Serenity Farm Garden Manager

Job Title: Serenity Farm Garden Manager

Job type: Part time, Contract

Term: July 1 - October 30, 2025

Note: The current Garden Manager will be stepping back from the position, but will be a resource during the transition.

Total Number of Hours: 261
- July 1 - Oct 9 an average of 15 hours per week.
- October 14 - 30 an average of 12 hours per week.
- Garden sessions are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (July 1 - October 9). You should be at the garden on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am - 2 pm.
- The remaining contracted hours each week can be completed at your discretion.

Work locations: 4575 Blenkinsop Road, Victoria

**Salary**: Total contract value: $9,135

**About the Program**:
Serenity Farm is a project, sponsored by the John Howard Society of Victoria that provides a therapeutic experience in organic gardening techniques for participants who are adults with challenges related to mental health and substance abuse and, in some cases, involvement with the criminal justice system. All participants are under the supervision of Assertive Community Treatment Teams (PACT, DACT and VICOT) and Seven Oaks Tertiary Care Center. You can find more information about the garden project at the John Howard Society of Victoria website jhsvic.ca

**About the Role**:
The Garden Manager is a part-time position with responsibilities for overseeing and managing the garden operation, managing the project’s finances in conjunction with the John Howard Society, overseeing the recruitment and maintenance of project volunteers, working with the participants and their supervisors in a therapeutic relationship, and liaising with the broader community. The garden season generally runs from mid-April to mid-October with two three-hour garden sessions per week. There is also work required in March and April getting the garden going, and October winding things down for the year.

The applicant must have knowledge and experience in organic farming techniques on Vancouver Island. Management of agricultural operations, some administrative experience, and an interest in or experience with therapeutic horticulture is strongly recommended. Strong local community connections and contacts are important. Experience with community non-profit organizations and working with volunteers would be advantageous.

**Responsibilities**:
**Garden Operation**:

- Oversee the day-to-day operation of the garden, including planning, planting, maintenance and harvesting.
- Ensure that planting conforms to market needs as well as crop rotation requirements.
- Identify and procure materials as needed (seeds, starts, compost, fertilizer, wood chips, etc) within project budget.
- Identify and procure equipment as needed (tools, gloves, etc) within budget.
- Organize work activities for volunteers and participants at each work session.
- Provide onsite advice on garden tasks to volunteers and participants as required at each garden session.

**Project Management**:

- Provide overall project coordination and representation at management meetings such as the Operational Group.
- Oversee and coordinate fundraising including writing / co-writing of proposals as required.
- In cooperation with the John Howard Society, develop and administer project budget and approve financial expenditures.
- Oversee collection and analysis of project statistics and evaluations.
- When necessary meet with or give presentations to potential funders, new partners and community groups or coordinate volunteers to take on these tasks.

**Working with Volunteers**
- Oversee and coordinate the recruitment, screening, support and retention of volunteers for the project.
- Where appropriate, assist volunteers taking on core project responsibilities such as planning for production, marketing, fundraising, and analysis of project statistics.

**Working with Participants and support teams**
- Liaise with ACT, VICOT and Seven Oaks staff to recruit and support participants.
- Purchase food and provide lunch for participants attending work sessions.
- Assist in tracking participant attendance.
- Work with participants to ensure that their task assignments are appropriate to their abilities and that their experience in the garden is beneficial to them and the project.
- Assist in enhancing the health and skills of participants when appropriate by arranging gardening workshops, encouraging participants to take on specialized tasks and providing or arranging demonstrations of how to use the food grown in the garden.

During the garden season (April - October), the Garden Manager can expect to allocate their time as follows: 60% working in the garden with participants and volunteers, 25% on garden management offsite, and 15% working on project administrative activities.

**Job Expectations**:

- As a contractor the incumbent would be responsible for their WorkSafe coverage.
- The incumbent to have reliable transportation as the garden location (4575 Blenkinsop Road) is not on