Forager/Manufacturing Specialist/Farm Assistant

Description:

Are you interested in learning more about wild plants, ethnobotany, growing local food, and northern agriculture? Do you want to learn about manufacturing northern products using hand foraged ingredients? Do you love being outdoors, and in nature? Laughing Lichen is seeking a motivated, hardworking, and responsible recruit to join our team. An ideal candidate must be comfortable working outdoors in all types of weather and terrain where biting insects and wildlife will be encountered. A valid drivers license, and personal transportation is a requirement for this position.

Duties and Responsibilities

· Harvest and processing native wild herbs, berries, fungi, and lichens.

· Manufacture, packaging and labelling herbal products such as oils, salves, soap, herbs, and tea.

· Assisting with daily operations of on-site staff, volunteers, and students

· Cleaning of Manufacturing facilities, herb drying barn and Manufacturing equipment

Processing retail orders, shipping and receiving.

Assisting with ongoing research in Ethnobotany.

· Respond to telephone, and email enquiries.

• Assisting with various administrative tasks

Qualifications (Skills, Qualifications and Experience):

· High school diploma or equivalent

· Familiar with Microsoft word, Microsoft Excel, and basic math skills are imperative.

· An interest in learning about wild native plants, mushrooms, and berries of the north.

· Comfortable working outdoors in environments where biting insects and wildlife are encountered.

· Proficiency in English reading and writing skills.

· Comfortable working both as a team member and independently with minor supervision.

· Capable of multi-tasking, planning several activities simultaneously.

· Physically fit and able to lift-up to 40 lbs, carry backpacks, and hike up to 4 kilometers per/day.

· Employee will be responsible for providing their own outdoor clothing suitable for all weather conditions such as warm winter boots, proper hiking boots, and raingear etc.

· Drivers License/personal transportation is a requirement for this position.

· Ability to commute daily to business location daily located 30kms from Yellowknife, NT (there is no public transportation in our area).

· A Satisfactory Criminal Reference Check with a Vulnerable Sector Search will be a condition of Offer of employment.

· Valid Food Safe training/Food safe certificate level 1

Assets:

· Strong strategic thinking skills

· First Aid/CPR/wilderness First Aid

· Ability to Assist with Typing letters, reports, policies, and other documents.

· Website, marketing, and design experience

· Valid Food Safe Certification Level 1 or equivalent

· Knowledge and identification of native plant, fungi, and lichens

· Educational background in retail, business, biology, ecology, and botany.

Company Info

Established in 2010 Laughing Lichen is a farm, learning centre and manufacturer of wild foraged products operating in Canada’s northern wilderness. Our facility is “off-the-grid” powered using solar energy. We teach workshops and offer Internships about wild foods, herbal medicine, ecology, northern food security and traditional economy. The products we create are crafted in small batches using wild herbs, berries, lichens, and fungi foraged from across the Northwest Territories. Our product line includes teas, herbs, spice dried forest products, soap, candles, and personal care products. Spurred by our love of nature, Laughing Lichen was founded upon our value of ethical harvesting to ensure a sustainable future for everyone - our forests included. Laughing Lichens high quality wild ingredients are harvested by hand in the wilderness. Our Facilities are located approximately 30 minutes via road from Yellowknife along HWY 4.

This is a full-time permanent position.

Submission deadline: Until a suitable candidate is found.

We appreciate all applications but only those that are selected for an interview will be contacted. Indigenous candidates are encouraged to apply. This opportunity will be posted until filled.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: $52,000.00-$62,400.00 per year

Benefits:

• Automobile allowance
• Casual dress
• Flexible schedule
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Store discount

Flexible Language Requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Overtime pay

Application question(s):

• This position requires that the applicant has their own personal transportation to and from workplace - Our business location is loated 30 kms from the city of Yellowknife. There is no public transportation in our are thus a personal vehicle is required to work here.

Education:

• DCS / DEC (preferred)

Experience:

• gardening or working with native plants: 1 year (preferred)

Language:

• English (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)
• Food Handler Certification (required)

Work Location: In person

Expected start date: 2024-04-15