PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Young Agrarians is hiring an Apprenticeship Program Coordinator in Alberta!

Position: Apprenticeship Coordinator
Organization: Young Agrarians

• Location: Remote Office. Candidate must live in Alberta. Please indicate where in Alberta you live on your application.
• Deadline for Applications: October 7, 2024. We will be processing applications as they are received, and the position will start ASAP when we find the right candidate.

We are seeking a dynamic and passionate Coordinator for the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, excels at administration, and has a genuine love for fostering growth in others. The ideal candidate will not only ensure smooth operations but will also inspire and empower aspiring farmers and agricultural leaders.

If you’re excited about making a difference in the lives of aspiring farmers and cultivating sustainable communities, we want to hear from you!

ABOUT YOUNG AGRARIANS

Young Agrarians (YA) is an educational resource network for new and young ecological farmers in Canada. YA recognizes the Indigenous lands and territories that we work on and alongside. YA is committed to providing programs and services that are inclusive and available to farmers and friends of diverse backgrounds. Since 2012, the YA network is volunteer-driven, with farmers across the country organizing on-farm events and building communities to create spaces for knowledge sharing and growth.

YA began as a seed of an idea and since has grown into a dynamic educational network and set of programs that target the educational needs of new and young farmers.

1. National: aggregate resources and opportunities online;
2. National: coordinate educational and networking events on and off farm year-round, as well as e-learning;
3. Western Canada: on-farm apprenticeship training program (YAAP) in regenerative agriculture;
4. BC: land access programming and supports (BCLMP); and
5. Western Canada: business mentorships (BMN).

YA’s Grow-a-Farmer Strategy works to deliver the following programs:

1. National: aggregate resources and opportunities online;
2. National: coordinate educational and networking events on and off farm year-round, as well as e-learning;
3. Prairie provinces: on-farm apprenticeship training program in regenerative agriculture;
4. BC: land access programming and supports; and
5. Western Canada: business mentorships.

YA works to grow the sector by supporting new entrants through farmer-to-farmer learning. The theory of change is to engage new and young farmers and the farm-curious online, bring them together to network and learn together on and off farms, support access to training opportunities and resources, and when ready to start farms, provide educational supports for on-farm training, land access, business readiness, and peer mentorship. The long-term goal is to grow connections to each other and the land in order to grow a resilient and climate-adapted food system for a healthy future.

WORKPLACE CULTURE: We strive to create a workplace that reflects the diverse communities we collaborate with and serve. The organizational culture is focused on bringing your whole self, emotional intelligence and leadership, and working together to support farmers to overcome barriers and challenges through educational supports and resources.

Compensation & Hours

• This is a part-time, year-round position.
• Start date ASAP (ideally first week of October).
• 15 hours per week April to December and 20 hours per week January to March
• $30 / hour
• Mileage is reimbursed at provincial rates

Roles & Responsibilities

Alberta Program Coordination:

• Develop and maintain relationships with host mentor farms,organizations, educational institutions and farming communities.
• Work with host mentor farms, partner organizations and other farmers to plan and host summer learning events.
• Recruit host mentor farms, with a goal of ten placements for the program year.
• Support promotion and marketing.
• Plan and host orientation and summer learning events.
• Identify wage subsidy opportunities and promote to host farm mentors.
• Share opportunities, resources, tools and other communications relevant to the Alberta Young Agrarians network through the YA website, social media, and U-Map.
• Support apprentices in their journey towards a career in agriculture

Collaboration with the Apprenticeship Program Team:

• Co-plan online host farm mentor workshops and training.
• Support the development and maintenance of the E-Learning curriculum for apprentices.
• Support program evaluation and participate in annual program reviews and continuous program improvement.
• Support project reporting by tracking key performance indicators and deliverables.
• Maintain positive relationships with other staff. This includes attending weekly regional meetings and program meetings.
• Troubleshoot program delivery challenges, and ensure that appropriate communication takes place with relevant Staff.
• Follow organizational policy and protocol for workplace communications around performance and contractual obligations.
• Ensure good workplace documentation, including:
  • Maintaining work plans and program task lists in monday.com
  • Maintaining contact information in Salesforce, as per YA best practices.
  • Maintaining program files on YA Google Drive.
  • Maintaining program documents, contact lists, and materials.
• Support with other organizational needs as time allows.

Qualities & Qualifications

• Experience in program coordination, education, or agriculture-related fields.
• Community Advocate:
  • Familiarity with the food and farming community in Alberta.
  • A strong advocate for sustainable agriculture and local food systems, actively engaging with the community and fostering partnerships.
  • Committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the agricultural sector.
• Relationship Builder:
  • A natural connector who enjoys building and nurturing relationships with diverse apprentices, mentors, and partner organizations.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and facilitate meaningful conversations.
• Passion for Learning:
  • A deep appreciation for hands-on learning and experiential education in agriculture.
  • Creative in developing engaging events and resources that enhance the learning experience.
• Organizational Wizardry:
  • Exceptional administrative skills.
  • Detail-oriented and proactive, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Problem Solver:
  • Resourceful and adaptable, able to navigate challenges with a positive attitude.
  • Innovative thinker who can develop creative solutions to enhance program effectiveness.
• Remote Team Experience:
  • Proven experience working in a remote team environment, effectively managing tasks and relationships from a distance.
• Non Profit Representation:
  • Experience representing a non-profit organization, with a strong understanding of its values and mission.
  • Passion for realizing the mission of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program and fostering a community of sustainable agricultural leaders.
• Familiarity with administrative software and tools for project management:
  • Software applications include: Monday.com, Google Drive, Salesforce, WordPress, etc.
• Home office, computer, reliable Internet connection, and cellphone.

As the Coordinator of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program, you will play a vital role in shaping the next generation of agricultural leaders. You’ll work in a supportive environment that values creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Bring your passion, skills, and heart to our team, and help us grow the future of agriculture together!

To Apply

Please submit applications by email to Taina Uitto at om [at] youngagrarians [dot] org with the following:

Subject line: Firstname Lastname – Alberta Apprenticeship Coordinator

Please attach a PDF cover letter and resume as one document with the following file name: Firstname Lastname – Alberta-Apprenticeship-Coordinator.pdf. In your application, please:

• Indicate where you are located
• Answer the following 3 questions in your cover letter:

1. What is motivating you to apply?
2. What skills and abilities can you bring to this position?
3. What is your experience and understanding of working with farmers?

• Clearly indicate on your resume or cover letter which online platforms you have experience working with (Google Workspace, monday.com, Canva, WordPress, Mailchimp, Zoom, Social Media, and Salesforce) as well as any other relevant programs you are familiar with.
• Optional: submit a video (up to 1 minute), telling us what would make you a great coordinator for the Young Agrarians. Feel free to have fun and be creative! Videos should be submitted in one of the following ways: 1. As an attachment to the same email containing your PDF, or 2. As a link in your PDF to a video hosting platform where we can view the video. Your video can be filmed as an Instagram Reel or Tiktok and the link submitted.

Please indicate you saw this posting at FoodWork.ca.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we will not be available for phone calls or lengthy email inquiries. If you have 1-2 questions, please ask by email. Thank you for your time and interest!

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUNG AGRARIANS

Website: youngagrarians.org
Facebook: facebook.com/YoungAgrarians
Instagram: @youngagrarians