engages a pluralistic and intersectional range of candidates. Applicants are guided through what BES calls ‘The BES Experience’—a thoughtful, candidate-centred process that meets candidates with support and care throughout the search process. All interested applicants are encouraged to apply by clicking HERE.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), applicants living with a disability will be provided with accommodation throughout the search process. Should accommodations be required, please make Melissa Sumnauth aware by emailing msumnauth@bessearch.com .

BES is deeply grateful to all who express interest in this opportunity and recognize the time and effort that goes into submitting an expression of interest. While only those most closely aligned with the position requirements will be contacted for an interview, all applications are reviewed with thoughtfulness and will receive correspondence from the firm as part of our commitment to delivering a respectful and inclusive candidate experience.

BES Executive Search Inc. does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants.

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