Application deadline: 5:00pm on Sunday March 16, 2025
10C Shared Space (10C) is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Community Network Activator to join the team and work on the food uniting neighbours (f.u.n.) project – a grassroots collective focused on community-driven solutions to food insecurity in Guelph and Wellington County. The f.u.n. project is co-led by Community Advisors, researchers from the University of Guelph (UoG), staff from 10C, and other collaborators.
This is an on-site and in-person role, involving a balance of computer-based work and physical work in gardens, kitchens and community events. Some of the activities take place at Shelldale Community Centre, 10C Shared Space, the Guelph Farmers’ Market and St. Joseph’s Health Centre Community Garden, as well as various sites in Centre Wellington, and other indoor and outdoor locations. There may be some work-from-home flexibility depending on tasks and responsibilities. In this role, the Community Network Activator will work alongside the project team to support activities targeting barriers to food access and addressing the needs of the community. Some of the work will involve social media and promotion, developing revenue streams, and supporting Community Advisors in their work.
About 10C Shared Space
10C Shared Space is an enterprising non-profit changemaking hub that drives social
innovation and community resilience in Guelph-Wellington, Ontario. With over 250
members working across diverse themes, we design and implement programs that foster
collaboration, learning, and impact. By connecting changemakers with essential resources, we build relationships and drive sustainability, economic growth, and inclusivity.
About f.u.n.
As a community-led initiative, f.u.n. is aimed at implementing food-based activities that are developed by and for the communities that access them. Starting in May 2022, f.u.n. has received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund to research and pilot test actions in Guelph’s Onward Willow neighbourhood. With the second phase of ongoing funding confirmed to 2028, f.u.n. will continue implementing actions in Guelph, and plans to expand into Centre Wellington to support rural communities in developing solutions for rural food insecurity.
Responsibilities of the Community Network Activator will include:
Program support and systems mapping:
- Work alongside the Community Program Lead and f.u.n. team to design, implement evaluate and adapt community-led food security and skill-building activities
- Support and coordinate actions including community gardening, weekly drop-in lunches, special events, cooking workshops, advocacy and knowledge mobilization
- Work with the team to document processes to support implementation and scaling of programs, including creating program operating guidelines, developing, and scheduling coordinating tasks, roles and shifts; outreach and inventory-keeping
Supporting and Mentoring Community Advisors:
- Support Community Advisors to develop and adapt their roles and tasks related to designing, coordinating, implementing and evaluating programs
- Facilitate group conversations and processes that are in line with participatory community-led decision-making
- Support Community Advisors skills-development and task-management through mentorship, coaching, guidance, encouragement and championing
Network development across community members and partners:
- Lead the development of a social media and promotion strategy, as well as implementation templates and processes for f.u.n.
- Community-building – engage with community members to help gather insights and feedback about offerings to support program improvement
- Relationship-building – help the team maintain existing relationships and create new relationships with community partner organizations
Administrative and Other Responsibilities:
- Support with writing, reviewing and editing of funding applications and reports
- Transportation – help with pick up and delivering of program foodstuffs and supplies, coordinate and provide transportation for Community Advisors and project team
- Help maintain inventory and organizing office, pantry, fridge and freezer space
- Work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, giving capacity to be all hands on deck at times. As opportunities and tasks arise, 10C team members have some flexibility to support 10C projects and events related to their interests, strengths and goals.
You bring these experiences and abilities to the role:
Experience with program design and systems mapping:
- Systems thinking – work with the team to implement individual programs while keeping in mind their interconnectivity, and overall project goals and vision
- Knowledge of community programming to support with logistics of planning, implementing and evaluating programs
- Support with documenting program processes and systems
- Long-term thinking – work with the team to develop ideas for project sustainability including revenue generation, partnerships, sponsorship, and fundraising
Support and Mentorship Skills:
- A variety of lived experiences and capacity to work alongside community members in program and project planning
- Abilities to value and amplify diverse cultures, knowledge, experience and perspectives of the Community Advisor team
- Team-building skills with an understanding of pace and iterative nature of collective discussion and participatory decision-making
- Ability to prioritize tasks and workflow into manageable steps
Interpersonal and Relational Skills:
- Trust-based relationship-building and community-building
- Adaptable and flexible to uncertainty and ongoing changes
- Approach the work with vulnerability, empathy, patience and kindness
- Demonstrate understanding of when to lead and when to be led by community
- Conflict management and community mediation skills
- Team player with collaborative and shared accountability approach to the work
Administrative Skills and Other Abilities:
- Combination of postsecondary education, workplace and volunteer experience, personal skills in areas related to food access and community development
- Foundational knowledge of local food systems, food security and community food-based activities
- Understanding of social media: Facebook, Instagram and publishing tools
- Using software programs: Google Workspace, Airtable, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Slack and WhatsApp
- Understanding of rural communities and barriers and/or willingness to learn
- G-Class Drivers’ License
- Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs or more
Assets (not required):
- Connections with community and food-based organizations in Centre Wellington
- Experience with grant-writing, and seeking funding and sponsorship
- Language other than English (especially Tigrinya, Arabic, Farsi and/or Nepali)
- Graphic design platforms: Canva, Adobe Suite
- Access to a reliable personal vehicle
Compensation and Details:
- Exact work schedule to be determined based on needs of the project and individual’s availability. Some evening and weekend work will be required.
- This is a full-time, temporary role based on 30 hours/week, with an initial contract term ending on April 15, 2026, and possibility of extension pending funding
- Compensation is $24/hour for 30 hours per week plus 10 paid vacation days, 3 paid sick days and 2 paid flex days
- Benefits package (Beneplan/Co-operators) including Life Insurance, AD&D, Dependent Life, & Long Term Disability, Drug, Health, Dental, Vision Care, Travel Insurance, and Telus Health Employee and Family Assistance Program.
- Start date is Monday, April 14, 2025 (flexible)
We’re excited to meet you!
10C is committed to learning, equity and building a diverse community in which everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We welcome team members with the knowledge and skills to productively work with diverse communities. 10C specifically encourages applications from those across race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, and lived experiences. 10C values lived experience alongside educational and workplace experience, if you are comfortable highlighting your lived experience on your application, this will help us consider your application in a holistic way.
The responsibilities and experiences above represent the requirements of this role and the skills and abilities needed to be successful. We understand not all candidates will have all of the qualifications or areas of expertise listed. If you have approximately 75% the experience and abilities, or feel strongly that you could do this job well, we would love to hear from you.
Application deadline: 5:00pm on Sunday, March 16, 2025
Please email your cover letter and resume, specifying Community Network Activator in the subject line, to [email protected] Please include in your cover letter the answer to the question, “What is your superpower?”
Interviews to take place March 20-26, 2025 at 10C Shared Space, 42 Carden Street.
