Not Far From The Tree (NFFTT), a project of MakeWay Charitable Society, puts Toronto’s abundance of local fruit to use by picking and sharing the harvest via a 1⁄3 model. NFFTT has picked and shared over 250,000 pounds of fruit since 2008, and schedules over 300 fruit picks per season. Not Far From The Tree builds community, fosters environmental sustainability and enables access to an existing supply of healthy, local food.

The Program Coordinator Opportunity

We’re looking for three enthusiastic individuals to help organize and lead fruit picks in downtown Toronto this season. You’ll be responsible for leading physically-distanced and safe fruit picks in our operating area that covers the downtown core, south of Eglinton, east of Jane, west of Victoria Park, and north of the waterfront. This year, we are expanding into Etobicoke (Royal York, The Gardiner and Dundas) and Scarborough (Birchmount, St. Clair East, to the Bluffs). You’ll be responsible for leading volunteers at fruit picking sites (including private property) and ensuring equipment is properly stocked, liaising with fruit pickers and tree registrants, and assisting partner agencies in receiving fruit deliveries. This position is ideal for someone who is comfortable working outside for extended periods and travelling by bike to get to various pick locations across downtown Toronto.

This position is flexible – fruit picks can be scheduled 7 days per week, from 9am – 9pm. You can schedule picks and work hours that fit within your schedule. The ability to work some weekends and evenings is strongly preferred.

Fixed Term, Full Time (30 hours/week)
Term: May 15th – September 8th (16 weeks)
Location: Downtown Toronto
Salary: $19.00/hour
Possible 6 week extension

Who We’re Looking For
● You’re comfortable spending the majority of your time outside and being active (i.e. picking fruit)
● You love biking, and are comfortable riding cargo bikes to various locations across downtown Toronto
● You’re a go-getter, able to take initiative and work independently and remotely
● You’re a people person, great at building relationships and working with volunteers
● You’re comfortable on the phone and can think on the fly to help problem solve
● You’re handy and action-oriented and are up for riding our cargo bikes through downtown Toronto
● You’re detail-oriented and can stay on top of multiple priorities when things get busy
● You’re passionate about environmental issues and grassroots community building

Key Responsibilities
● Lead multiple backyard fruit picks per week (this involves picking up a cargo bike and fruit picking
equipment, biking to pick sites, safely leading volunteers through picks, and delivering fruit via cargo
bike to multiple agency partners across Toronto).
● Ensure NFFTT equipment sets and cargo bikes are in good working order and properly stocked.
● Work with the Program Manager to plan private picks, workshops and community events.

● Liaise with NFFTT’s social service partner agencies to ensure satisfaction with fruit deliveries.
● Restock equipment at equipment storage locations across the city as necessary.
● Utilize NFFTT’s online fruit-picking portal to approve and schedule pick requests.
● Monitor an email account regularly to actively respond to inquiries and requests regarding picks;
● Accurately track and record picking program data throughout the season.
● Assist with fundraising, communications and program evaluation as necessary.

Qualifications
● Excited about working outdoors
● Comfortable with urban cycling, specifically using NFFTT’s cargo bikes
● Demonstrated ability to take on a public-facing role in the community, and professionally liaise with a
variety of stakeholders and volunteers
● Demonstrated ability to plan small-scale projects or events and see them through from start to finish,
including overseeing logistics
● Demonstrated ability to anticipate needs and take initiative, problem solve, manage time effectively,
and exercise sound judgement
● Exceptional interpersonal and active listening skills; comfortable engaging stakeholders through phone
calls, emails, and workshops
● Able to work collaboratively with coworkers and volunteers
● Familiar with G-Suite (Google Drive, Sheets, Docs, Calendar, Gmail, etc.);
● Available to work evenings and weekends

Physical Requirements
● Working outdoors and on your feet for long periods of time;
● Repetitive tasks such as reaching, picking fruit, crouching, standing;
● Riding a cargo bike in downtown Toronto;
● Cleaning, carrying and transporting equipment to events and storage locations across the city; ability
to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds, and load equipment into a cargo van.

Assets
● Experience with bike maintenance;
● Experience working in a community organization, charity and/or non-profit with a proven track record
of managing logistics;
● Experience in urban ecology, fruit preserving or fruit tree care;
● Evening and weekend availability is strongly considered an asset;
● Valid G2 or G Driver’s Licence;
● Fluency in or conversational understanding of a second language

To be eligible, the successful applicant must:
● Be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment;
● Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred
under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment; and,
● Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in
Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

How to Apply:

Please send your resume and cover letter to info@notfarfromthetree.org with “Program Co-ordinator” in the subject line. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 5th, 2022 at 5pm.
In your cover letter, help us understand why you’re an excellent candidate by addressing the following:

1. Tell us why you think that you are our ideal candidate.
2. What excites you about working at Not Far From The Tree, and this position in particular?
3. Make connections with your resume — how will your past experiences translate into success in this position?
4. What skills or experiences do you look forward to developing during your time at Not Far From The Tree?
5. Your general availability (fruit picks can be scheduled 7 days per week, from 9am – 9pm, and the ability to work some weekends and evenings is strongly preferred).

The Communication Coordinator Opportunity

We’re seeking a creative, skilled communicator for the position of Communications Coordinator to help
generate content and graphics across NFFTT’s communications channels including social media, print
materials, and website. Working with the team, you’ll produce engaging communication content that
highlights the activities, achievements and stories of NFFTT’s fruit-picking program and community
events. You’ll help promote NFFTT programs and events, engage our constituents and boost follower
engagement.

Who We’re Looking For
● You have an eye for design and are able to create beautiful marketing materials in adherence
with brand guidelines;
● You have a passion for storytelling and can create compelling, easy-to-understand content
across a variety of communications channels;
● You’re great at social media and can create, source, and share content that resonates with
NFFTT’s followers and supporters;
● You’re an effective communicator, with excellent writing and grammar skills;
● You have great interpersonal skills and are comfortable talking to and interviewing people to
get testimonials to support program evaluation and communications content;
● You’re also happy to get outside, attend fruit picks, and interact with our volunteers and
community.

Fixed Term, Full Time (30 hours/week)
Term: May 15th – September 8th (16 weeks)
Location: Downtown Toronto
Salary: $19.00/hour
Possible 6 week extension

Key Responsibilities
● Take video footage and/or photographs at fruit picks and interview NFFTT constituents to
produce impactful communications and social media content;
● Create beautiful and engaging graphics to support NFFTT’s communication strategy (i.e. social
media graphics, brochures, handouts, posters, newsletter headers, etc.);
● Design branded merchandise and facilitate printing and ordering of products
● Write content to be featured in NFFTT’s newsletter and blog;
● Schedule and post engaging, relevant content on NFFTT’s social media channels, including
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and Facebook and Instagram stories;
● Ensure a consistent voice and brand identity across communications, and that communications reaches a wide diverse range of stakeholders;
● Track the effectiveness of social media content and make recommendations to enhance
engagement.
● Coordinate with MakeWay Project Specialist to ensure all communication materials are
approved.

Qualifications
● Graphic design expertise; ability to create beautiful materials that convey a compelling
message;
● Experience using Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Hootsuite, Mailchimp and/or WordPress to
design and disseminate communications;
● Experience using Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and google analytics
● Familiar with G-Suite (Google Drive, Sheets, Docs, Calendar, Gmail, etc.);
● Experience developing promotional content and written communication materials with a focus
on storytelling for a variety of print and web channels;
● Excellent communication, writing and editing skills;
● Exceptional interpersonal and active listening skills, and the ability to engage stakeholders and
program participants in interviews for story collection;
● Experience assisting with organizational or non-profit social media management;
● Able to work collaboratively with coworkers and a diverse group of stakeholders in a
goal-oriented environment;
● Available to work evenings and weekends;
● Knowing a second language is considered an asset;

To be eligible, the successful applicant must:
● Be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment;
● Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been
conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the
employment; and,
● Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to
work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

How to Apply:
Please send a resume, cover letter and portfolio materials to info@notfarfromthetree.org with
“Communications Coordinator” in the subject line. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 5th,
2023 at 5pm.

Portfolio Materials: Please include one short writing sample (one-page maximum) and two examples
of graphic design, or a link to your personal portfolio in your application. In your cover letter, help us understand why you’re an excellent candidate by addressing the following:

1. What excites you about working at Not Far From The Tree, and this position in particular?
2. Make connections with your resume — how have your past experiences will translate into
   success in this position?
3. Tell us why you think that you are our ideal candidate.
4. What skills or experiences do you look forward to developing during your time at Not Far From
   The Tree?

Not Far From The Tree is a project of MakeWay Charitable Society.
For more information, please go to makeway.org

The selected candidate will be an employee of MakeWay Charitable Society.
MakeWay is strongly committed to creating a diverse workplace environment and
we welcome and encourage applications from the communities we serve.

We are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer.

MakeWay will provide accommodation during all steps of the selection process, upon request, to
applicants with disabilities. Please advise us if you need any accommodation.