Volunteer Opportunity: Directors at Large
Growing Chefs is looking for people interested in joining our Board of Directors!
Do you want to support sustainable and just food practices? Build connections between kids and youth and their food? Make local, healthy food accessible? Connect communities through food? If yes, then this might be the opportunity for you!
Compensation: Unpaid Volunteer position
Contract Type: Volunteer, min 6-8 hours per month (varies by position), term length: two years, up to three terms
Position Openings: We are currently looking for Directors at Large to join our Board of Directors
Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible
Position Summary:
Joining a board is a rewarding and challenging way to contribute to your community. Board members make lasting friendships, build professional relationships, and put their skills to good use. The Growing Chefs Board plays a crucial role in the strategic direction of the charity while ensuring that our mission is upheld and that we are accountable to the communities we serve. Members of the board have the legal duties of care, loyalty, and diligence; this means that Directors must exercise their fiduciary responsibilities in the best interests of the Society.
Monthly Responsibilities:
➢ Attend bi-monthly board meetings
➢ Prepare for bi-monthly board meetings by reading relevant reports and reviewing the previous board meeting minutes
➢ Support Board/Co-Executive Directors/organizational activities
➢ Participate in committee work as needed
➢ Attend to e-communications between meetings, as required
Annual Responsibilities:
➢ Hire (as needed, support, and review Growing Chefs Executive Director’s performance.
➢ Participate actively in fundraising and make an annual donation to the charity (no minimum amount is mandated but Growing Chefs is proud to have a 100% giving Board of Directors).
➢ Ensure sound fiscal management.
➢ Participate in strategic planning and annual board work plans.
➢ Regular attendance and participation at meetings and other events
➢ Support the work of the Growing Chefs Society with your knowledge and skills in key areas, such as education, the food and restaurant industry, finance, legal, marketing, fundraising, strategic planning, policy development, management, human resources and advocacy.
➢ Review and adopt monthly financial reports and annual financial statements. ➢ Attend the Annual General Meeting.
Qualifications & Skills:
Don’t meet every single qualification and skill?
Studies have shown that equity-seeking groups are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every single qualification in the posting. If you don't check every box and feel well suited to be on the board we strongly encourage you to apply.
Lived experience, knowledge of, and interest in topics related to healthy, just, sustainable food systems including but not limited to:
● growing food
● youth food literacy and education
● the restaurant industry and culinary arts
● food sovereignty
● decolonization
● local food systems
We are always looking to increase our engagement with, awareness of, and advocacy regarding food as it intersects with racialization, class, gender, ability, and other social structures and identities.
In addition, we are seeking individuals who possess:
● Self-reflexivity, compassion, authenticity, and openness to change.
● Experience working or volunteering in the non-profit sector.
● Passionate vision for a world with healthy, just, sustainable food systems.
● Willingness to learn about and work within anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks.
Role Requirements:
● 18+
Commitment to Equity:
Growing Chefs operates on the on the land of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), W̱SÁNEĆ, Lək̓ʷəŋən, and Xwsepsum (Songhees and Esquimalt) Nations. As we work towards a world with healthy, just, sustainable food practices, we continue to learn and explore how to uplift Indigenous food and cultural values within our local food systems.
We encourage applications from individuals from all communities including, but not limited to, those who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, a Person of Colour, queer, neuro-divergent, differently abled, and anyone with lived experience of poverty or food insecurity.
We recognize that there exist significant barriers to participating in unpaid board work. If you would like to apply to the board but are concerned about barriers you may face, please reach out to governance@growingchefs.ca to discuss how we might support your participation.
To Apply:
Please send a statement of interest to governance@growingchefs.ca
Deadline: Open
Process for Appointment: Incoming board members are elected by the Society membersannually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)
