We are looking for an EcoTalent Intern (Organic Grower). This job is for 4 days a week (30 hours), 3.5 days at the farm and 0.5 days with Feedback. To start in April 2020, and to last for 15 weeks. The salary is £10.75/hour (London Living Wage). The job is mainly based at the farm (3.5 days a week) as well as various locations with Feedback (0.5 days a week) including their office at 61 Mare St, Hackney, London,
Feedback is supported by Our Bright Future to offer 36 paid internship placements with environmental organisations between January 2020 and June 2021. Each placement lasts around 15 weeks and is paid the Living Wage. Young people aged 18-24 may apply, and placements will be made with host organisations working in the nexus of food and the environment. These placements have been created to offer more accessible points of entry into the environmental sector in the hope of training a workforce of sustainable food leaders and increasing diversity in the environmental sector.
Purpose of the position
The EcoTalent Intern will work with the Head of Production and growing team at the farm, developing skills and experience in local food production.
The EcoTalent Intern will also play a role in helping people in the community have a positive, meaningful and enjoyable experience.
Scope of job
- 3.5 days focused on growing.
- Learning about how to grow vegetables commercially, following organic and agroecological principles.
- Opportunity to learn about the workings of the farm, from growing vegetables to selling to customers, and engaging volunteers and visitors.
- Carrying out all growing activities relating to crop production, including propagation, transplanting, weeding, watering, harvesting and other related duties.
- Teamwork including good communication with other team members, especially with the Head of Production and Growing Team.
- Working with volunteers at the farm.
We are inviting applicants to apply who fit the following criteria:
- Have an interest in organic sustainable agriculture, and a desire to learn about how to grow vegetables commercially
- Have an interest in the environment and local, sustainable food systems
- Enjoy being outdoors, be enthusiastic, hardworking and keen to learn!
- Be aged 18-24 years old
- Not currently enrolled on a university degree
PLEASE NOTE: EcoTalent placements are only open to graduates who have not been able to secure a paid role within the sector in the first year following their degree. If you graduated over a year ago but have not worked in the environmental sector following your degree you are welcome to apply.
How to apply
To apply please answer the following three questions:
- Tell us about yourself?
- Why do you care for the environment?
- Why do you want to work at Sutton Community Farm?
You do not need to send us a CV. Send your answer either in written form or as a video/audio file, to Feedback’s internship manager at: claire@feedbackglobal.org
Deadline for applications: Midnight 25th February 2020
Date of interviews: Tuesday 17th March 2020 (Alternative date: Friday 20th March)
Start date: Monday 6th April 2020
Job Description: EcoTalent Intern (Organic Grower)
If you have any questions relating to the role itself and your time with Sutton Community Farm please contact Rachel Clark on 07419 740754 or via email: rachel@suttoncommunityfarm.org.uk
If you have any questions about Feedback’s EcoTalent programme or your time with Feedback please contact Claire Woodhill on 020 3051 8633 or via email: claire@feedbackglobal.org
These placements are open to everyone, regardless of experience or background. We acknowledge that the environmental sector is less open to young people from under-represented backgrounds and we’re committed to doing what we can to correct this. We especially want to hear from you if you feel that opportunities like this are less available to you, or if you feel overlooked by mainstream institutions.
No previous experience in the environmental sector is necessary. We encourage applications from:
- People who are passionate about affecting positive change and want to take action to tackle climate change but have not studied a relevant subject at college or university.
- People who have studied a relevant subject at university but have not been able to secure paid employment in that sector within a year of graduating.
- People who are interested in training in practical food delivery (cooking or growing) with a sustainable focus but have little or no previous professional experience.
- People who are interested in environmental campaigning but do not feel confident in how to take steps towards this
About Feedback
Feedback is a small NGO that works on transforming the food system. We are known for our bold campaigning style and are proud to often be called ‘the troublemakers in the room’ for calling out greenwashing and the lacklustre efforts of big corporations. We work across multiple aspects of our food system, including industrial meat, food waste, farmed fish, British sugar and ‘green’ energy generated through Anaerobic Digestion of edible food.
You will spend the 1st and 7th week of your placement with Feedback. This time will be spent on learning more about the environmental and ecological crisis and how it relates to the food system, and on your own professional development working on skills such as job application and CV writing, and interview skills. You will also spend 0.5 days per week during your placement with Feedback, this time will be spent gaining further skills, discussing your progress, and creating networks.