About Common Ground Project

Common Ground Project is a regenerative community farm and social enterprise located in Freshwater Creek, Victoria on a mission to connect and empower the community.

As farmers and members of the local community, we recognise our role in changing the food system. We envision a more resilient and thriving regenerative farming and food ecosystem, where all people have access and are connected to land, food, culture and community.

We work to connect the local community to food and farming through these core business and charity areas:

• Regenerative Farming and Food Hub Markets - growing nutrient-rich food and working on regenerating our small pocket of land; connecting the local community to our regenerative produce and producers from around the region, and supporting new and emerging producers.
• Education Programs - school programs, internships and placements, community workshops, community volunteering, corporate volunteering, farm tours and collaborations with other organisations and businesses across our region;
• Training and Employment Programs - Our Staying Grounded program exists to support people facing disadvantage in the community.

Role Description & Opportunity

We have received funding to support more youth in roles in food and farming systems and continue our weekly veg box schemes and farmers markets and are excited to welcome new members to our team! As a Farm & Food Hub Officer, you will report to the Farm Manager, completing the below activities and tasks to a high degree, supported by a thriving and dynamic team of passionate food and farming system legends. They include:

• A dedicated on-farm day, including harvesting vegetables, being efficient (capable of repetitive work at a fast rhythm) and performing under time pressure whilst doing so. This day also includes assisting with visitors and working with volunteers and may include other farm tasks on our small regenerative market garden.
• Completing farm-based and Food Hub (Veg Box & markets) administration.
• Executing the Food Hub operations of Veg Boxes and attending Farmers Markets.
• Supporting delivery of vegetables to restaurants, wholesale customers and local veg box customers.

This role is unique, expansive and wide ranging but it is also rewarding. In addition to supporting the key responsibilities listed below, it is also your responsibility to understand and share our story and use your experiences to inspire and lead others. We trust you will embrace it wholeheartedly and instil passion and commitment to your work. There is the possibility for growth in our team and longevity in your role with us as we work towards our mission of strengthening the food system.

Key Responsibilities

• Harvesting of vegetables including; cleaning and packing inline with incoming food safety standards for market gardens, helping maintain standards of production to ensure the highest quality produce.
• Other farm tasks such as; insect and weed control, composting, hand-sowing seeds, maintaining seedlings, watering, transplanting, building/shaping beds and chicken care.
• Working with volunteers (patiently and respectfully).
• Completing farm and food hub (veg box and market) administration including; invoicing (Xero), managing the online veg box shop (Squarespace), creating veg box pack lists, sending out the produce availability EDM, stock inventory, completing point of sale adjustments (SquareUp), ordering from local producers when necessary and uploading their invoices, completing simple financial and anecdotal weekly sales summaries, as well as collating farm data as and when needed by the Farm Manager.
• Executing Veg Box orders and Markets including; packing, selling, customer management, marketing and social media, attending Markets mostly solo (2-4 Sundays a month and some Thursdays).
• Delivery of vegetables to restaurants, wholesale customers and local veg box customers, as a confident manual driver using our refrigerated van.

Key Skills & Experience

• Relevant experience working as a farm hand/assistant and undertaking key tasks listed above, in all weather conditions.
• Experience selling vegetables or in retail, attending markets or working in a veg box scheme, including strong ability to communicate with a range of customers.
• Passionate about building resilient food and farming systems.
• Self-driven with the ability to work autonomously and within a small, agile team, including executing parts of the farm responsibilities autonomously.
• Very good communication skills, including a confident level of English.
• Acute attention to detail, always, including that which is needed in administration and on a small farm.
• Open minded, curious and oriented to solutions.
• Able to work in the field and office including hard repetitive physical work, lifting, packing and setting up/packing down autonomously.
• Current Australian driver’s license, ability to drive manual, and a clean driving record.
• The right to work in Australia.
• Current Victorian Working With Children Check, or willingness to obtain.
• Tertiary qualification in relevant field; Agriculture, Horticulture, Environments, Arts, Food Systems, Humanities (desirable).

Values, Culture & Conditions of Employment

We are an inclusive team and value diversity in all its forms. Women, LGBTQIA+ folks, anyone who identifies as Indigenous or any other racialised groups, those from ethnically diverse communities are encouraged to apply. In your role, we hope you will express yourself, inspire others and contribute to the dynamism of the Common Ground Project culture.

You will be an ambassador for our culture, and we expect you to:

• Share and embody Common Ground Project’s vision for a more resilient, fair and thriving regenerative farming and food ecosystem;
• Inspire, lead by example, be passionate about your work;
• Take responsibility for your own work and continually look for ways to improve existing approaches;
• Commit to reflection and learning, including sharing failures and uncertainties;
• Ensure the well-being of staff, and take care of each other.
• The employee agrees to abide by all health and safety rules and requirements, policies and procedures of the employer that may be amended from time to time.
• Common Ground Project is an equal opportunity employer and a child safe organisation.

To apply, please click the "Apply Now" on Ethical Jobs with your resume and cover letter attending to the key skills and experience.

Any questions can be directed to [email protected] using the subject line: Farm & Food Hub Officer - 25 Years & Under enquiry via EthicalJobs.

As a Youth role, if you don’t have all skills and experience listed, please still apply!

A position description is attached.