26-124 School Foods Coordinator at Métis Nation British Columbia

Position Summary

The Métis School Food Program Coordinator will lead the development and implementation of culturally relevant school food initiatives that support Métis children, families, and communities. This role involves engaging with Métis families, community organizations, schools, and government partners to shape policy, strengthen food security programs, and advocate for sustainable funding. The coordinator will play a key role in ensuring that Métis traditions, values, and food security needs are reflected in school meal programs and community initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess strong project management abilities, experience in community engagement, and a thorough understanding of Métis culture and food sovereignty. The role requires a proactive, independent, and collaborative work ethic to effectively support MNBC and its partners in ongoing efforts to advocate for sustainable school food programs benefiting Métis families and communities.

LOCATION

• Provincial Head Office – Surrey, BC.

Duties & Responsibilities

Program Strategy & Framework Implementation

• Refines and implements the Métis Nation School Food Framework based on community feedback and best practices.
• Conducts targeted research to support decision-making and identify program challenges and opportunities in Métis school food programming.
• Develops program guidelines, securing resources, and supports community-driven leadership to enhance MNBC’s ability to coordinate school food initiatives.
• Designs a Métis-specific school food funding model to inform long-term investments in food security and nutrition programs.
• Analyzes and reports on feedback from engagement sessions to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Develops and submits policy recommendations to provincial and federal partners to advocate for sustainable funding.
• Works towards securing commitments for continued funding beyond the initial investment.

Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination

• Builds and maintains relationships with provincial and federal partners to advance Métis school food priorities and secure sustainable funding.
• Organizes and leads regional and virtual engagement sessions with Métis families, schools, and organizations.
• Secures partnerships with local Métis food suppliers and community organizations to ensure sustainability.

Program Delivery & Community Capacity Building

• Gathers input from Métis families to inform the development of a Métis Nation School Food Framework.
• Coordinates educational workshops on gardening, food preservation, and traditional Métis food practices.
• Establishes food-sharing networks to connect families with fresh, locally sourced food.
• Provides resources and funding to Métis-led food programs to support food banks, green houses and community gardens.
• Assists with the preparation of grant proposals and impact reports.

Administrative & Logistical Support

• Supports tracking of food program budgets, resources, and engagement milestones.
• Maintains centralized records and contact lists of stakeholders and food program partners.
• Coordinates internal reporting processes and tracks program performance metrics.

Other Duties

• Participation in committees and project teams as required.
• Undertakes related duties as assigned, consistent with the job grade of the position.
• Other duties may be assigned as needed to ensure the efficient operation of MNBC.
• Regular or occasional attendance at meetings and events that may require work and travel outside of regular business hours.

Supervision Given

• None

Qualifications

• Diploma in Nutrition, Indigenous studies, Public Health, or a related field is required.
• Minimum Three (3) years of experience on relevant program coordination, community engagement, policy development or food security, preferably within Indigenous communities.
• Strong understanding of Métis culture, traditions, and food systems.
• Ability to engage with Métis families, school districts, policymakers, and community organizations.
• Excellent project management skills, including planning, executing, and evaluating programs.
• Strong experience in advocacy and policy development related to Indigenous food security and school nutrition.
• Ability to secure and manage funding and partnerships to sustain long-term program success.
• Ability to travel within the province for engagement sessions and program site visits.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write reports and funding proposals.
• Experience working with government funding agreements and policy frameworks is an asset.
• Knowledge and/or awareness of the historical and contemporary contributions made by Métis people in British Columbia.
• Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a Class 5 driver’s licence may be required.
• The position may require the completion of a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check.