Community Outreach Coordinator

About GrowBuildLearn

GrowBuildLearn (GBL) is a social impact enterprise combining smart hydroponic technology, AI-powered education support, and immersive STEM curriculum to address food security and educational engagement challenges. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities to grow food, build sustainable systems, and learn together.

We're creating innovative solutions that make year-round food production accessible while delivering engaging hands-on STEM education to schools and communities across Ontario.

Eligibility Note (OJCP Funded)

This role is funded through the Ontario Job Creation Partnerships (OJCP) program. Candidates must be Ontario residents who are currently unemployed or working under 20 hrs/week and must have a qualifying EI history (currently receiving EI, received EI within the last 60 months, or paid EI premiums in at least 3 of the last 10 years).

What you’ll Do

Grow GrowBuildLearn's presence in the community by combining hands-on growing education with relationship-based outreach. This role pairs real horticultural and hydroponic expertise with grassroots community engagement: running workshops and demonstrations, building partnerships with community organizations, and creating the warm relationships and early interest that feed GBL's program pipeline. 

This is an education-led outreach role, not a cold-call sales role. You'll open doors and build trust through your credibility as a grower and educator, then work alongside the team to move interested partners toward program adoption. It's perfect for someone with an agriculture, sustainability, or community-education background who is energized by getting people excited about growing food. 

Because this role is built around community events and partner engagement, some evening and weekend work will be required at times (e.g., workshops, markets, and community events), with scheduling flexibility around those commitments. 

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive hourly wage based on experience (minimum $18/hour)

• Commission or bonus structure tied to goals

• Mileage reimbursement for school visits and field travel

• Flexible hybrid work arrangement

• Professional development opportunities

• Meaningful work with direct community and environmental impact

Key Responsibilities

Community Education & Workshop Delivery 

• Contribute to the planning and delivery of hands-on hydroponic growing workshops, food literacy sessions, and demonstrations at community sites (libraries, community centres, food banks, senior centres, schools) 

• Translate growing and sustainability concepts into engaging, accessible experiences for diverse audiences, including youth 

• Support harvest and "grow-along" activities that connect participants to where food comes from 

• Adapt sessions for different community groups and learning needs 

• Capture stories, photos, and feedback from sessions to support GBL's impact reporting and marketing 

Community Partnership Development & Outreach 

• Identify and reach out to community organizations, municipalities, libraries, food security groups, and partners aligned with GBL's mission 

• Build relationships through a warm, consultative, education-first approach rather than hard-sell tactics 

• Represent GBL at community events, markets, and networking opportunities 

• Generate and qualify interest, and hand off or co-develop opportunities with GBL's sales and outreach team toward program adoption 

• Follow up consistently with contacts to nurture partnerships over time 

• Log all outreach, contacts, and partnership activity in the CRM (HubSpot) 

Coordination & Administrative Support 

• Coordinate scheduling and logistics for workshops, demos, and community events 

• Track outreach metrics and partnership progress for reporting 

• Support other community and operational activities as required by the company 

Experience & Skills 

• Post-secondary studies in education, agriculture, environmental science, sustainability, or a related field, OR equivalent hands-on experience 

• Experience teaching, training, or running workshops/demonstrations for community groups, students, farmers, or the public 

• Hands-on knowledge of hydroponic or controlled-environment growing 

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with diverse audiences 

• Comfortable initiating conversations and representing an organization in the community 

• Self-motivated, organized, and able to manage multiple relationships and events 

• Valid Ontario driver's license and reliable transportation for travel across Niagara and the GTA 

Core Competencies 

• Warm, approachable communicator who builds trust quickly 

• Passion for food security, sustainability, and community empowerment 

• Ability to make growing and sustainability topics simple, engaging, and fun 

• Comfort with outreach and partnership building through an education-first lens 

• Collaborative team player who feeds opportunities to colleagues rather than working in isolation 

• Comfort using digital tools, CRM systems, and AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT) in day-to-day work 

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have, But Not Required!) 

• Experience with community engagement, municipal sustainability programs, or food literacy initiatives 

• Familiarity with the Niagara and/or GTA community organization landscape 

• Experience coordinating events, workshops, or volunteer programs 

• Background in regenerative agriculture, vertical farming, or urban agriculture 

• Experience with field trials, research, benchmarking, or program evaluation 

• Bilingual (English/French or other languages) an asset