Regional Food Animator for Eastern Rural Newfoundland

This job listing is available as a PDF.

Food First NL has a team of 5 Regional Food Animators that inspire and support food programming across the province. Each Regional Food Animator leads outreach and education activities in their region, as well as contributing to Food First NL’s projects. These positions all have a high degree of variety and flexibility. 

The Job

The Regional Food Animator will be responsible for the following:

  • Act as the lead support person for community food programs in Eastern Rural:

    • Provide guidance to food programs 

    • Host regional meetings and webinars over Zoom 

    • Create opportunities for networking and relationship building

    • Gather and share resources

    • Give presentations and facilitate hands-on food skills workshops

    • Sit on committees and collaborate on projects with partner organizations 

    • Assist with funding applications and other content development

    • Build bridges between local, regional, provincial, and national partners 

  • Assist with the extension of Food First NL’s projects to the Eastern Rural region:

    • Give project presentations, host meetings, and attend events

    • Assist with community engagement in the region (e.g. focus groups, surveys, displays, distribute print materials) 

    • Communicate with local project stakeholders like retailers, food producers, schools, and community groups

    • Build and strengthen relationships in the region to support project goals 

    • Assist with transportation of food to and from the region for social enterprises

    • Maintain accurate records and collect evaluation data

    • Assist with development of project plans and procedures

    • Problem solve project challenges in a collaborative and effective manner 

  • Support food safety and occupational health and safety throughout operations 

  • Contribute to the creation, review, update, and promotion of Food First NL’s educational resources, including the Community Food Action Space 

  • Participate in professional development training (e.g. equity, food safety, first aid, facilitation, 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 position may 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 should be available to start in April 2026 ideally. 

The candidate must live in the Eastern Rural Region which includes communities east of Port Blandford, excluding St. John’s and surrounding Metro area (see map).

The candidate must have a full driver’s license and a clean driving record. This position will require the candidate to have a personal vehicle and insurance. 

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 care about improving wellbeing in the Eastern Rural Region 

  • You are friendly and outgoing and enjoy interacting with people

  • You have experience in community education and outreach 

  • You are an experienced driver and would enjoy travelling throughout the Eastern Rural Region 

  • You are excited to take action to improve our food system and you bring a variety of food interests and skills with you

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

  • You have experience working with non-profits or social enterprises. You may have experience in agriculture, food service, education, or business that you would like to apply in a community setting. 

  • You are able to safely and comfortably handle a variety of foods in community settings

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

  • You have strong communication skills and you enjoy collaborative teamwork 

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

  • You are reliable and punctual

  • You are committed to equity and inclusion, and you have experience interacting positively with groups who have been marginalized

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

  • You are able to work both in-person and online 

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

Compensation and other Details

Wage: $25.40/hour. A cost of living increase is applied annually in February. 

Paid Leave: 

  • 15 days vacation to start

  • 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: April 2026

Position Type: Full-time. Initial contract to March 31, 2027 with potential extension.

Working Environment & Travel

The position requires the candidate to live in the Eastern Rural Region which includes communities east of Port Blandford in Newfoundland, excluding St. John’s and surrounding Metro area (see map). 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 requires the candidate to have a personal vehicle and insurance. There will be travel within the Eastern Rural Region and occasionally to St. John’s. Any use of a personal vehicle for work activities will be reimbursed. The candidate must have a full driver’s license and a clean driving record. 

The candidate will have the option to work from home or from a partner community space, if one can be secured nearby. The candidate will need 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 Monday, March 23, 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, BlueSky, Facebook, YouTube).