Fresh Food Horticultural Specialist

Fresh Food Horticultural Specialist - Canada Summer Job Grant Position

Start Date - July 7th, 2025

Wage
- 35 hours a week for $18.50.

Must end by - August 29th, 2025.

Canada Summer Job Grant Position at the Food Bank helping to assist in increasing the fresh food donations to the London Food Bank through 2 ways - #1 -assisting in the growing of vegetables in the garden of the London Food Bank and #2 assisting in managing fresh food donations from local farmers and local grocery stores.

Job objective:
This position is funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program. The student/young adult will develop an understanding of the growing fresh food in an urban setting AND the process of seeking, accepting, and distributing donations of fresh food at the London Food Bank.

**Responsibilities**:

- Supervise volunteers and volunteer groups in garden
- Assist with the weeding, planting, pruning, harvesting of plants
- Assist with sorting of produce from grocery stores and transporting inedible food to composters
- Contact farmers, gardening groups, and other local growers under the Community Harvest program to maintain ongoing relationships with donors of fresh produce
- Contact grocery stores under the Community Refresh program to maintain ongoing relationships with donors of fresh produce, bakery products, meats, and other perishables
- Assist with sorting of donations when needed
- Work with other staff and volunteers to determine quantities to be distributed to clients based on volume of donations
- Contact other social service agencies in London and area with food offers when we have excess donations, and determine allocations
- Track incoming/outgoing donations in collaboration with other staff
- Perform other duties as assigned

Skills and abilities:

- Adaptability and willingness to work inside warehouse and outside in garden as necessary
- Physically capable of lifting 40 pounds consistently
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Good attention to detail, problem solving, and analytical skills
- Ability to work within a team as well as independently
- Strong sense of integrity and confidentiality
- Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and codes of ethics
- Develop an understanding and support for the mission of the London Food Bank
- Familiarity with Mailchimp is an asset
- Familiarity with managing a business account on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is an asset

Qualifications and education requirements:
This position is funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program and the following represents the applicant criteria:

- be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment;
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment;
- have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations;
- Completion of some secondary education;
- Required to be available for 8 week program during summer months of 2024.
- Previous community service is an asset

**Job Types**: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 8 weeks

Pay: $18.50 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

- Condition of employment due to the fact that this is funded by the Canada Summer Jobs Program: Will you be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment?
- Condition of employment due to the fact that this is funded by the Canada Summer Jobs Program, can you confirm that you fulfill one of these conditions:

be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment;
OR
have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-05-19
Expected start date: 2025-07-07