Job Posting — Program Coordinator (Avalon Food Hub)

This job posting is available as a PDF. 
If you require an alternate format, please email us at hiring@foodfirstnl.ca

Food First NL is preparing to launch a third social enterprise, the Avalon Food Hub. Beginning this fall, this program will connect local food producers and vendors with customers around the region through an online store and a logistics operation. The Avalon Food Hub will be based in the new community food space at 77 Charter Avenue in the Pleasantville Neighbourhood of St. John’s. It will leverage the experience and logistics infrastructure of Food First NL’s successful Western NL Food Hub. The Avalon Food Hub is the next step in Food First NL’s multi-year social enterprise plan to reach new regions.

The Job

The Program Coordinator will be responsible for the following:

Program Planning and Strategy

  • Plan for the launch of the Avalon Food Hub in fall 2025 including engaging with stakeholders, developing the work plan, collaborating on communications and finances, speaking with media, and all other relevant strategic activities 

  • Collaborate on all marketing and communications for the Avalon Food Hub and assist in the development of the brand and voice for the new social enterprise. Act as the main point of contact for media for the Avalon Food Hub. 

  • Lead development of operating procedures and train others to follow them

  • Co-develop project work plans and accompanying evaluation strategies along with management staff 

Operations and Logistics

  • Coordinate all day-to-day operations for the Avalon Food Hub once it has launched

  • Transport bulk food to and from multiple locations using an electric van 

  • Portion, package, inventory, and safely store a variety of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food items

  • Coordinate financial processes of the Avalon Food Hub with guidance from Food First NL’s finance team, including co-developing and monitoring project budgets and taking on day-to-day financial tasks

  • Coordinate other staff in their activities related to the Avalon Food Hub

  • Provide customer service in person, by phone, and online. Recruit customers and act as their main point of contact. 

  • Interact with vendors and producers to recruit them to participate, onboard them, acquire products, set up online profiles, troubleshoot issues, and build positive relationships. Act as the main point of contact for vendors and producers. 

  • Handle payments by cash, using Square POS, and using Local Food Marketplace online sales platform 

  • Become familiar with Local Food Marketplace and train others in its use 

  • Give presentations and promote the Avalon Food Hub in community settings 

  • Lead evaluation of the Avalon Food Hub. Maintain accurate records and collect sales and qualitative data. 

Team Participation and Continuous Learning

  • Problem solve challenges in a collaborative and effective manner 

  • Support food safety and occupational health and safety in all activities

  • Participate in professional development training (e.g. food safety, first aid, marketing, project coordination, community engagement)

  • Participate as a member of the Food First NL team and contribute to communications, equity, evaluation, human resources, planning, and reporting activities of the organization

  • Act as a representative of Food First NL at meetings, on committees, at events, and potentially with the media. 

  • Other duties as required

The Ideal Candidate 

This is an active position that requires physical labour. The candidate must be able to safely lift bags and boxes of produce weighing 50-65lbs and complete repetitive tasks like placing food into bags and cleaning workspaces. 

The candidate must be living in the St. John’s metro region permanently and be available to start in August. Compensation and additional time will not be provided for relocation. 

The candidate must have a full driver’s license and a clean driving record. This position will require the candidate to drive an electric van. Access to a personal vehicle is an asset. 

Please consider applying if many of the following characteristics apply to you and you are interested in growing your experience in the areas that don’t: 

  • You are excited about advancing Food First NL’s vision of “a province where everyone can eat with joy and dignity”

  • You are passionate about local food and have ambitions to strengthen our food system 

  • You have project coordination experience in the non-profit sector and a strong grasp of social enterprise philosophy 

  • You have strong experience with customer service 

  • You are friendly and outgoing, enjoy interacting with people, and excel at public speaking

  • You have experience coordinating other staff in their activities in an effective and supportive way

  • You are reliable and punctual

  • You are a creative problem solver who strives to remain open-minded and level-headed

  • You have experience handling cash, using point of sales (POS) systems, and with online sales 

  • You are organized, detail-oriented, and plan ahead 

  • You have strong communication skills and you enjoy working as part of a team

  • You are a good listener who can take direction and then work independently

  • You are committed to equity and inclusion, take a trauma-informed approach, and you have experience interacting positively with groups who have been marginalized

  • You are confident with computers and you have strong experience with Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Calendar, Drive) 

If you have questions about the requirements of the positions, contact hiring@foodfirstnl.ca.

Compensation and other Details

Salary: $54,586.65 with a cost of living increase applied annually in February. 

Leave: 15 days paid vacation to start, plus 14 paid public holidays annually, and 12 community service and food provisioning days. Ample sick and personal leave time available. 

Hours: 35 hours/week, primarily Monday-Friday daytimes, with some flexibility. It will vary based on activities, with occasional evenings and weekends required.

Benefits: Health and dental benefits available after 3 months

Expected Start: August 2025

Position Type: Full-time. Food First NL’s contracts follow a fiscal year of April-March. Initial contract to March 31, 2026 with extension likely. 

Working Environment: You must be permanently located in the St. John’s Metro Region. The primary work site will be Food First NL’s main office (77 Charter Ave. Suite 100 in St. John’s) and the position will require travel throughout the region to pickup sites and vendors. This can be a hybrid position and working from home is an option as programming requirements allow. Doing so will require a reliable home internet connection and a monthly stipend can be provided to assist with internet costs.

How to Apply

Send a PDF of your resume and cover letter to hiring@foodfirstnl.ca by the end of the day on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. We thank everyone who applies but only people selected for an interview will be contacted. 

Questions, and contact for support in applying: Sarah Ferber, Program Manager, hiring@foodfirstnl.ca

Accommodations

Food First NL recognizes that systemic barriers related to gender, race and ethnicity, Indigeneity, ability, physical and mental health, age, and socio-economic status limit or prevent people’s equal access to power and resources within society. In order to address these barriers within our own organization and the broader community, Food First NL is committed to practicing equity in all aspects of our work, including hiring. We welcome the opportunity to discuss any accommodations you may require, both in the position itself and in the hiring process.

If you are a person with a disability who requires support applying, please contact us. We can also provide this job posting in alternative formats. 

About Food First NL

Food First NL is a provincial non-profit organization with nearly twenty-five years of experience leading food security efforts. Food First NL’s mission is to advance everyone’s right to food in Newfoundland and Labrador. We envision a province where everyone can eat with joy and dignity. To learn more, visit foodfirstnl.ca or our social media @FoodFirstNL (Instagram, BlueSky, Facebook, YouTube).