Job Description

The Public Health Association of BC is Hiring!

Community Engagement and Food Systems: Program, Policy and Engagement Lead

Remote within BC

1.0 FTE - Full Time (Term Contract)

Overview

The

Public Health Association of BC (PHABC)

is seeking a detail oriented and passionate individual to serve as the

Program, Policy and Engagement Lead

with the Community Engagement and Food Systems Development Team. Reporting to the Senior Community Food Development Officer, the successful candidate will lead the program evaluation design and analysis, and provide program support, for all Community Food Systems Development projects for the term

August 18th, 2025 - March 31st, 2026.

The Community Food Systems Development projects include projects 1, 2, 3a, 3b, and 4 funded by The Government of BC and The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. For more information on this project, please refer project summaries or the Community Food Systems Development (CFSD) media statement.

This role is well-suited for someone with expertise in program evaluation, research, community engagement, policy development, and program planning. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with the Community Engagement and Food Systems Development Team and report to the Senior Community Food Development Officer. Together, they will ensure that projects are effectively supported and championed, while also identifying and structuring innovations and continuous improvement opportunities for implementation across PHABC's initiatives.

Background

The Public Health Association of BC (PHABC) is a voluntary, non-profit charity (est. 1953) that promotes and protects public health by actively working to advance the development and implementation of healthy public policy, by encouraging and facilitating research that supports public health and cooperating regionally, nationally and internationally with partner organizations. Its national linkages enable the PHABC to participate in dialogue and action on matters of interest across Canada. The PHABC has a long track record of fiscal and administrative stability and considerable experience with community development, continuing education, initiatives addressing the determinants of health and project planning, implementation, assessment and evaluation. PHABC has partnered with the federal and provincial governments to carry out significant knowledge development and exchange projects.

About the Project

Supported by the Government of BC and Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, the Public Health Association of BC (PHABC) and Food Banks BC are working in partnership to strengthen the food systems sector in BC and increase capacity of food-access organizations through a multipronged strategy that involves a combination of knowledge gathering efforts, networking and various streams of grant-making.

Food systems transformation is the foundational framework that was used to develop our community food systems development strategy and all the activities described below. Food Systems transformation refers to efforts being made to transform mainstream food systems to be more just, equitable, sustainable, and resilient. There are multiple entry points to accelerating this transformation, and as such, there are five projects that support this shift by addressing different leverage points within the food system. These projects aim to advance community food security, enhance local food sovereignty, and foster collaboration across sectors to build a healthier and more inclusive food system for all.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

Program Evaluation Design and Analysis

Oversee the program and process evaluation of all Community Food Development Projects: Project 1: Community Food Systems Development in BC: Activating the Food Access Sector; Project 2: (Re)Defining Dignified Food Access in BC: What we learned from community members; Project 3a: Rapid Stimulus Grant; Project 3b: Ideas Lab and; Project 4: Large Scale Innovations for Food Systems Transformation.

Co-lead the development, implementation and analysis of conference evaluation tools for the "Northern Harvest: Seeding Sustainable Futures Through Food and Collaboration" Northern Food Summit, Oct 20-Oct 22, 2025.

After program evaluation, participate in knowledge dissemination activities, which will include but not be limited to, co-developing position papers and convening community roundtables with other PHABC staff.

Research analysis and engagement support for community and Indigenous partners around food sovereignty and food systems policy and innovation.

Provide project programming and on-the-ground support as needed, particularly with the Ideas Lab (3b.) and Large-Scale Innovation Pilot (LSIP) (4) grants.

Qualifications & Skills

Degree or diploma in program evaluation, food systems, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, community development, or related fields--or equivalent combination of experience.

2+ years of experience in program evaluation, participatory research or food systems design, including decolonial, equitable and dignified and food access.

Strong understanding of Northern food systems, climate and food systems justice, and community-informed project development.

Skilled in developing research, analysis, and reporting materials.

Demonstrated ability to work with diverse communities using an equity and inclusion lens.

Strong organizational, communication, and analytical skills.

Collaborative, self-directed, and passionate about supporting food systems change.

Proficiency in MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, Zoom, surveys, and data analysis tools.

Ability to travel and attend some in-person events (with occasional evenings or weekends).

Job Details

The selected candidate will be offered a term employment contract including extended health & dental benefits, sick/personal/birthday leave, and a personal phone/internet allowance following a successful probationary period of ninety (90) days.

Contract Dates:

August 18th, 2025 - March 31st, 2026

Salary:

$33.61/hour

Hours:

40 hours/week (1.0 FTE)

Vacation:

3 weeks paid vacation accrued at 6%

Benefits:

Extended health & dental, paid sick/birthday/personal days

Stipends:

$50/month internet allowance

Equipment Provided:

Laptop, software access

Work Style:

Remote work with occasional travel for in-person meetings or engagements within BC.

To Apply

Submit your resume, cover letter and three references to

Roanne Whitticase, Senior Community Food Development Officer

at SCFD.Officer@phabc.org by July 25th, 2025. Please include "Program, Policy and Engagement Lead Job Posting" in your email subject line.

Application Deadline:

July 25th, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Interviews:

July 30th & 31st, 2025 via Zoom

Anticipated Start Date:

August 18th, 2025

Anticipated End Date:

March 31st, 2026

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

PHABC is an equal opportunity organization and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for this position without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 8 months

Pay: $33.61 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

Dental care Disability insurance Extended health care Flexible schedule Life insurance Mileage reimbursement Paid time off Vision care Work from home
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-07-25
Expected start date: 2025-08-18