Community Gardens Coordinator - Global Resource Systems

Community Gardens Coordinator, Surrey/White Rock Food Action Coalition

Job Summary: The Surrey/White Rock Food Action Coalition, a collection of passionate agencies and individuals, is working on ensuring that food policy is integrated into all levels of decision making in Surrey and White Rock in order to enhance community food security. Community food security works toward the following three outcomes; Decreased Hunger, Increased Local Food Sustainability, and Improved Nutritional Health. The Surrey/White Rock Food Action Coalition has received project funding from VanCity to hire a “Community Gardens” Coordinator. This person will be responsible for conducting an environmental scan of the existing community gardens, initiating a network of community garden’s stakeholders and putting forward recommendations for ensuring growth and sustainability for community gardens in Surrey and White Rock. This position requires excellent networking, marketing and communication skills, as well as experience in program delivery, community development and an understanding of food systems, food security/insecurity and local agriculture. Deliverables:

Conduct an environmental scan of all community gardens in Surrey and White Rock documenting active and inactive gardens, current successes and challenges
Initiate and develop a network of community garden stakeholders to ensure ongoing collaboration and support
Add a deliverable regarding supporting the City plan for Community gardens and liaison with them and also working with getting community partners (agencies, faith groups, etc) to provide long term support and collaboration on the project.,
Develop a guide and plan to creating sustainability in community gardens
Provide ongoing support to community gardens network
Lead meetings, develop an action plan and sustain activities of the Community Garden/Pocket Market Action Team

Reports to:

host agency representative and the administration working group of the Surrey/White Rock Food Action Team
works alongside FAC coordinator

Qualifications:

Post secondary education preferred
Excellent local knowledge and connections in Surrey and White Rock required
Demonstrated organizational, networking, marketing, promotion and fundraising skills
Computer skills (i.e. word processing and spreadsheet management)
Excellent oral, written communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to multi-task and prioritize; sound problem-solving skills
Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment.
Demonstrated program development skills, including needs assessment and planning skills
Class 5 drivers license; access to a car
Working knowledge of food security issues and local agriculture

Position: Contract Duration: March 1, 2010 to February 1, 2011 (with possibility of contract extension depending on grant funding) Email resume with cover letter stating how you meet the above qualifications to: merlin@fraservalleyfoodnetwork.com marked “Attention: Community Garden Coordinator”. Deadline for receiving applications is FEBRUARY 15, 2010 Only screened applicants will be contacted.