Job Title: Farm Technician

Location: Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick

Employment type: seasonal position; 8-12 weeks with possibility of extension

Salary: $19/hr; 37.5 hours a week

Job Purpose and Organization Description:

Eastern Charlotte Waterways (ECW) is an environmental not-for-profit research organization based in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. The Farm technician will work with the Project : Village Indoor Farm team to assist the Farm Manager with daily operations and relevant food-security initiatives. The successful candidate will support our initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable and accessible food sources within the community. This position is ideal for individuals seeking training and experience in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), or horticulture using hydroponic farming techniques in a laboratory setting.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities of the Position:

• Assistance with farm operations, including germination, planting, maintaining the growing environment, harvesting, packaging, sales, and product delivery. Crops include leafy greens and herbs grown using aeroponic towers.
• Hydroponic systems maintenance: Assist in system setup, nutrient solution maintenance, pH monitoring and adjustment, water quality monitoring, and cleaning. Assistance in the proper use, maintenance, and storage of farm equipment.
• Data collection including recording environmental and crop measurements and inputting in MS Excel.
• Cleaning and Sanitation: Maintaining a clean working environment and adhering to food safety protocols.
• Community Engagement: Assisting with public engagement and programming initiatives including field trip activities, educational workshops, public engagement sessions, and attending farmer’s markets.
• Other duties might include: taking photos and videos for social media, maintaining outdoor garden space, working with community gardens, and assisting in public surveys and report writing.

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a relevant academic program (agriculture, biology, environmental science, etc.).
• Valid driver’s license (Class 5)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work weekends and holidays, answering emergency calls and shift work as part of a staff rotation is expected.
• Previous experience in hydroponics, farming, horticulture, plant science, and/or gardening is considered an asset.
• Previous experience in farm, produce, and/or food sales is considered an asset.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

ECW is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, colour, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

ECW’s diversity initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; social and recreational programs; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity that encourages and enforces:

• Respectful communication and cooperation between all employees.
• Teamwork and employee participation, permitting the representation of all groups and employee perspectives.
• Work/life balance through flexible work schedules to accommodate employees’ varying needs.
• Employer and employee contributions to the communities we serve to promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity.

To Apply:

Email your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line Farm Technician 2024 Application.

The deadline for applying is March 29th, 2024. We thank all those who apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.