Sumac Food Programs Manager (Full-time, Permanent)

Community Food Centres Canada; Ontario; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking two Food Programs Managers to lead engaging food initiatives at a new community center in Toronto. This exciting role involves designing and evaluating inclusive food programs that promote social connection and food security. The ideal candidates will have a passion for community-building through food, strong facilitation skills, and a commitment to equity and inclusion. Join a dedicated team that values mutual support and aims to create meaningful change in marginalized neighborhoods. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for professional development, making it an excellent opportunity for those looking to make a difference.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Defined benefit pension plan

15-20 paid vacation days

Wellness days

Employee Assistance Program

Professional development opportunities

Culture of mutual support

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in community-based program development and evaluation.
• Strong cooking skills and knowledge of food security issues.

Responsibilities

• Design and facilitate inclusive food programs that foster social connection.
• Engage in community outreach and build partnerships with local organizations.

Skills

Community-based program development

Food-related program facilitation

Cooking and food skills

Cultural competency

Knowledge of food security

Excellent communication skills

Conflict resolution skills

Digital tools proficiency

Group facilitation skills

Commitment to equity and inclusion

Education

Post-secondary education in a related field

Job description

Sumac Food Programs Manager- 2 openings

(Full-time, Permanent) *New Position

Location: Our office is located in Toronto, Ontario.

Reports to: Sumac Community Food Center Director

Hiring Range: $65,000-75,000 annually, including a comprehensive benefits plan, pension plan, three weeks paid vacation (increasing to 4 weeks paid vacation in your second year of employment), a December break (usually a week) to recharge, wellness days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities.

Job Posting Closing Date: May 13, 2025

About us:

At the heart of Community Food Centre Canada’s work is the belief that food is a basic right. We bring people together around good food so communities can thrive. With more than 400 partners across the country, we build inclusive, culturally responsive Community Food Centres, share knowledge, create health-focused programs, and advocate for equitable policy change.

At Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC), we work on behalf of good food for all. Our collective approach at CFCC is founded on dignity and respect, equity and empathy. These values are core to our mission and outlined in our Good Food Principles.

CFCC is strongly committed to equity and inclusion within its community. We especially welcome applications from members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, people with lived and living experience similar to the communities they serve and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. We are committed to an equitable and inclusive selection process and work environment.

We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment, and welcome candidates to speak about how their experience has demonstrated a commitment to Equity, Inclusion, Reconciliation and Anti-Oppression.

This year, Community Food Centres Canada is proud to introduce Sumac Community Food Centre (CFC) – a vibrant, welcoming space in Toronto’s Downtown East where people come together to grow, cook, share, and advocate. Located at 340 Gerrard St E, Sumac CFC will offer a variety of food-focused programs to support individuals and families living on low incomes. The Centre will help improve access to nourishing, culturally appropriate food, build food skills, and create pathways for personal and community transformation.

Sumac CFC will join a network of 15 Community Food Centres across Canada, with two additional CFC’s launching in Fall 2025. A Community Food Centre (CFC) is more than just a place to eat – it’s a hub where people connect, learn, and advocate for change. It’s a space that values community and uses food to build it. At Sumac CFC, we aim to remove barriers to accessing resources and support, while empowering individuals to thrive in a space that fosters community, dignity, equity, and inclusion.

Our approach centres CFCC’s Good Food Principles, and the three pillars of the Community Food Centre model: food access, food skills, education and engagement. We believe food is a basic need, right, and a basis of good health. Our approach recognizes that food is part of our identities, its offering is a way of showing care, it connects us to land, it’s a source of joy and wellbeing, and it brings us together.

As a member of the Sumac CFC team, you’ll play a key role in launching this exciting new Centre, whether that’s community outreach and getting the physical space ready, to finalizing program plans and welcoming the first participants in late Summer 2025. Many of our programs will be offered during regular working hours (9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday), but some will take place outside of these hours, including early mornings, evenings, or occasional weekends. We are committed to staff wellbeing, striving to balance program needs with personal schedules. Please note, this is an in-person position.

About the position:

CFCC is seeking two Food Programs Managers, who will be responsible for designing, facilitating, and evaluating food programs that are engaging, inclusive, respectful, and centre a love of food. These programs will be the core of Sumac Community Food Centre’s program offerings, and will respond to community needs by fostering social connection, building capacity and agency, and improving food security. By creating vibrant, engaging, and welcoming program experiences, the Food Programs Manager will contribute to the Community Food Centre’s broader goal of creating meaningful individual and community change toward better well-being.

Key Responsibilities:

Create, facilitate, and evaluate food programming

1. Design, plan and facilitate a variety of kitchen-, garden- or land-based food programs featuring culturally diverse foods.
2. Cultivate communication, leadership, and food skills amongst program participants and volunteers.
3. Engage in community outreach to participants and potential partners.
4. Facilitate groups, building a respectful, safe and inclusive space for participants.
5. Create program materials as necessary.
6. Supervise and support volunteers.
7. Ensure health, safety and cleanliness in the kitchen.
8. Measure and evaluate program impact through support of data collection, reporting, and development activities such as grant writing and annual reporting.

Organizational Support & Collaboration

1. Role model professional behaviour and positive communication with participants, volunteers and partners through an anti-racist/anti-oppressive approach.
2. Promote a culture of health and safety within our space.
3. Provide program support to other team members as necessary.
4. Contribute to communications through outlets such as social media and website.

Connect with partners and community networks

1. Build relationships with and collaborate with local community partners.
2. Participate in, consult with and support relevant community groups.
3. Participate and represent the organization at community events.
4. Create and maintain a “community of practice” for networking and knowledge sharing opportunities online and in-person.
5. Incorporate CFCC values into ways of working and contribute to the evolution of our culture, and a work environment that is grounded in Relationship-focused, Integrity, Courage and Equity.

Qualifications & Skills:

Required

1. Over three years of experience with community-based program development, facilitation, and evaluation.
2. At least one year of experience facilitating food-related programs.
3. Strong cooking, food skills and knowledge to include accommodating for dietary restrictions and cultural diversity, and kitchen equipment knowledge.
4. Experience working with a variety of demographic groups, including children and youth and cultural competency to work with diverse communities.
5. Knowledge of food security, food justice and nutrition issues.
6. Passion for using food as a tool for community-building, social connection, and fostering inclusion.
7. Ability to create a welcoming, non-judgmental environment for individuals from all walks of life, ensuring that everyone feels seen and respected.
8. Excellent group facilitation, interpersonal, communication and conflict resolution skills.
9. Demonstrated experience working with people who are facing food and income insecurity and people of diverse cultures and abilities in a community-based setting.
10. Demonstrated a commitment to equity, inclusion, reconciliation and anti-oppressive practice through ongoing learning, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
11. Comfortable with using a variety of digital tools and willingness to learn new digital tools as necessary.
12. Availability & willingness to work some early morning or evenings, the occasional weekend on a regular or as-needed basis.

Preferred

1. Post-secondary education in a related field of study an asset (community nutrition, food insecurity, food skills, social service).
2. Garden planning and management experience are assets.
3. Proficiency in a second language spoken in the Downtown East (e.g. Tamil, Bengali, Somali, Arabic, Spanish, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Mandarin) and familiarity with the community and local organizations is desirable.
4. Literacy in common communications/social media programs is an added advantage.

Successful candidates will be required to complete a Vulnerable Sector Check.

You don’t think you meet all the criteria? Still apply. Research shows that women and people from equity deserving groups, often do not apply until all the boxes are ticked.

Why work for us?

We offer:

1. Comprehensive benefits package including extended health, dental, life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, membership in a defined benefit pension plan, 15 paid vacation days in your first year, increasing to 20 paid vacation days in your second year of employment, a December break (usually a week) to recharge, wellness days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities.
2. a culture of mutual support where staff are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive Canada.
3. an opportunity to be part of a movement building health, belonging and social justice in marginalized neighbourhoods across Canada through the power of food.

How to apply:

To apply, please scroll up and click Apply Now. Please attach your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please share what you think makes you an ideal candidate for this role. Only those applicants being considered will be contacted. If you require any accommodations or technical support, please email [e-mail] (please do not email your application to this email). Thank you for your interest in CFCC.