SOYL Program Lead

Application Deadline : January 11, 2026. Interviews the week of January 19.

The Position

We’re looking for a strong team leader and program manager to steward our signature SOYL teen leadership program on our Coquitlam farm this summer!

You’ll oversee all aspects of SOYL, including participant selection and communications, pre‑season program planning, onboarding and training of SOYL facilitators, managing the 6‑week SOYL program from July 6‑August 21, and reflecting and reporting at the end of the season. You will work under the direction of the Executive Director, in collaboration with the Farm and Experiential Learning Teams, and will supervise the SOYL facilitators.

Key Details

• Location : Primarily Coquitlam, with some work in Vancouver and the surrounding community. Ideal applicants will have their own transportation.
• Dates and Hours : Part‑time hours in April / May (exact start date flexible), then full‑time (37.5 hours / week on average) June through August 28. July 31 will be a paid vacation day.
• Schedule : Monday – Friday, typically between 8 : 00‑5 : 00; some later days (until 8 : 00pm on Thursdays if needed to support the market).
• Compensation : $22‑$24 / hr, plus 4 % additional pay in lieu of vacation, paid sick leave, 30 % discount at Fresh Roots markets, access to culled produce, and two delicious meals weekly prepared by SOYL youth.

Responsibilities

Pre‑SOYL Program Management

Review, update, and plan program activities including :

Staff Supervision

SOYL Program Support

Support the SOYL Facilitators in mentoring a diverse group of 20 teens to :

Qualifications

FR recognizes that applicants from oppressed groups, including folks who are Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) may be hesitant to apply for positions where they don’t perfectly meet the listed qualifications. If you are excited about the job description, believe you could learn to perform the responsibilities and can meet the essential qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

Essential Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

About SOYL

The SOYL (Sustainable Opportunities for Youth Leadership) program engages a cohort of high school youth for six weeks each summer. The program focuses on collaborative work, practical skills, food‑systems thinking, and social‑emotional development. Youth receive a stipend (funding dependent) for participation, which includes work on the farm and at markets, preparing food for shared meals, and engagement in workshops, field trips and activities. Please visit freshroots.ca / soyl for more information about the program.

About Fresh Roots

Fresh Roots envisions resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems which support human growth and connection. We cultivate educational farms and place‑based programs where youth develop healthy relationships with food, land and community through growing and sharing food that nourishes themselves, their communities and the planet! Our core values are at the heart of everything we do at Fresh Roots. They are joy, community, inclusivity, empowerment and lifelong learning.

How to Apply

Fresh Roots is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.

Apply directly through this site with a resume / description of past experience and your choice of : a short cover letter (500 words max) uploaded as a document, OR an introduction video (3 minutes max) linked in the “website, blog, or portfolio” line.

Your cover letter or video should introduce yourself and share why you are a good fit for this position. Please let your passion and personality shine!

Please note that we are not judging videos based on your video editing skills, and neither videos nor cover letters are preferred. Choose the option that is best for you.

We regret that due to the high volume of applicants only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

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