Community Garden Coordinator

Job title: Community Garden Coordinator

Reports to: Veronica Gutierrez, Director of Growth and Development

Job location: 2346 Brunswick Street, Halifax, NS, B3K 2Z3

Wage: $19.00/hr

Hours: 35 hours per week (15-week internship)

Start Date: Expected May 11, 2026

Number of positions: 2

This position is designated and limited to applicants from the following groups: 

• Black, African Canadian or people of African Descent

Employment Hiring

Clean Foundation 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 residing in Nova Scotia for the duration of the internship;
• Must not be an immediate family member of host employer;

About the host employer

Hope Blooms’ mandate is to empower youth and strengthen communities through food justice, education and social enterprise. We create accessible pathways for young people to grow food, develop skills and build leadership while addressing food insecurity and systemic inequities.

Summary of position

In this position, you will be mainly responsible for various tasks and projects, including;

Garden & Food Production Coordination

• Plan, plant, maintain and harvest crops across Hope Blooms’ community garden and urban growing sites
• Oversee soil health, composting, irrigation, pest management and seasonal crop planning
• Ensure gardens are productive, safe, accessible and aligned with organic and sustainable practices
• Support food distribution for Hope Blooms’ programs, community partners and food access initiatives

Youth Engagement & Education

• Support and mentor youth participants involved in garden programming, employment and training initiatives
• Facilitate hands-on learning opportunities related to gardening, food systems, nutrition and environmental stewardship
• Create a welcoming, inclusive, and trauma-informed environment for youth from diverse backgrounds

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Coordinate volunteers, community members, schools and partner organizations using the garden spaces
• Support community workdays, workshops and public events related to food growing and food justice
• Build and maintain positive relationships with local partners, funders and neighbours

Program Support & Administration

• Track garden outputs, participation numbers, and outcomes for reporting and evaluation purposes
• Support grant deliverables related to food production, community engagement, and sustainability
• Assist with planning and maintaining infrastructure such as raised beds, greenhouses, and outdoor kitchens
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Hope Blooms’ food programming

Qualifications & Skills

Required or Strongly Preferred:

• Experience in community gardening, urban agriculture, or food production
• Experience working with youth and/or community-based programs
• Knowledge of food security, food justice, or sustainable food systems
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a small, collaborative team

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, plant, maintain and harvest crops across Hope Blooms’ community garden and urban growing sites
• Oversee soil health, composting, irrigation, pest management and seasonal crop planning
• Ensure gardens are productive, safe, accessible and aligned with organic and sustainable practices
• Support food distribution for Hope Blooms’ programs, community partners and food access initiatives
• Support and mentor youth participants involved in garden programming, employment and training initiatives
• Facilitate hands-on learning opportunities related to gardening, food systems, nutrition and environmental stewardship
• Create a welcoming, inclusive and trauma-informed environment for youth from diverse backgrounds
• Coordinate volunteers, community members, schools and partner organizations using the garden spaces
• Support community workdays, workshops and public events related to food growing and food justice
• Build and maintain positive relationships with local partners, funders and neighbours
• Track garden outputs, participation numbers and outcomes for reporting and evaluation purposes
• Support grant deliverables related to food production, community engagement and sustainability
• Assist with planning and maintaining infrastructure such as raised beds, greenhouses and outdoor kitchens
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Hope Blooms’ food programming

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 community gardening, urban agriculture or food production;
• Experience working with youth and/or community-based programs;
• Knowledge of food security, food justice, or sustainable food systems;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks;
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a small, collaborative team

Working Conditions
In person, outside

Physical Requirements
This is a physically demanding job