Schoolyard Farm Market Lead

Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused urban farm organization in Vancouver is seeking a Market Lead for the Summer season. This role involves leading farmer's markets, working closely with youth from educational programs, and requires strong sales skills. Ideal candidates will have their own transportation and be able to lift heavy produce. Salary ranges from $21 to $25 per hour, with additional benefits including vacation pay. Flexibility in scheduling is offered, with potential for role extension into October.

Benefits

4% vacation pay

5 sick days

30% staff discount at the market

Qualifications

• Pass a criminal record check.
• Meet Federal Wage Subsidy Requirements for Young Workers.
• Able to lift and carry 50+ pounds.
• Access to reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

• Lead Fresh Roots’ Schoolyard Farm Markets.
• Communicate weekly with the Director of Farm Operations.
• Provide guidance and support to youth at market.
• Maintain market-related equipment and inventory.

Skills

Sales skills

Confidence leading teams

Customer service

Ability to sell vegetables

Education

FOODSAFE certification

BC Driver’s License Type 5

Job description

Fresh Roots Market Lead

Application Deadline: January 26, 2026.

Expect phone screening calls Jan 27 - Feb 4 (20 mins)

Group in-person interview planned for Saturday, February 7th, 2026 (90 mins)

The Position

The Fresh Roots Farm Team operates our educational farms toward our production, sales and educational goals. In this key role under the direction of the Director of Farm Operations, the Market Lead will operate our Vancouver produce markets and CSA program, often with youth from Fresh Roots’ SOYL program. We are looking for a skilled salesperson, however will train less experienced applicants who are motivated to learn.

Key Details

• Location: Metro Vancouver Schoolyard Farm sites & Farmer's Markets. Ideal applicants will have their own transportation.
• Dates: Seasonal Position, May 11 to Sep 4. *Some flexibility on start date and possibility of extension into October
• Hours: Full-time, Average 37.5 hrs/week. Expect more hours during peak season (July - Aug) and less in the shoulders.
• Schedule: Monday - Friday. Market shifts operate 12-7:30pm on Wednesday and Friday. Farm shifts for this position are 9:30am-4:30pm.
• Compensation: $21-25, DOE; plus 4% vacation pay; 5 sick days; additional mid-season paid vacation on August long weekend. Unlimited access to farm culls and 30% staff discount at our market.
• Note: Position availability is dependent on funding. Start and end dates may change.

Responsibilities

• Lead Fresh Roots’ Schoolyard Farm Markets. This includes driving produce to and from markets in a truck with a trailer.
• Lead CSA: weekly communications with the DFO and Production Lead, writing newsletters, and overseeing pickup at markets.
• Work with SOYL Facilitators to Lead Youth at market: establish a supportive atmosphere for skills acquisition, guided by values in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, food security and accessibility.
• With the Production Lead, lead harvest and set quality standards.
• Maintain market tents, tables, scales, cash box, float and iPad.
• Oversee the cooler, dry storage, produce inventory & cull rotation.
• Track and report market sales, and contribute to the year-end Market Report.

Qualifications

FR recognizes that applicants from oppressed groups, including folks who are Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) may be hesitant to apply for positions where they don’t perfectly meet the listed qualifications. If you are excited about the job description, believe you could learn to perform the responsibilities and can meet the essential qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

Essential Qualifications

• Pass a criminal record check to be able to work with children and vulnerable populations.
• Meet Federal Wage Subsidy Requirements for Young Workers: ie. be between ages 15-30 and have Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Refugee Status. If you are unsure of your eligibility, review these guidelines or contact us.
• BC Driver’s License Type 5 and able to drive a large pickup truck.
• Able to lift and carry 50+ pounds (ie. a tote of carrots).
• Access to reliable transportation for travel to and between FR sites.
• Confidence leading teams of peers and youth.
• Experience working at a market, cash register, or in a retail setting.
• Ability to describe and effectively sell vegetables.
• FOODSAFE certification or commitment to obtain.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on an urban farm or market garden.
• Experience and/or training for working with vulnerable, underrepresented, BIPOC youth and youth with diverse learning capacities.
• Skillful in welcoming customer service.
• Attention to detail and able set quality standards.

• Able to work independently and as part of a small, diverse team.
• Able to multitask, prioritize duties, problem-solve and remain flexible within a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Motivated to learn new skills and evolve the market.
• Effective communication in English across various mediums including social media and newsletters.

How to Apply

Deadline to apply is January 26, 2026.

Fresh Roots is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.

Apply directly through this site with a resume/description of past experience and your choice of: a short cover letter (500 words max) uploaded as a document, OR an introduction video (3 minutes max) linked in the “website, blog, or portfolio” line.

Your cover letter or video should introduce yourself and share why you are a good fit for this position. Please let your passion and personality shine!

Please note that we are not judging videos based on your video editing skills, and neither videos nor cover letters are preferred. Choose the option that is best for you.

We regret that due to the high volume of applicants only those selected for interviews will be contacted.