A Part-Time New Brunswick Farm School Animator Position
Farm to Cafeteria Canada (F2CC) seeks a part-time dynamic, organized, School Animator tasked with building capacity and advancing Farm to School (F2S) activity in New Brunswick. This includes a focus on supporting up to 8 New Brunswick schools and assisting to establish, evaluate and sustain their F2S programs. We are seeking someone with expertise in regional and school food systems; someone with a reflective, creative and solutions-based approach to problems; is adept communicating in both official languages; and is appreciative of Indigenous Ways of Knowing (the traditions and cultures of Aboriginal people). If you have the qualifications, the skills, and the drive to embrace the project we have outlined here, we invite and encourage you to apply.
Background
Established in 2011, Farm to Cafeteria Canada is a 3500 member strong pan-Canadian organization whose vision is “vibrant and sustainable regional food systems that support the health of people place and planet.” F2CC works with partners across Canada
to educate, build capacity, strengthen partnerships, and influence policy to bring local, healthy, and sustainable foods into all public institutions. F2CC is proud to lead national Farm to School (F2S) momentum. Farm to Preschool, Farm to School, and Farm to Campus are all a part of the Canadian Farm to School dialogue.
The New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries (NBDAAF), is the lead agency for championing Farm to School in NB. NBDAAF has developed and is leading the implementation of a Local Food and Beverages Strategy for New Brunswick. Supporting policy and practice to bring more local NB foods into schools and other public institutions is a central component of this strategy. Moreover, NBDAAF’s Regional Lead for Farm to School is engaged in strategic planning and policy development, and also plays a supportive role which guides major initiatives and promoting Farm to School activity across the province.
Recently NBDAAF partnered with F2CC to secure funds for a major F2S project in New Brunswick – Farm to School: Canada Digs in! We seek a School Animator for this project reporting to F2CC’s National Manager of Farm to School Initiatives and guided by NBDAAF’s Regional Lead for Farm to School, the successful candidate will work closely with up to 8 New Brunswick school-based teams.
Qualifications
✓ A degree or diploma in food, nutrition or a related discipline (community dietetics/public health nutrition, agrology, sustainable food systems, food service, etc.).
✓ 2 years’ experience working in the school food, local food system, or related fields.
✓ A valid driver’s license, access to a personal vehicle and the ability to travel within New Brunswick.
✓ Familiar with the regional food system and well networked with the key stakeholders within that system (farmers, gardeners, food producer groups, food processors, and food distributors – including those associated with existing F2S programs and those keen to be supplying such programs).
✓ Familiar with school food service systems and the network of individuals therein (this includes principals, teachers, parents, school meal coordinators, staff, students – anyone championing Farm to School in schools across New Brunswick).
✓ Ability to foster active engagement and a sense of ownership by a range of stakeholders.
✓ Strong organizational skills – when working independently and as part of a larger team.
✓ Experience in supporting program evaluation processes to achieve desired outcomes.
✓ Experienced in promoting and communicating community programs/events.
✓ Articulate speaker with good writing skills and a positive disposition.
✓ Proficient and positive disposition in both official languages.
An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
Deliverables
Build local capacity within and between a maximum of 8 NB F2S teams (part of the Farm to School: Canada Digs in! project) to facilitate their program planning, implementation, and evaluation processes. Minimally this will involve:
✓ Reviewing school contracts and deliverables and progress reports.
✓ Creating and updating a work plan that equally supports each of the 8 NB F2S schools.
✓ Working with a list of NB F2S teams and facilitating the sharing of ideas, tools, and resources amongst participating schools.
✓ Connecting with schools via email, phone and/or site visits, to observe their programs and to monitor progress with deliverables.
✓ Working with national colleagues to gather and disseminate tools and/or to support the development of and participation in educational webinars.
✓ Supporting the national evaluation team with the collection of data (which may involve training, and may include disseminating surveys, conducting interviews).
✓ Participating in quarterly calls and annual face-to-face meetings with national colleagues
Inspire and Promote Farm to School in NB. Minimally this will involve:
✓ Submitting 3 articles for posting to www.farmtocafeteria.ca, other partner websites, and social media sites.
✓ Submitting regular bi-monthly posts to F2CC Facebook and Twitter sites.
✓ Collaboration with the NBDAAF’s Regional Lead Farm to School NB to craft and submit biannual progress reports and a final report to F2CC’s National Manager Farm to School Initiatives.
Information for Bidders
To be considered for this role, please submit a resume, along with cover letter outlining your approach to this role and any added value you feel is important to highlight. Documented samples of relevant work completed by the applicant should also be included (please share links or copies of documents created for professional purposes, such as reports or knowledge translation materials).
Please note the maximum amount available for this contract is $17,000.00 including GST.
The term of the contract is September 1, 2018 – May 31, 2020. While hours are flexible, the contractor must be available to work at least 1 day per week during the following years/months:
2018 Sept, Oct, and Nov
2019 Jan, Feb, March, April, May, June, Sept, Oct, and Nov
2020 Jan, Feb, March, April, and May
To be considered applications must be submitted electronically to Jesse Veenstra at Farn2schoolcanada@gmail.com by Friday September 28, 2018 at 4:00 PM AST. Include in the subject line of the email – RFP Farm to School Animator position in New Brunswick – Consultant name
