Field and Volunteer Coordinator

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Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

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At UBC we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research innovation and learning for all faculty staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The UBC Farm is a 24-hectare integrated production teaching and research farm located on the University of British Columbias Vancouver campus. The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS) is housed at the UBC Farm and integrates interdisciplinary academic community and production programs to explore and exemplify healthy and sustainable food systems. More information about the UBC Farm and the CSFS can be found at .

The Field and Volunteer Coordinator supports on-site research teaching and community programs in four complementary ways:

• coordinating opportunities to volunteer with these programs.

• leading day to day delivery of the Urban Farmers volunteer program.

• coordinating and performing a variety of moderately complex land stewardship and crop production activities.

• providing basic agricultural services and consultation to other site participants (e.g. researchers instructors and community program leaders).

Organizational Status

Reports to the Farm and Site Operations Manager and the Lead Field Coordinator. Supervises the Urban Farmers Volunteer Assistant. Works closely in a collaborative environment with other UBC Farm staff. Liaises with leaders of other programs to assist them with recruiting orienting and scheduling volunteers for their programs.

Work Performed

• Works with the Volunteer Assistant to plan prioritize and facilitate seasonal schedule orientation and day-to-day volunteer program delivery in the context of crop production and land stewardship on a working farm.

• Coordinates and performs day-to-day land stewardship and production activities for a defined range of agricultural crops. These activities may include (but are not limited to) plant propagation field cultivation irrigation installation irrigation management mowing pesticide application nutrient application hoop house construction pruning record keeping harvesting poultry care field scouting invasive species control compost management data collection and record keeping.

• Provides basic agricultural services and consultation to other site participants (e.g. researchers instructors and community program leaders).

• Liaises with other field staff to determine needs and opportunities for volunteers.

• Oversees field tasks with volunteers including weed management harvesting and post-harvest processing.

• Assists other field staff with the production of other field grown annual fruits and vegetables field grown perennial fruits and vegetables greenhouse grown fruits and vegetables forest products herbs cut flowers vegetable seeds and/or poultry.

• Performs volunteer program administrative tasks:

• Works with the Communications staff to promote the volunteer program;

• Communicates with volunteers;

• Manages the online registration system;

• Schedules the date and time of orientation and field shifts;

• Collates data about volunteer activity for reporting purposes.

• Provides practical training and limited theoretical instruction to student workers practicum students student interns and volunteers.

• Assists the Lead Sales Coordinator with weekly crop harvest planning based on product supply and also with monitoring the quality and safety of crops. Occasionally assists with the sale and direct-marketing of crops.

• Assists with general operational tasks such as selection procurement maintenance and repair of field equipment tools and supplies.

• Conducts all site activities in alignment with standard operating procedures and record keeping systems. Occasionally assists with the development and refinement of these procedures and systems.

• Assists the Lead Field Coordinator with annual farm plans detailing cropping decisions and production trends.

• May occasionally perform essential site staffing duties such as seedling watering and poultry care on weekends.

• Performs other operational duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Field and Volunteer Coordinator is a representative of the CSFS at UBC Farm and the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. This individuals approach and delivery of information in dealing with the general public and a variety of site users present at the UBC Farm reflect on these units. Therefore ensuring a high regard for professionalism safety and adherence to UBC policies is of considerable importance. When dealing with equipment including tractors and field implements in a variety of field conditions and weather the Volunteer Coordinator will need to critically assess each operation before proceeding in order to ensure the safety of all individuals involved. When using high-powered equipment poor judgment of the operating conditions and context can result in injury or death. Safety orientations and training will be provided before the assignment of tasks that require the use of such equipment. Day-to-day decisions regarding crop planting care and harvest have a considerable impact on crop quality and timing which in turn impacts the financial viability and teaching quality of the farm.

Supervision Received

Reports to and works under the general supervision of the Farm and Site Operations Manager and the Lead Field Coordinator. Must show a significant degree of autonomy and be able to make day-to-day decisions independently but will refer unusual problems and high-impact decisions to supervisors.

Supervision Given
Supervises a Volunteer Assistant volunteers and maybe a small group of junior staff or student employees. Assists with training new employees and students and is responsible for the accuracy production and control of the work. May provide input into seasonal staff selection and performance evaluation.

Working Conditions
Work takes place both indoors and outdoors at the UBC Farm. Shared indoor office space is provided at the UBC Farm though the Field and Volunteer Coordinator will be required to communicate with other UBC Farm staff to avoid space conflicts. Outdoor duties are performed in all kinds of weather conditions involve manual field work and entail the use of a wide variety of equipment and machinery. Large heavy machinery may include tractors discs rototillers ploughs and compost spreaders. Smaller equipment includes brush cutters backpack sprayers pressure washers powered shop tools hand tools and small lawnmowers. Potential hazards include falls cuts burns exposure to vibrating and/or noisy equipment repetitive motion injuries exposure to pesticides and exposure to inclement weather. When special events or circumstances require work will be performed after normal business hours. Because of the seasonal nature of the UBC Farm work a heavier workload is the norm from April through November. A rotating or non-standard work schedule (e.g. Tuesday through Saturday) may be required.

Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a technical program and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Completion of a relevant university degree is an asset.

• Training and work experience in diversified organic vegetable and/or fruit production preferred.

• Experience working within a large public-sector organization i.e. a university or government organization is an asset.

• Familiarity with the UBC Farm site and the CSFS at UBC Farm vision mission and operations is an asset.

• Experience with UBC the UBC Farm other regional organic farms and/or other research or educational farms is an asset.

• Demonstrated leadership experience; able to comfortably provide hands-on group and individual instruction to students and community members of diverse ages and backgrounds.

• Demonstrated technical competence with and theoretical understanding of a broad range of crop production and land management techniques.

• Demonstrated supervisory communication verbal/written facilitation and interpersonal skills; able to work both independently and within a high-energy team environment; able to resolve interpersonal conflicts professionally; good collaboration and group leadership skills.

• Ability to safely and efficiently operate a broad range of hand tools power tools tractors field implements and other agricultural equipment.

• Intermediate computer skills and an ability to record manage and manipulate data using Microsoft Excel.

• Effective verbal and written communication leadership interpersonal and organizational skills.

• Ability to work efficiently and safely both independently and within a team environment.

• Ability to multitask exercise sound judgment and solve minor problems independently.

• Must be physically fit and enjoy hard work outdoors in all weather conditions for long days.

• Must have the ability to lift 45 lbs repetitively and 70 lbs occasionally.

• Must hold a valid drivers license and have experience operating manual transmissions.

• A valid BC Pesticide Applicators Certificate is an asset.