Summer Recreation Food Coordinator

Job title: Summer Recreation Food Coordinator
Reports to: Recreation and Active Communities Coordinator, Community Development Department
Job location: 60 Pleasant Street, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia   B4V 3X9
Wage: $20/hour
Hours: 35 hours per week (15-week internship)
Start date: Expected May 13, 2024

Employment Hiring
Clean is committed to Employment Equity and our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative at all job levels. The Clean Leadership Program welcomes applications from qualified self-identifying First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, Racialized Youth, Persons with Disabilities, Newcomers, and 2SLGBTQIA+ applicants. If you are a member of one of the equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on our registration form.

About the Clean Leadership Summer Internship Program
The Clean Leadership Summer Internship program helps grow the clean economy by matching interns (age 15-30) with employers for 9- and 15-week summer work placements. Participating interns will receive paid hands-on experience, mentorship opportunities, take part in a professional development conference and training, while supporting local environmental projects.

Program Requirements

• Must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, person who has been granted refugee status in Canada or legally entitled to work in Canada;
• Must be between the ages of 15 and 30 years old (inclusive) at the start of internship;
• From and/or will be residing in Nova Scotia for the duration of the internship; and,
• Must not be an immediate family member of host employer.

About the host employer
The Town of Bridgewater is a growing municipality of approximately 9,000 residents situated in the heart of the LaHave River Valley on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. The Town’s purpose is to provide equitable access to municipal services, ensure the safety and security of both citizens and visitors in the municipality, build and maintain public infrastructure, and regulate development through democratic processes. We provide a wide range of services (from recreation to safe drinking water and beyond). Our community is a regional hub, servicing approximately 62,000 people living within a 50 km radius of our town. Incorporated in 1899, The Town of Bridgewater prides itself on being an innovative organization serving the needs of local people, organizations, and businesses through progressive governance and strong leadership. In 2019, the Town won a national Smart Cities Challenge competition to develop and implement an energy poverty reduction program.

Summary of position 
The host employer for this Summer Internship position through the Clean Leadership program will be the Town of Bridgewater. In this position, you will be mainly responsible for the culinary aspects of the Town’s summer recreation programs and active participation in the community garden project. This position involves growing food, garden maintenance, menu planning, teaching workshops, and food preparation.

Duties and Responsibilities 
All responsibilities will be carried out under the guidance, support, and supervision of the Recreation and Active Communities Coordinator. The candidate will maintain a regular meeting schedule with the Recreation and Active Communities Coordinator and submit a final report at the end of the summer.

Community Garden:

• Working together with the Community Garden Coordinator in the planning, planting, and maintenance of the community gardens located throughout the Town of Bridgewater to ensure the availability of fresh grown produce for culinary activities.
• Participate in Community Garden initiatives including school berry plantings and pollinator projects.
• Develop programs to educate children on the connection between the garden and the ingredients used in the kitchen.

Culinary Programming:

• Develop age-appropriate menus for summer programs, considering nutritional balance and diverse food experiences.
• Collaborate with a diverse variety of local chefs or culinary experts to provide special workshops or demonstrations.
• Cultivate a relationship with local farmers to source and supplement produce for the recreation program snack plan.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene standards in all culinary activities.
• Teach children the importance of safe food handling practices and cleanliness in the kitchen.
• All other related duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Have an aptitude for safe work practices and the ability to multi-task in a busy work environment;
• Be able to work productively as part of a team while responding to feedback;
• Demonstrated interest in future employment in the environmental or clean sector is considered an asset;
• Experience in meal planning and preparation including large-scale food preparation.
• Expertise in sound organic gardening practices.
• Strong cooking skills and the ability to teach various cooking techniques to children.
• Knowledge of basic nutrition, healthy eating principles, and diverse culinary traditions.
• Familiarity with a variety of cultural cuisines.
• Experience working with and supervising volunteers is considered an asset.
• Experience building relationships in diverse communities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people.
• Experience working with persons with disabilities is an asset.
• Possession of a valid class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license is considered an asset but not mandatory.
• Access to a vehicle is considered an asset but not mandatory.
• Current certification in CPR-B, Emergency First Aid, Food Handler Course, and WHMIS. Will be provided by employer.
• Current criminal records and vulnerable sector checks will be required of the successful candidate.

Working Conditions
The position operates out of the Town Hall (60 Pleasant Street) and various outdoor locations around the Town of Bridgewater. Hours of work are subject to a schedule and may include days, evenings, and some weekends.

Physical Requirements
N/A