Saturday, November 17, 2012

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Position: Atlantic Canada Regional Program Coordinator 
Organization: USC CANADA in collaboration with ACORN http://www.usc-canada.org 
Location: Sackville, New Brunswick 

THE BAUTA FAMILY INITIATIVE ON CANADIAN SEED SECURITY 

Following a pilot year of consultation and program development, USC Canada is launching a 4-year national seed security program. The goal: to increase the conservation and spread of ecologically grown, biodiverse, regionally adapted, Canadian seed. 

The program intends to build regional leadership and national collaboration to achieve its goal. Seeds of Diversity Canada is the main national partner. USC Canada and regional partners are now hiring 5 Program Coordinators to help deliver this ambitious initiative. 

ATLANTIC CANADA REGIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR 

The Atlantic Canada Program Coordinator will be hired by USC Canada, in close collaboration with the Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network (ACORN). Since 2000, ACORN has been the key organization for information on organic agriculture, eating organics, and connecting all the parts together in Atlantic Canada. From seed to farmer to consumer, ACORN works to bring the whole picture together--making food choices healthier and more environmentally responsible. 

Part of a pan-Canadian program team overseen by the Program Director of The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, the Coordinator will work from the ACORN office in Sackville, NB and have the mandate to coordinate the rollout of the program throughout Atlantic Canada. Specific responsibilities include: 

Coordination: 
• Oversee regional activities, ensuring they are both locally relevant and contribute to the development and implementation of a cohesive national seed security effort; 
• Outreach to and on-going liaison work with regional advisors; 
• Organization of seed-related training events; 
• Support for producers in submitting grant and/or loan requests to The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security; 
• Liaison with participatory research initiatives related to breeding and seed production; 
• Development of other programs to forward the goals of the project, in particular increasing access by producers to a wide variety of seeds that adapt well to their region and production conditions. 

Partnership Development: 
• Engage and collaborate with agriculture, food and seed-related civil society organizations, research institutions and relevant corporate actors to ensure cohesion in a regional approach to seed security; 
• Provide information and support to regional seed networks; 
• Help develop a long-term strategy for regional seed work; 
• Fundraise to support regional seed work. 

Communication: 
• Receive and respond to inquiries from farmers, gardeners, researchers, industry partners and community members about program activities; 
• Provide information on regional activities to be included in the program website; 
• Communicate with regional media outlets to raise awareness about the program and its activities; 
• Stay abreast of relevant seed- and food-related developments in the region and nationally. 

Support for ACORN 
• Participate in the daily life and structure of ACORN to help integrate seed as an organizational priority; 
• Participate in and assist with events, activities, workshops, etc. 

Finance and Administration: 
• Develop and administer the regional program budget; 
• Manage contractual arrangements with local assistants and partner organizations; 
• Prepare quarterly financial and activity reports; 
• Participate in regular program team meetings by phone, and two in-person program team meetings per year. 

Qualifications: 
Minimum 5 years experience in project coordination; education and/or equivalent experience in a field related to seed and food production systems; background in organic agriculture or agronomy; strong networking, coordination and organizational skills; a track record of strategic and creative thinking; strong oral and written communication skills in English. Event organization, training experience and bilingualism are assets. The chosen candidate will be expected to travel within the region on a regular basis. 

This is a one-year position with a possibility of extension up to four years. 

Start date: February 1, 2013. 

All coordinators will be expected to attend a multiple day orientation session in Ottawa on February 5-8, 2013. 

Submit your application to ACORN in confidence by December 3, 2012, attention Theresa Richards. 

Please include detailed curriculum vitae with recent references as well as a succinct (one-page max) account of your views on the opportunities and challenges of building seed security in Canada. 

By email: admin@acornorganic.org 
By mail: P.O. Box 6343, Sackville, NB E4L 1G6 

Only those applicants short-listed for an interview will be contacted. 
Your understanding is greatly appreciated. 

For more information on the partners: 
http://www.usc-canada.org 
http://www.acornorganic.org