Health, Safety & Workforce Programs Lead

Description

Search conducted by Placemaking 4G at p4g.ca on behalf of Nova Agri.

We actively encourage submissions from Black, racialized, Indigenous Peoples, People with Disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and newcomers to Canada. As a member of an equity-deserving group, we invite you to share this information in your cover letter or resume and express your pronouns if you wish.

We collaborate closely with the P4G search team because they are dedicated to creating a safe space for you to openly discuss your experiences, preferences, and any accommodations that may support you. This partnership ensures that your information is handled with sensitivity and respect.

A nationally recognized Leader in the Canadian agri-food industry, Nova Agri Farms (including the Country Magic brand) has more than 2,500 acres in the bountiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. Our primary crops grown for both domestic and export markets include onions and high-bush blueberries. We pack and market these and other fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, beans, potatoes and grape tomatoes to the Atlantic provinces, Northeastern USA, Europe and the Caribbean. We are pleased to pack branded and private labels for major retailers across Canada.

We choose to live and work in the communities where we farm.

We believe it is important to be good stewards of our people, our environment, and our communities. Our team is proud of the communities they come from and actively gives back to show their appreciation. The team at Country Magic gives back to the community through charitable donations, academic scholarships, providing produce to local food banks and supporting our local communities that put on events that benefit the communities we farm in.

At Nova Agri Inc., we believe our people are at the core of our magic and what we do. We understand that quality products and outstanding customer service can only be delivered by employees who care enough to go the extra mile for our customers.

This Moment, This Position

Food safety, quality and the health and safety of people are deeply connected to the work Nova Agri does every day.

As the Health, Safety & Workforce Programs Lead, you will play a central role in creating a safe, respectful and well-supported working environment across our farming operations. Reporting directly to the Director of Soft Fruit, you will oversee the day to day coordination and continuous improvement of our Occupational Health and Safety program while managing the administration and coordination of our Temporary Foreign Worker program.

In this role, you will meet our teams where they are. Rather than sitting behind a desk, you will be a visible, approachable presence across our fields, processing facilities, and worker accommodations. You will bridge the gap between regulatory requirements and real-world agricultural practices, ensuring safety protocols are practical, transparent and easy to follow. A vital element of your work is relationship building, serving as a trusted point of contact and providing accessible, bilingual support to our Spanish-speaking workforce.

Your success will come from pairing technical safety knowledge with empathy, active listening, and cross-cultural communication. You will thrive by building genuine trust with workers and farm leaders alike, advocating for employee well-being, and fostering a collaborative, people-first culture across our entire operation.

Occupational Health & Safety

• Lead the day to day administration and continuous improvement of Nova Agri's OHS program across all farm locations, processing facilities, and work areas.
• Conduct regular site inspections, coordinate hazard identification, and work alongside operational leaders to put practical safety controls in place.
• Oversee incident and near-miss recordkeeping, lead injury investigations to uncover root causes, and follow corrective actions through to completion.
• Manage WHMIS compliance, SDS documentation, PPE inventory, and safety practices related to agricultural equipment, machinery, and chemicals.
• Lead engaging safety orientations, refresher sessions, and regular toolbox talks, while supporting emergency preparedness and Joint Health and Safety Committee operations.
  
  

Worker Onboarding, Training & Orientation

• Lead a welcoming, consistent, and bilingual (English/Spanish) onboarding experience for newly arrived temporary foreign workers, introducing them to the farm, their teams, supervisors, and workplace expectations.
• Deliver clear orientations covering employment agreements, worker rights, responsibilities, pay practices, workplace policies, and safety protocols.
• Coordinate initial health and safety orientations before workers begin work, including emergency procedures, hazard awareness, PPE usage, and role-specific safety rules.
• Partner with farm supervisors to schedule, deliver, and track required job-specific training, ensuring all completion records and certifications remain up to date.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program Administration

• Coordinate the organization's participation in regulated workforce programs, maintaining strict compliance, accurate worker files, and an up-to-date calendar of LMIAs, arrivals, and departures.
• Manage pre-arrival logistics and welcome workers to Canada, coordinating local transportation, housing arrangements, and initial community settlement needs.
• Perform regular accommodation check-ins and required housing inspections, escalating maintenance, health, or well-being concerns promptly.
• Assist workers in accessing healthcare, insurance coverage, and community resources, while coordinating end-of-season departures and gathering feedback to continuously improve the worker experience.
  
  

Worker Support & Relationships

• Act as an accessible, trusted point of contact across farm locations, helping employees understand workplace policies, expectations, safety requirements, employment rights, and available supports in both English and Spanish.
• Maintain a regular, approachable presence in fields, facilities, and housing areas to build rapport, answer questions, and resolve workplace concerns early and informally.
• Support farm supervisors in communicating effectively with a multilingual and multicultural team, identifying and breaking down cultural or language barriers.
• Conduct early check-ins with newly arrived workers and maintain active connections throughout the season rather than limiting support to initial arrival.

Program Administration & Leadership Reporting

• Develop practical safety checklists, bilingual resources, and clear documentation tracking systems for OHS and workforce programs.
• Track safety and workforce trends to provide insightful updates to leadership on key activities, upcoming compliance dates, and system improvements.

Education & Qualifications

• Post-secondary education or formal training in Occupational Health & Safety, Human Resources, Agriculture, Business, or a related field (equivalent combinations of education, training, and practical experience will be considered).
• Full fluency in both English and Spanish (verbal and written), with proven ability to communicate clearly and comfortably.
• Organizational and record keeping skills, with experience managing documentation, tracking deadlines, and using Microsoft Office or electronic tracking systems.
• Experience with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program or another regulated workforce program would be considered a strong asset.
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to travel between multiple locations.

Health & Safety Knowledge

• Strong working knowledge of occupational health and safety principles and an ability to apply them in practical, operational environments.
• Confidence to identify potential hazards, raise safety concerns, and constructively challenge practices to ensure worker safety.
• Understanding of WHMIS, Safety Data Sheets, PPE standards, and workplace hazard mitigation.
• Ability to track incidents, analyze trends, maintain compliance documentation, and support Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee operations.

Agriculture & Operational Experience

• Experience in agriculture, food production, manufacturing or another operational environment would also be an asset.
• An ability to establish trust with employees while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Comfort working directly across fields, production areas, and worker accommodations.
• Sound judgment when handling confidential, sensitive employee or workplace matters.

The Package

Salary: $60,000 - $70,000

Position Type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Centreville, Nova Scotia

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm with the flexibility to work weekends during peak season, when required.
Travel: Occasional travel to multiple locations within Annapolis Valley.

Benefits & Perks:
Nova Agri Inc. offers a comprehensive benefits package, including vacation, health, and dental coverage effective for all full-time employees three months after starting employment. Employees are also offered life and accident insurance, a long-term disability program, and a group savings and retirement program (including RRSP and/or TFSA matching options).

Our Process & Application Details

What to Expect
Hiring processes often reflect systems that don’t work for everyone. At Placemaking 4G, we believe recruitment should be relational and affirming. We’re working with the organization to ensure candidates are respected, informed, and supported throughout.

• We closely review all applications and read each cover letter (we promise).
• If you are selected as a top candidate, expect an invitation to chat with a Lead Placemaker from P4G. This is someone who treats the recruitment process non-traditionally. We want to get to know what inspires you.
• Selected candidates will proceed to a virtual interview with the Lead P4G Placemaker and 2-3 organizational representatives.
• Finalists may participate in a second-round interview or skills activity (virtual or in-person).
• P4G will check employment references and assist in presenting an offer to the successful candidate.
  
  

Application Details
Applications will be accepted until October 5, 2026 at noon AT.

Please include a cover letter that speaks to your experience and offers a glimpse of your personality.

Don’t be generic. Be yourself.

Placemaking 4G is a human-dynamics and recruitment firm that helps organizations rethink how they hire and how they support people once they’re through the door.

We partner with organizations to build thoughtful teams through human-centred recruiting services, leading human dynamics (human resource) consulting, facilitation, and educational offerings.