Therapeutic farms, therapeutic gardening, therapeutic horticulture

Therapeutic farms, therapeutic gardening, therapeutic horticulture

• Wage: $28/hr ($58,240 annually) commensurate with experience

The Ignatius Jesuit Centre (IJC) is a spiritual, ecological and community hub located on a 600-acre working farm and conservation property just north of Guelph. Rooted in the Ignatian tradition, IJC brings together agriculture, ecological stewardship, spirituality and community engagement.

In fall 2026, Eli’s Place Residential Treatment and Transition Centre will begin operating from Loyola House on the IJC property. Eli’s Place is creating Canada’s first long‑term residential therapeutic community for young adults aged 18 to 35 living with serious mental illness. Guests will live and work together as a community, combining individualized clinical care with shared daily life and meaningful work in horticulture, conservation and land stewardship.

Eli’s Place is a non-religious program. Its relationship with IJC is operational, not a religious affiliation. Under formal agreements with Eli’s Place, IJC provides the residential facility and food services and coordinates access to its agriculture, grounds and conservation lands.

Position Overview

Ignatius Jesuit Centre (IJC) is seeking an experienced and collaborative Farm-Land Services Coordinator to develop, coordinate and support land‑based work program services and IJC volunteer activities. This is a hands‑on, outward‑facing role that combines program planning, operational coordination, technical instruction and practical work across IJC’s farm, grounds, and conservation landscapes.

The Services Coordinator will lead the development, launch, ongoing delivery, and adaptation of the land‑based work activities that IJC provides for Eli’s Place. Working closely with IJC’s Agriculture, Conservation and Campus Care teams, the Coordinator will develop meaningful activities based on the real work needs of the property. Activities will be organized across four work streams: Agriculture, Conservation, Campus Care, and Maker Skills. Maker Skills comprises useful and creative projects in woodworking, food processing and other rural or land‑based skills, particularly during late fall and winter.

The Services Coordinator will work closely with the Eli’s Place Work Teams Manager to plan activities and support their day‑to‑day delivery. IJC is responsible for identifying and preparing suitable work, providing technical expertise, and ensuring that IJC worksites, tools and task‑specific procedures are ready for safe participation. Eli’s Place staff are responsible for supervising Guests, determining their readiness and capacity to participate, adapting activities to individual therapeutic needs, and responding to Guest wellbeing or clinical concerns.

The IJC Services Coordinator will provide technical guidance to Eli’s Place staff and Guests but will not provide clinical care or independently supervise Guests. Success in this role will require clear communication, careful coordination and the ability to adapt work activities while maintaining their operational value, safety and integrity.

Responsibilities

Program Building and Leadership

• Develop the Eli’s Place work program activities within each work stream in collaboration with IJC Farm‑Land program and operational staff.
• Establish weekly, seasonal and annual cycles of meaningful work based on IJC’s operational needs and the capacity of each work area.
• Prepare for the program launch and planned growth during the first year, ensuring that suitable spaces, tools, equipment, materials and task instructions are available.
• Develop Maker Skills activities and either deliver the technical component directly or coordinate delivery by qualified staff or skills leads.
• Participate in relevant IJC organizational meetings and joint IJC–Eli’s Place meetings to support program planning, review and adaptation.
• Develop practical evaluation and feedback processes with Eli’s Place and IJC staff, including regular operational reviews and seasonal adaptation.

Program Coordination and Delivery

• Serve as the primary IJC liaison for the Eli’s Place work program, coordinating regularly with the Eli’s Place Work Teams Manager, Work Team Leads and IJC Farm‑Land staff.
• Develop and maintain a schedule of work activities for weekday morning and afternoon work periods, in coordination with IJC’s Agriculture, Conservation and Campus Care leads.
• Confirm the readiness of worksites, tools, equipment, supplies, orientations and technical instructions before activities begin.
• Provide general IJC worksite orientations and coordinate or deliver task‑specific instruction to Eli’s Place Work Team Leads and Guests.
• Be available during scheduled work periods to provide technical guidance, troubleshoot operational issues and support the safe completion of activities.
• Communicate the scope, technical requirements, physical demands and known hazards of planned activities to Eli’s Place staff so that they can determine appropriate Guest participation.
• Adapt the design or sequencing of activities in response to operational requirements and feedback from IJC and Eli’s Place staff, while leaving decisions about individual Guest capacity and therapeutic suitability to Eli’s Place.
• Coordinate Eli’s Place activities with IJC volunteer programs and other Farm‑Land operations to support effective use of worksites, staff time, tools and equipment.
• Maintain appropriate program schedules, work plans, orientation materials, safety records and operational documentation.

Safety

• Work with IJC’s Joint Health and Safety Committee and relevant staff to develop, implement and update task‑specific safety procedures, orientations and training.
• Identify and communicate worksite hazards, required personal protective equipment, equipment restrictions and other safety requirements before activities begin.
• Ensure that IJC-controlled worksites, tools and equipment are appropriately prepared and that required IJC safety documentation is maintained.
• Confirm that participants have received the necessary technical and safety instruction before beginning specialized tasks or using equipment.
• Follow IJC incident‑reporting requirements and coordinate with Eli’s Place staff when an incident involves an Eli’s Place Guest or employee.
• Immediately communicate unsafe conditions, incidents or concerns to the appropriate IJC and Eli’s Place staff and pause an activity when necessary.
• Contribute to a shared culture of health and safety among IJC staff, Eli’s Place staff, Guests and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in agriculture, horticulture, ecology, restoration, or a related land‑based field, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated experience coordinating community programs and delivering services on‑budget
• Organizational and planning capacity across multiple work streams; Highly organized, tight and clear communicator, quick and accurate attention to critical details while minding program‑level goals
• Familiarity with Ontario occupational health & safety requirements for field work and indoor work spaces, food safety, Canada Organic Standards
• Interest and aptitude for learning hands‑on practical work, indoors, and outdoors; Experience with tools, equipment and workflows in horticulture, landscaping, conservation, woodworking, food processing, and/or other rural skills
• Collaborative and confident coordinator, grounded in respect, kindness, accountability, confidentiality, and good judgment
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries, respect confidentiality and work effectively alongside staff and participants in a therapeutic community environment.
• Adaptability and practical problem‑solving skills, including the ability to adjust activities in response to operational needs and feedback from IJC and Eli’s Place staff.
• Comfort using a variety of media communication platforms, and preparing plans and documentation in range of digital and visual formats
• Alignment with the mission and values of both the Ignatius Jesuit Centre and of Eli’s Place
• Valid Class G driver’s license
• Able to safely lift 20kg
• Police Check for the Vulnerable Sector may be required

Working Conditions

This is a full‑time, on‑site and hands‑on position within an active farm, conservation and campus operations environment. The Services Coordinator will divide their time among program planning, meetings, documentation, worksite preparation, technical instruction, practical work, coordination & communications across IJC’s 600‑acre property.

The position involves regular travel between work areas and extended periods of standing, walking, bending and working indoors and outdoors. Work may take place on uneven terrain and in hot, cold, wet, dusty or otherwise variable conditions. The role also requires the safe lifting and carrying of tools, food, supplies and equipment weighing up to 20 kilograms. The Services Coordinator will work in proximity to farm machinery, hand and power tools, food‑processing activities, natural areas and active worksites.

The position involves regular interaction with Eli’s Place staff and Guests. The Services Coordinator provides technical and worksite guidance; Eli’s Place staff remain responsible for Guest supervision, therapeutic support and responses to Guest health or wellbeing concerns.

The regular schedule will be based on the needs of IJC operations and the Eli’s Place work program. Some early morning, evening, weekend or holiday work may be required.

Why Join IJC?

This is an opportunity to build a new land‑based service program and help shape how meaningful work is planned and delivered across IJC’s farm and conservation property. The role offers an unusual combination of program development and hands‑on work. The successful candidate will help transform the real and changing needs of a 600‑acre working property into well‑organized activities through which Eli’s Place Guests can contribute, develop practical skills and experience the purpose and rhythm of meaningful work.

The Ignatius Jesuit Centre (IJC) aspires to be an equitable and inclusive place where a diversity of life experiences, identities and perspectives work together. IJC encourages applicants from all walks of life. We apply an anti‑oppression framework to our work and have a zero tolerance policy for discrimination and harassment. Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process upon request.

This posting is for a position that is currently open. AI may be used at key points in IJC’s screening process. We thank all applicants in advance; only those selected for interviews will be contacted.