JANUARY 4, 2021| EXTERNAL/INTERNAL JOB POSTING 

COMPETITION NO. 21-002

Position: Contract Position -Food Hub Assistant

(July 31, 2021 term with possibility of extension)

Location: Surrey/White Rock – Remote or office location tbd

Hours: This role provides 16 hours of support per week until July 31, 2021 with possibility of extension

Scope:

Working closely with Seeds of Change Surrey (SOCS), the City of Surrey’s Sustainability Planner, Fraser Health, and Sources; this role provides immediate oversight of development and operations for the SOCS Food Hub in its support of the food security needs of Surrey’s diverse community, made vulnerable by the COVID-19 pandemic. Community organizations involved in supporting families on the front line have mobilized quickly to support existing and new clients but are struggling to feed the increased number of hungry residents amidst the public health protocols put in place. Recent funds secured through United Way of the Lower Mainland (UWLM) and the Government of Canada will provide ongoing support of a food access initiative called “SOX BOX”, (more details are provided below) to meet immediate and short-term needs.

Seeds of Change Surrey Food Security Initiative Description

The Seeds of Change Surrey Food Box (“SOX BOX”) will support those requiring food support through a systems-level coordinated grocery box approach. Food will be sourced, sorted, and distributed to community organizations throughout Surrey who will ensure it reaches households in need via neighbourhood pick-up locations or community agency locations. This individual must be social justice oriented, technologically savvy and have excellent interpersonal skills (additional languages are an asset).

About Sources

Sources is a community-based non-profit organization that has been providing help, encouragement, and hope for individuals and families in White Rock, Surrey, Delta, Langley, and Prince George for 40 years. We serve 40,000 individuals yearly and that is all owing to our dedicated team. We provide wraparound services that provide a continuum of support such as food banks, substance use counselling, employment services, and legal resources. At Sources we value respect and collaboration as we are all striving to promote the same mission—social wellness for our community.

Responsibilities:

Using your knowledge of project coordination, equity, and community mobilization strategies you will:

• Provide on-the-ground and front-line coordination support for food distribution sites.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and partnerships with stakeholders (e.g., community agencies, City staff, farmers, businesses, residents, etc.).
• Adopt a proactive, collaborative, solution-oriented approach to working with community agencies.
• Represent the program by convening, facilitating, and participating in meetings and other activities to support food security initiative development and delivery.
• Provide required back up to the SOCS Food Hub Manager
• Monitor project budget and expenses to facilitate completion of project deliverables in a tight timeline.
• Respond to inquiries from internal and external contacts and the public in a timely manner.
• Seek opportunities to extend the delivery of initiatives by identifying and scoping relevant granting and funding streams, in cooperation with the SOCS Food Hub Manager and the Seeds of Change Surrey leadership team.
• Complete UWLM grant reporting and provide updates to UWLM staff and Sources on initiative progress, as required.
• Support participant evaluation and gather stories/photos from the sites.
• Support a dignified response for the end user.
• Provide support with oversight of volunteers at each hub site

Qualifications:

Possession of the following attributes is desired to ensure success of the food security initiatives:

• University or college level graduation; preference for education in food/agriculture systems or a related discipline (community development, communications, social planning, sustainability), and 1-3 years of progressively responsible relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Community engagement/development skills and experience
• Program development, operations, logistics, and coordination experience
• Comfortable in navigating a quickly changing landscape where program plans will need to pivot and adapt to meet evolving community needs
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Robust interpersonal skill and leadership abilities
• Demonstrated use of independent judgement and initiative coupled with strong planning and organizational skills to set priorities and meet deadlines
• Broad general knowledge of understanding and methodologies of responding to diverse community needs
• Competency with MS Word, Excel and other applicable computer applications.
• Must provide own WorkSafe coverage and liability insurance

Start Date: ASAP

Contract: Please state compensation expectations in cover letter

Closing Date: January 15, 2021

How to apply: Please email your cover letter and resume to Deirdre Goudriaan, () Please include where you saw this job posting in your email. Thank you.