Social Enterprise Manager

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The Social Enterprise Manager will be part of the Leadership Team at Food First NL, alongside  the CEO, Finance and Administration Manager, and Program Manager, leading a close-knit hybrid staff of 25 spread throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. 

This position has management responsibility for Food First NL’s portfolio of social enterprises, currently comprising Food on the Move and Avalon Food Hub in the Avalon Region, Western Food Hub in the Humber Valley Region of Newfoundland, and soon exploring expansion of social enterprise programming to Labrador. Food First NL’s social enterprises are practical examples of our vision of a province where everyone can eat with joy and dignity. The ideal candidate is someone who is inspired by that vision and can transition naturally between big picture social impact thinking and pitching in with daily operations. 

The Job

The Social Enterprise Manager will be responsible for the following:

  • Manage administration and operations of Food First NL’s social enterprises, including

    • Oversee and manage social enterprise budgets and operations, and provide guidance to social enterprise staff on project spending.  

    • Monitor revenue, expenses, and financial performance of all social enterprises.

    • Oversee the procurement and safe use of capital assets for social enterprise operations.

    • Manage evaluation and reporting of all social enterprise activities to ensure funding requirements are met and activities are improved over time. 

    • Monitor organizational capacity required for effective social enterprise operations and make recommendations to the Leadership Team to fill gaps (e.g. hiring, training, contract work). 

    • Support contract management with project partners and service providers in consultation with the Leadership Team.

    • Assist as needed with day-to-day operations.

  • Seek out and cultivate strategic opportunities, partnerships and markets, and develop resources to support them. Lead or support development of new plans and proposals.

  • Oversee communications and marketing for the social enterprises in consultation with the Communications Team.

  • Act as the direct supervisor to social enterprise staff, including:

    • Guide and support social enterprise staff in the planning, implementation, evaluation, and reporting of social enterprise activities.

    • Provide human resources oversight to social enterprise staff in collaboration with the Leadership Team.

    • Ensure staff are cross-trained on different aspects of social enterprise operations.

  • As a member of the Leadership Team, support overall organizational leadership for Food First NL, including:

    • Support organizational human resources processes.

    • Support organizational fund and budget development

    • Oversight of Food First NL’s locations and capital assets. 

    • Support strategic planning and the development of work plans.

    • Contribute to the development of organizational policies and procedures.

    • Contribute to the development of the Annual Report.

    • Facilitate and host internal team meetings and external partner meetings, including the annual Community Update. 

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

  • Participate as a member of the Food First NL team, including:

    • Support food safety and occupational health and safety throughout operations.

    • Participate in equity learning and professional development training.

  • Other duties as required.

The Ideal Candidate 

The ideal Social Enterprise Manager is a leader who is passionate about accessible food and local food systems. You are experienced in managing small businesses and/or social enterprises. You are a strategic thinker with an eye on social impact and a willingness to explore new partnerships and new directions who is also willing to pitch in and lend a hand at the ground level when needed. 

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 have management experience in the non-profit sector

  • You have a strong grasp of social enterprise and social impact philosophy 

  • You are proficient with a variety of software platforms, including financial, sales, and cloud-based office utilities. You are comfortable trouble shooting and training others to use these systems.

  • You can develop and oversee budgets, monitor performance, and make decisions about resource allocation 

  • You have experience managing other staff in their activities in an effective and supportive way that prioritizes wellbeing

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

  • You are reliable and punctual

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

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

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

This position will require some 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 will occasionally be required to set up and take down equipment like tents and tables. 

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

Compensation and Other Details

Starting Salary: $67,086.87 to $74,540.96 based on experience. A cost of living increase is applied annually every February. Seniority-based increases are also applied annually until the top of the salary band (currently $81,955.06) is reached. Salary is set according to a salary scale and is not negotiable. 

Paid Leave: 

  • 15 days vacation to start, with an additional day added annually

  • 15 public holidays annually, plus 3 days closure between Christmas and New Years

  • 12 community service and food provisioning days

  • Ample sick and personal leave time available as needed

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: November-December 2026

Position Type: Full-time, Permanent 

Probationary Period: Six Months

Working Environment & Travel:

The position requires the candidate to live in either the St. John’s Metro Region or Corner Brook/ Humber Valley Region at time of start in the position and throughout employment. For clarification about eligible locations, contact hiring@foodfirstnl.ca. Compensation will not be provided for candidates to relocate to the region for the position. 

This position will require travel within NL and sometimes outside of the province. The candidate must be willing and able to drive an electric delivery van, and a driving assessment will take place in the van prior to the start of employment. The candidate must have at minimum a Class 5 driver’s license and a clean driving record. Access to a personal vehicle and valid personal insurance is an asset. 

In St. John’s, the main worksite will be Our Table (77 Charter Ave, Suite 100) and in Corner Brook the main worksite will be the Western Food Hub (62 Broadway). 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 and phone costs.

How to Apply

Send a PDF of your resume and cover letter to hiring@foodfirstnl.ca by the end of the day on Sunday, November 8, 2026. We thank everyone who applies but only people selected for an interview will be contacted. 

Questions and contact for support in applying: 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, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube).