Program Manager – Up Organic

Job Opportunity

Position: Program Manager

Program: Growing Up Organic

Organization: Canadian Organic Growers

Location: Ottawa ON. This role is primarily remote. There may be periodic travel required.

Canadian Organic Grower’s (COG) mission is to provide education, advocacy, and leadership to help build an agricultural system that empowers farmers and consumers, enhances human health, builds community, and mitigates climate change while increasing Canadian food sovereignty ().

• Position Details: Manager, Growing Up Organic Program
• Term: full-time, 37.5 hrs/week
• Start Date: Ideally immediately, but negotiable for the right candidate
• Reporting: Director, Education, Extension & Outreach

The GUO Program Manager leads the delivery of the organization’s Growing Up Organic (GUO) program in the Ottawa area. Their primary objective is to bring school gardens to life as vibrant, hands‑on learning spaces. This role builds strong relationships with local school boards, educators and community partners and ensures programs are engaging, inclusive and aligned with seasonal and curricular goals.

The Manager oversees program staff, manages program budgets, supports educational content development, and oversees the coordination of program logistics. They also track program impact and work closely within COG’s Department of Education, Extension and Outreach (DEEO) including with the Manager of Youth Programming to stay connected with the broader youth‑focused programming at Canadian Organic Growers (COG).

• Supervise program staff to ensure successful workshop facilitation.
• Deliver and oversee annual in‑school programming activities on time and to budget.
• Oversee the onboarding for new schools and the maintenance of strong relationships with partner schools and educators.
• Oversee the development and outreach communications and educational content for participating educators.
• Develop and manage the program budget(s) monthly and annually.
• Participate in program fundraising throughout the year, increasing activity during slower program periods.

• Provide context, guidance, and ideas to inform the development and revision of educational materials and resources, ensuring alignment with provincial curriculum standards.
• Support facilitators on best practices in garden/experiential education as it relates to GUO.
• Develop new opportunities for partnerships and collaboration with schools, farmers, and organizations including with Indigenous peoples and other equity‑deserving groups.
• Represent GUO at public forums, including webinars, events, conferences, and working groups.

• Oversee seasonal workshop schedules and garden placement approvals.
• Oversee workshop material planning and organization.

• Work with DEEO to align program delivery with organizational goals.
• Oversee the collection of program feedback from facilitators and program participants for improvements and impact.
• Manage reporting to local school boards and other stakeholders on the status and impact of the GUO program.

• Knowledge of: experiential learning, organic gardening, organic farming, interdisciplinary education, the Ontario and nation‑wide curriculums, food and agriculture literacy, climate change, equity and inclusion, etc.
• Strong presentation, facilitation and public speaking skills.
• Strong organizational, self‑management, and team management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote and on‑site (in schools) work setting and manage multiple projects/activities/deadlines in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to coordinate work plans across projects to ensure milestones are met on time and to budget.
• Excellent communications skills, both written and oral, are required along with a strong customer service orientation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, combined with empathy and courtesy, and the ability to connect meaningfully with a broad range of persons from educators to children and youth.
• Highly motivated to transform the education system in Canada to include food and…