Program & project manager jobs, Local food & farming

Hiring: BC Manager – Grow-a-Farmer Strategy for British Columbia
Organization: Young Agrarians
Location: Remote office in BC

We are seeking a dynamic individual to lead the coordination and development of Young Agrarians’ Grow-a-Farmer Strategy for British Columbia. This role emphasizes securing funding, cultivating donor relationships, and developing grant proposals to sustain and expand our programs. Alongside a focus on fundraising, this position includes supporting staff teams and program and project growth, stakeholder education and engagement, and network building. The goal is to ensure British Columbia programs grow and sustain themselves through strategic oversight and fundraising.

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 organizing on-farm events and building communities to create spaces for knowledge sharing and growth.

YA began as a seed of an idea and since has grown into a dynamic educational network and set of programs that target the educational needs of new and young farmers.

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 (YAAP) in regenerative agriculture;
4. BC: land access programming and supports (BCLMP); and
5. Western Canada: business mentorships (BMN).

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. Prairie provinces: 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 on-farm training, 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 through educational supports and resources.

Compensation & Hours

• This is a full-time, year-round position
• 35 hours per week, Monday – Friday with some weekends as needed
• $35/hr
• Mileage is reimbursed at provincially-approved rates
• Vacation starts at 4%, with additional time off during the last week of the year.
• Contract is renewed annually

Roles & Responsibilities

Fundraising & Administration:

• Take a leadership role in securing funding to sustain and grow B.C. program activities.
• Identify funding opportunities and develop innovative strategies to diversify revenue streams.
• Develop and submit grant applications, funding proposals, and sponsorships to secure financial resources.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with donors, sponsors, and funders to ensure continued financial support.
• Oversee project budgets and expenses, ensuring funds are spent in compliance with funder agreements.
• Work with the Operations Manager to prepare financial reports and ensure accuracy.
• Coordinate funder reporting focused on project deliverables, providing recommendations of best practices and next steps.

Strategic Program Development:

• Transition into a stewardship role for B.C.’s Grow-a-Farmer Strategy, outlining current activities and areas for development.
• Work with stakeholders to identify emerging needs and align program goals with funding priorities.
• Support longitudinal evaluation frameworks and impact assessments to strengthen program outcomes and demonstrate value to funders.

Staff Support & Networking:

• Work alongside B.C. program staff to support the delivery of Grow-a-Farmer initiatives, including land access programming, business mentorships, and on-farm training.
• Provide leadership support in organizing networking events that increase knowledge transfer and sector growth and represent YA at sector events.
• Maintain positive working relationships with staff and contractors, providing coaching and support as needed.
• Support with work planning, documentation, and succession planning to ensure smooth transitions and strong team collaboration.

Qualities & Qualifications

• Strong project management skills including financial and administrative skills.
• Experience in budget development and financial reporting.
• Strategic mindset and ability to identify opportunities for growth and capacity building.
• Extensive experience with fundraising, including grant writing, sponsorship development, and donor cultivation.
• Demonstrated success in securing funding and managing financial resources in a non-profit or charitable organization.
• Experience developing and nurturing strategic partnerships.
• Strong connection to and familiarity with the food and farming community in B.C., with a minimum of five years of experience in diversified sustainable/ecological/organic agriculture.
• Passion for leading teams and providing human resources support.
• Technical proficiency with Google Drive, Salesforce, Monday.com, WordPress, Zoom, and Mailchimp.
• Home office with reliable internet, computer, and cell phone service.
• Proven capability to effectively operate in a remote office setting.

Joining Young Agrarians as the B.C. Program Manager offers a unique opportunity to work with a collaborative and passionate team to make a tangible impact on the future of sustainable agriculture in British Columbia. In this role, you will not only lead transformative programs but also be at the forefront of cultivating meaningful relationships with funders and building networks that empower farmers. This position provides the chance to use your fundraising expertise, expand your leadership skills and grow your career while making a difference.

To Apply

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

Subject line: Firstname Lastname – BC Manager

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

In your application, please:

• Indicate where in B.C. you are located
• Answer the following 3 questions in your cover letter:
  1. Why are you excited about helping to grow the next generation of farmers in B.C.?
  2. What are your greatest strengths in fundraising?
  3. What past project management experience sparks your interest in this role?
• Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

We invite candidates to voluntarily self-identify as a member of a diverse and/or disenfranchised group as part of their application.

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

Youngagrarians.org | Facebook | Instagram: @youngagrarians