Student Position / Co-op

Organic Council of Ontario; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

An environmental organization in Canada is seeking a student for the position of Program, Data, Grants & Executive Support. This role involves providing substantive support in developing Canada’s organic data platform while assisting in program coordination, grant writing, and executive tasks. Ideal candidates should be enrolled in a relevant post-secondary program and possess strong organizational and communication skills. The position is mostly remote, with compensation set at $22/hour.

Qualifications

• Must be currently enrolled in a recognized post-secondary program.
• Field of study related to environmental studies, sustainability, agriculture, food systems, or policy.
• Experience in data platforms or grant-funded projects is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Play a core support role in AskAgriWise, including data organization and coordination.
• Coordinate Producer Club meetings and Farmer Coffee Hours.
• Assist with grant writing and funder documentation.

Skills

Organizational skills

Research

Grant writing

Data management

Communication

Education

Enrollment in a recognized post-secondary program

Job description

Position: Program, Data, Grants & Executive Support (AskAgriWise Focus)
Organization: Organic Council of Ontario
Location: Mostly remote (Southwestern Ontario required for some meetings)

Term: January 6 to April 30, 2026
Hours: 20 hours per week (0.5 FTE)
Compensation: $22/hour

Ontario Organic (previously the Organic Council of Ontario) is the provincial organization supporting the growth, integrity, and coordination of Ontario’s organic agriculture sector. Our work advances environmentally sustainable farming systems, climate resilience, soil health, biodiversity, and evidence-based decision-making across the organic value chain.

Position Overview

Ontario Organic is seeking a student currently enrolled in a post-secondary program to play a substantive role in the development and delivery of AskAgriWise, Canada’s emerging organic data and knowledge platform, while also providing program, grant, and executive support to the Executive Director.

This role combines environmental data work, grant development and reporting, program coordination, and executive assistance, and is well suited to a graduate or Master’s-level student who is highly organized, self-directed, and interested in sustainable agriculture, environmental policy, data systems, or nonprofit leadership.

This position is funded through an ECO Canada student wage subsidy program and directly supports environmental sustainability, climate-positive agriculture, and organic land management systems.

For the first three weeks of the term, this role will also provide support for the Guelph Organic Conference, after which responsibilities shift fully to core program work.

Subject to performance, funding availability, and mutual interest, there may be an opportunity for continued part-time or full-time work beyond April 2026.

Key Responsibilities

AskAgriWise and Data Leadership

• Play a core support role in AskAgriWise, including data organization, content preparation, documentation, and coordination with partners
• Support environmental data and sector initiatives linked to AskAgriWise, PHOS, and organic sector mapping
• Assist with background research, synthesis, and preparation of materials related to organic and sustainable agriculture

Producer and Sector Engagement

• Coordinate Producer Club meetings, including scheduling, agendas, reminders, notes, and follow-up
• Organize Monthly Farmer Coffee Hours, including outreach, scheduling, and documentation
• Coordinate bi-monthly Organic Grain Hub calls, including participant outreach, agenda preparation, and meeting notes

Grants, Reporting, and Program Support

• Assist with grant writing, grant reporting, and funder documentation, particularly for data, environmental, and sector-development projects
• Support preparation of progress reports, performance summaries, and impact documentation
• Contribute to internal tracking of deliverables and timelines for funded projects
• Coordinate the development and iterative improvement of certifier and value chain welcome packages, incorporating feedback from certification bodies and sector partners over time

Executive and Operational Support

• Provide executive assistant support to the Executive Director, including scheduling, meeting coordination, task tracking, and follow-up
• Assist with preparation of briefing notes, agendas, and internal documents
• Support coordination related to the Ontario Organic Foundation and other strategic initiatives
• Provide general program and administrative support as needed during peak periods

Eligibility Requirements (ECO Canada)

• Must be currently enrolled in a recognized post-secondary program (undergraduate or graduate)
• Field of study related to environmental studies, sustainability, agriculture, food systems, policy, data, public administration, or a related discipline
• Must be eligible to work in Canada

Graduate students, Master’s candidates, and students with experience in data platforms, grant‑funded projects, or executive support roles are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You’ll Gain

• Direct experience contributing to the development of a national organic data platform
• Hands‑on involvement in environmental grant development and reporting
• Experience supporting senior leadership in a sector organization
• Exposure to strategic, operational, and governance‑related work in environmental and agricultural systems

How to Apply

Please submit:

• A resume
• A short cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience

Please mention you saw this at FoodWork.ca.

Please indicate “Program, Data, Grants & Executive Support” in the subject line.

Due to the anticipated volume of applications, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

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