BC FARMS, FARMERS, FARMING

Position: B.C. Land Matching Program Manager
Organization: Young Agrarians
Location: Remote office within B.C. Please indicate where you live on your application.

Deadline for Applications: December 31st, 2023. This position will start when we find the right candidate.

You are passionate about supporting the next generation of farmers to get on the land. You can navigate the complexities of human relationships and their intersections with the on-the-ground realities of food systems and regulatory frameworks. You love nurturing your team to achieve the mission!

We are seeking someone who is process-oriented, has excellent communication and project management skills, enjoys working on a computer as well as building relationships, and understands farming. You can oversee, lead, and support teams through project delivery. You know how to cultivate a respectful, supportive, and inclusive workplace with emotional intelligence, and you have a proven track record of managing programs in the non-profit space.

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Young Agrarians is looking for a long-term dedicated person with experience in program management and leading a team. The B.C. Land Matching Program Manager will lead the ongoing delivery of YA’s land access services in B.C., with an emphasis on supporting YA’s team of land matchers, leading the strategy and implementation of outreach and events, and administering grant reporting.

The BCLMP provides personalized land matching and business support services to farmers looking for land to start or expand their farm, and landholders interested in finding someone to farm their land. Land Matchers work in depth with land seekers and landholders, helping landholders assess their land opportunities, supporting farmers to become ready to access land, making matches to find the right land/farmer fit, facilitating lease agreements, and providing follow-up support as needed.

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 building community and educational spaces for knowledge sharing and growth. YA began as a seed of an idea and since has grown into a dynamic set of programs that target the educational needs of new and young farmers.

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. Western Canada: 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 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.

COMPENSATION & HOURS

• This is a full-time, year-round position
• 35/hrs/week
• Starting rate: $36/hr
• Mileage is reimbursed at provincially-approved rates
• Starting vacation year 1 = 4%, plus bonus week Dec 25-29
• Employment contract is renewed annually with the funding cycle

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

BC Land Matching Program (BCLMP) Team Management:

• Provide ongoing support and management direction to the BCLMP staff team and contractors.
• Ensure organizational succession of knowledge systems and contacts through conscientious work planning, Standard Operating Procedures, and workflow documentation.
• Manage BCLMP Human Resources, including participating in hiring processes, onboarding, training and progress reviews.
• Lead skills development and knowledge transfer within the BCLMP team.
• Cultivate positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the development of the BCLMP referral network. Manage BCLMP best practices for enterprise readiness support and technical extension, including legal and regulatory considerations.
• Drive BCLMP communications, outreach and events strategy and manage implementation via YA’s online platforms, press, and in-person activities.
• Represent YA at sector events, including facilitating YA activities, presenting about YA and the BCLMP, and networking.

Fundraising, Reporting, and Evaluation:

• With direction from leadership ensure that BCLMP funder deliverables are achieved.
• Manage impact evaluation for the BCLMP, including tracking activities and outcomes.
• Coordinate team reporting, and prepare data and language for BCLMP funder reports.
• Liaise with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture & Food’s New Entrant Agrologist to manage the BCLMP Workplan and update on an annual basis.
• Support with fundraising, including liaising with local and provincial governments, contributing to proposal and grant writing, and identifying opportunities.

BCLMP Program Delivery:

• When needed, provide hands-on, personalized, matchmaking through the BCLMP Methodology (see BCLMP Land Matcher job description) to support land seekers to find the most suitable land opportunities for their farm projects; and support landholders to find the most suitable farmer(s) for their land opportunities, including respond to inquiries, conduct site visits, and provide support developing land sharing agreements.
• Provide remote support to farmers and landholders in regions where a Land Matcher is not available, or who need advanced technical land support.

QUALIFICATIONS

Farm Literacy:

• Understanding of regulatory and legal frameworks impacting land access and agriculture in British Columbia.
• Strong connection to and familiarity with local and regional food and farming communities in B.C., and an existing network of relationships within BC’s agricultural community.
• Experience in diversified sustainable / ecological / organic agriculture or experience providing technical support to farmers (bonus if you’ve worked with new farmers on farm start-up).
• Solid understanding of the challenges new and young farmers face in start-up today.
• Related degree in organizational management and / or food systems, or agricultural studies.
• Experience working with contracts such as lease agreements is an asset.

Facilitation and Outreach:

• Applied knowledge of coaching / facilitation, and mediation / negotiation skills.
• Cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approach to community engagement. Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Able to build relationships, outreach, facilitate, and communicate both in writing and verbally with empathy, curiosity, and engaged listening.

Non-Profit Management Experience:

• Excellent communications and staff management skills, with ability to manage a remote team.
• Track-record in managing programs and evaluation frameworks, and meeting deliverables.
• Strong proven leadership and decision making capabilities.
• Experience working with regional / municipal and provincial governments.
• Experience fundraising, writing grants, and reporting to funders.

Administration & Technical:

• Excellent detail-oriented administrative skills and organizational capabilities with a love for process-oriented workflow and workplace documentation.
• Technical fluency and problem-solving skills working with Google Workspace, Salesforce, WordPress, Meet/Zoom, and an understanding of programs and platforms like Canva, Mailchimp and various social media accounts. Ideally you are proficient beyond being a basic user and understand administering platforms for an organization.
• Home office: computer, reliable high-speed Internet connection, and stable cell phone reception or land-line.
• Vehicle and ability to travel within B.C.

TO APPLY

Please submit applications by email to Taina Uitto at om@youngagrarians.org with the following:

Subject line: Firstname Lastname – BCLMP Manager

Please attach a PDF cover letter and resume as ONE document with the following file name: Firstname Lastname – BCLMP Manager.pdf.

In your application, please:

• Indicate where you are located
• Answer the following three questions in your cover letter:
  • Why are you excited about helping to support farmers to access land in B.C.?
  • What is your leadership style working with teams?
  • What is your greatest strength in program management?
• Provide a short summary of the number of years of experience you bring in reference to the qualifications listed.
• Clearly list on your resume what computer programs or platforms you have proficiency working with (e.g. Google Workspace, Salesforce, WordPress, Zoom, Mailchimp, Canva, social media, etc.)
• Optional: submit a video (up to 2 minutes) to support your application and help us get to know you better. 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.
• Please indicate you saw this posting at FoodWork.

Deadline for Applications: December 31st, 2023. This position will start when we find the right candidate.

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