Available Positions

Position: Native Seed Production & Processing Technologist Posted Feb 12, 2025 Location: Lively and Whitefish, Ontario
Employment Type: Full-time, pay ranging from $22-$28/ hr. contingent on experience. 1 year contract, leading to permanent.

Position Overview

The Native Seed Production & Processing Technologist plays a critical role in supporting and optimizing the production, collection, and processing of native seeds. This position is responsible for developing and standardizing operating procedures for a variety of native seed species, training and leading seasonal staff, and assisting with research and innovation in seed enhancement and quality improvement. The successful candidate will work across field, lab, and processing environments to ensure high-quality seed production for ecological restoration and commercial purposes.

While prior experience in farming would be considered an asset, this is a position in which no previous experience is required, as all training will be provided in house. The ideal candidate will have an eagerness to learn, a knack for solving technical problems and a desire to complete physical tasks and work outdoors.

About Northern Wildflowers

Northern Wildflowers is a family-owned business located just West of Sudbury in Lively and Whitefish Ontario. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with high quality, sustainably collected and farmed wildflower seed. Our products include native wildflower and vegetable seed. Our services include landscaping, consulting, and contracted seed collection.

Seed Production & Field Operations

· Develop and document Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to produce diverse native seed species.

· Train and lead summer students in on-farm activities, including:

o Establishing new production plots.

o Weeding, harvesting, and soil remediation.

o Implementing best practices for wild seed collection.

· Develop wild seed collection schedules and target yields.

· Conduct field assessments to determine proper seed collection times and techniques.

· Provide training and resources to new contract growers and conduct farm visits to ensure seed crop quality.

· Assist in developing a 5-year crop plan for the farm to support long-term seed production goals.

· Tool and equipment maintenance.

Seed Cleaning & Processing

· Learn to operate a variety of seed cleaning equipment and help develop best practices for cleaning novel native crops.

· Support the development of more efficient seed cleaning processes.

· Conduct quality testing on wild-collected and farm-produced seed to ensure industry standards are met.

· Assist in seed packaging, storage, and shipping logistics.

Seed Research & Innovation

· Coordinate the testing of new seed enhancement recipes in both field and lab environments.

· Support ongoing research partnerships related to seed production, processing, and restoration applications.

· Assist in new product development.

Qualifications & Skills

· All training will be provided, however a diploma or experience in agriculture, trades, mechanical operations, or a related field would be considered assets.

· Hands-on experience with farm equipment, mechanical aptitude, and general agricultural work is an asset.

· Comfort working in field, workshop, and laboratory settings.

· Physical labor required, including lifting, walking long distances, and operating farm equipment.

Why Join Us?

· Contribute to the growth of Canada’s native seed supply chain and ecological restoration efforts.

· Be part of a growing family-owned business with a supportive company culture that prioritizes work-life balance.

Application Process: Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience to jenny@northernwildflowers.ca Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is found. The ideal start date is March 17, 2025. Interim part-time hours would be considered for a student graduating in April 2025.

* This position is partially supported through the contribution of World Wildlife Fund Canada as part of their Seed Orchards program.

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Job Title: Marketing and Sales Coordinator Posted January 20, 2025

Location: Sudbury, ON (note: this is not a remote position.)

Employment Type: Full-Time (35 hours per week)

Northern Wildflowers is a fast-growing company committed to empowering our customers to create and restore wildlife habitats and outdoor spaces that spark joy. With roots in Sudbury, ON, we specialize in native seeds, vegetable seeds, and innovative product lines that prioritize biodiversity and sustainability. We are seeking a dynamic, bilingual Marketing and Sales Coordinator to join our team. This pivotal role will drive our expansion into new markets, strengthen business relationships, and lead sales campaigns that elevate our brand.

If you are a creative and results-driven professional with a passion for market development and sustainability, we want to hear from you! Please submit your resume, cover letter, and portfolio of relevant work to jenny@northernwildflowers.ca by the end of the day on February 15th, 2025. Note: We review applications on a rolling basis and schedule interviews as eligible applications are received. To ensure consideration, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Key Responsibilities:

- Market Expansion: Research and access new national and international markets to drive growth.
- B2B Relationships: Manage and grow business-to-business (B2B) relationships, leading and expanding our national retailer and export programs.
- Marketing Strategy: Take our social media and marketing efforts to the next level with engaging, high-performing content.
- E-Commerce Management: Utilize Shopify to enhance the online shopping experience and boost sales.
- Product Launches: Plan, organize, and execute the launch of new product lines.
- Tradeshow Management: Organize and attend industry tradeshows to promote our offerings and expand our network.

Qualifications

• Completion of degree or diploma in Marketing, Business Administration, Public Relations, or a related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in marketing, sales, business development, or public relations, preferably in a start-up or private sector environment.
• Bilingual in English and French (preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to grow markets and launch successful products.
• Experience producing and evaluating the performance of content for high-performing social media accounts.
• Proficiency with Shopify and/ or other e-commerce platforms.
• Outgoing personality with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience and/or education in finance, graphic design, export markets, video production and/or programming would be considered assets.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel within Canada and/or the United States monthly to bi-monthly.
• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada at the time of application.

Compensation:

• Competitive Salary: $25-39/hr. (to be negotiated based on experience and qualifications).
• Additional Benefits: a supportive company culture that prioritizes work-life balance, offers opportunities for professional growth, and will allow you to make a meaningful impact in an exciting sector.

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Co-op Opportunities Available for Secondary Students! Posted January 3, 2025.

We currently have Co-Op Opportunities for secondary students to assist with tasks at our shop at 2 Black Lake Road (Lively) and, during May and June, at our farm on Flowers Road (Whitefish). Interested applicants or teachers are encouraged to contact Rachel at rachel@northernwildflowers.ca.

Our co-op positions provide hands-on experience in both administrative tasks and farm/field work. No previous experience is required, as we will offer thorough training and mentorship. Office tasks require strong attention to detail, while farm and field work can be physically demanding but highly rewarding. Plus, our team is fun to work with!

Please note that personal transportation is required, as there is currently no public transit available to our Whitefish farm. Our office maintains regular Monday-to-Friday hours, with no evening or weekend shifts.

The Positions Duties include supporting with:
• order fulfilment
• completing inventory counts
• product packaging
• preparing mail outs
• shop clean up=
• creating social media content
• weeding
• planting
• general farm labour
• seed collection
• use of simple farm implements
• potential for training on smaller motorized farm equipment

Requirements:
Own transportation, ability to work long days outdoors in difficult terrain, reliable, positive attitude, willingness to learn and ability to follow detailed instructions.
Term: January 2025 to June 2025.

In the spring we will be seeking to fill positions for our Summer Field Crew based in Whitefish Ontario. Interested applicants are invited to send a CV Applications to Brenda Blanchard (hello@northernwildflowers.ca). Please quote the position title in the subject line.

Are you looking for a summer job that will allow you to work outdoors, gain some farming experience and expand your knowledge of Northern Ontario ecology? There is no previous experience required for this position, we will provide all the training required. Our field crew positions are physically demanding, but the work is rewarding and our gang is pretty fun. Prior to applying, please note that there is no public transportation available to our farm in Whitefish, hence own transportation will be required.

About Northern Wildflowers

Our Field Crew

We are looking to recruit 2 additional field crew members to assist in the farming, planting, and field collection of wildflower seed as well as participate in some gardening and landscaping work. Field crew members are trained to use simple farm implements and tools, as well as on the identification of plant species, ethical collection practices, and safe outdoor work practices. Field crew members may have the opportunity to learn about seed cleaning and the operation of larger farm equipment. Field crew members will also support with office tasks such as order packing, completing inventory counts, supporting with social media posts, etc. Depending on site location our field crew members may work in pairs or on their own. Crew members may work long days outdoors, and at times work in backcountry locations and on difficult terrain.

Requirements

Own transportation, G class driver’s license, steel toe boots, ability to work long days outdoors in difficult terrain, reliable, positive attitude, willingness to learn and ability to follow detailed instructions.

Wage: $17.20 to $18.50/hr.

Term: May- August 2024, 30-35 hours per week