SOYL Program Lead

Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society; Coquitlam; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A community-based farm organization is seeking a Program Manager for their SOYL teens program in Coquitlam. The role includes overseeing all aspects of the program, participant selection, staff training, and creating a positive environment for youth. Ideal candidates will have experience managing youth programs, excellent communication skills, and a passion for community engagement. Compensation is competitive, and part-time to full-time hours are expected from April to August.

Benefits

Paid vacation days

Access to fresh produce

Discount at markets

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience working with secondary or post-secondary aged youth.
• Experience in farming or gardening is a plus.
• Able to manage multi-task and prioritize duties.

Responsibilities

• Oversee participant selection and communications for the SOYL program.
• Plan and facilitate training for SOYL facilitators.
• Create a safe environment for learning and working.

Skills

Team leadership

Program management

Conflict management

Communication

Education

Experience working with youth

First Aid with CPR certification

Job description

Application Deadline: January 11, 2026. Interviews the week of January 19.

The Position

We’re looking for a strong team leader and program manager to steward our signature SOYL teen leadership program on our Coquitlam farm this summer!

You’ll oversee all aspects of SOYL, including participant selection and communications, pre-season program planning, onboarding and training of SOYL facilitators, managing the 6-week SOYL program from July 6-August 21, and reflecting and reporting at the end of the season. You will work under the direction of the Executive Director, in collaboration with the Farm and Experiential Learning Teams, and will supervise the SOYL facilitators.

Key Details

• Location: Primarily Coquitlam, with some work in Vancouver and the surrounding community. Ideal applicants will have their own transportation.
• Dates and Hours: Part-time hours in April/May (exact start date flexible), then full-time (37.5 hours/week on average) June through August 28. July 31 will be a paid vacation day.
• Schedule: Monday - Friday, typically between 8:00-5:00; some later days (until 8:00pm on Thursdays if needed to support the market).
• Compensation: $22-$24/hr, plus 4% additional pay in lieu of vacation, paid sick leave, 30% discount at Fresh Roots markets, access to culled produce, and two delicious meals weekly prepared by SOYL youth.

Responsibilities

Pre-SOYL Program Management

• Review, update, and plan program activities including:
  • SOYL-led workshops
  • Community Field Trips
  • Youth daily and weekly schedules
• Select program participants and prepare them/their families for the program
• Manage the program budget, including purchasing of supplies
• Coordinate schedules, plans, and site usage with the Farm and Experiential Learning Teams
• Communicate SOYL plans to Millside staff and ensure building access

Staff Supervision

• Plan and facilitate SOYL facilitator training
• Mentor facilitators and provide ongoing informal feedback along with formal mid-season and final evaluations
• Oversee and support Community Eats Chef

SOYL Program Support

• Create a safe, supportive environment for working and learning
• Liaise and communicate regularly with program participants and their families throughout the program
• Support the SOYL Facilitators in mentoring a diverse group of 20 teens to:
  • Build a healthy, inclusive, learning community
  • Manage conflicts and challenging behavior, including communicating with participant families as needed
  • Step in for facilitators when needed
• Share in twice-weekly Community Eats lunches prepared by youth & chef educators
• Support youth at our market stand and in food preservation or special projects led by Fresh Roots team members
• Record, report, and reflect on the program in weekly team meetings and at the end of the season

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: e.g., 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.
• 3+ years of applied experience, or a mix of experience and education in a relevant field, working with secondary or post-secondary aged youth (e.g., teacher, camp director, afterschool program coordinator).
• Experience and/or training for working with youth facing barriers, especially BIPOC youth, newcomers, and youth with diverse learning capacities
• Experience in farming, gardening, landscaping, habitat restoration, or other land-based work
• Able to manage, multi-task, prioritize duties, problem-solve and remain flexible within a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Experience and comfort with managing conflict and disruptive behaviours with a focus on opportunities for learning and growth
• Experience managing emergency situations, including using first aid
• Commitment to Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. English fluency required.
• Able and happy to work outdoors in all conditions for up to 8 hours a day
• Able to carry out a variety of physical tasks that involve bending, squatting, lifting up to 50 lb, and repetitive motion
• Current First Aid with CPR will be required before the position starts.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least one year in a supervisory capacity
• At least one season in production farming
• Customer service experience, especially farmer’s market experience
• Experience managing budgets and inventories
• Knowledge or interest in land and food systems, regenerative agriculture, Indigenous food sovereignty, ecology, or related fields
• Knowledge of local Indigenous plants and ecologies
• Confident navigating tricky conversations with youth around topics such as race, culture, gender identity, etc.
• Able to speak additional languages. Languages frequently spoken in our communities include Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, Punjabi, Farsi, French, and Ukrainian.
• Driver’s License (Class 5 or better); access to a vehicle a plus

About SOYL

The SOYL (Sustainable Opportunities for Youth Leadership) program engages a cohort of high school youth for six weeks each summer. The program focuses on collaborative work, practical skills, food-systems thinking, and social-emotional development. Youth receive a stipend (funding dependent) for participation, which includes work on the farm and at markets, preparing food for shared meals, and engagement in workshops, field trips and activities. Please visit freshroots.ca/soyl for more information about the program.

About Fresh Roots

Fresh Roots envisions resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems which support human growth and connection. We cultivate educational farms and place-based programs where youth develop healthy relationships with food, land and community through growing and sharing food that nourishes themselves, their communities and the planet! Our core values are at the heart of everything we do at Fresh Roots. They are joy, community, inclusivity, empowerment and lifelong learning.

How to Apply

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.