WORK WITH US
Meaningful work rooted in nature, respect for the land, and good food.
Founded in 2015 by the passionate duo Benjamin Patarin and Célia Auclair, Forest for Dinner is a testament to a dream of reconnecting people with wild, foraged foods. Operating from the heart of Vancouver Island’s wilderness, we specialize in the harvesting, processing, and selling of wild foods. Our mission extends beyond our products: we aim to educate, inspire, and cultivate a deep appreciation for our natural world, rooted in respect for the environment and social justice.
Let’s join our team! Explore current job openings.
– Production helper –
Food and beverage processing
Location: Port Alberni, BC
Type: Part-time (20-30h/week) with potential for a full time employment
Compensation: $18–$22/hour, depending on experience
About the Role
As a production helper, you’ll support the production of small-batch wild food products, helping to prepare, preserve, label, and package our seasonal harvests. You will work in a collaborative, values-driven team with a strong focus on product quality and workplace cleanliness. This is a great opportunity for someone who is curious about wild foods and enjoys hands-on, physical work.
Key Responsibilities
Production support – 50%
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- Assist in preparing wild ingredients for processing
- Help with cooking and preserving (jams, jellies, pickled mushrooms, teas)
- Operate small equipment for drying, blending, or freezing
- Support the Production Manager in daily tasks as needed
Inventory & packaging – 30%
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- Label and pack finished goods
- Track quantities of materials and finished products
- Prepare orders for online delivery and holidays sales
Facility maintenance – 20%
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- Maintain a clean and organized work area
- Follow daily and weekly cleaning procedures
- Support dishwashing, garbage, recycling, and basic equipment care
Qualifications
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- Experience in food handling, kitchen work, or light manufacturing
- Food Safe Level 1 preferred (or willingness to obtain)
- Reliable, organized, and detail-oriented
- Comfortable working independently or as part of a small team
- Interest in wild food, sustainability, or small-scale food production is a plus
Working Conditions
- Employee status (not contractor)
- Work performed at our Port Alberni facility (processing plant – No windows)
- Standing for long periods and lifting up to 40 lbs required
- Some shift work and flexibility during peak production seasons
How to apply?
If you feel drawn to the world of wild foods and want to be part of a small team that works with care, purpose, and connection to the land, we’d truly love to hear from you. Please send your resume and a short cover letter to info@forestfordinner.ca sharing a bit about yourself and why this role caught your eye.
Forest for Dinner is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals — including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and individuals from 2SLGBTQIA+ and other equity-deserving communities.
Market Sales Supervisor
Shipyards Christmas Market
Location: North Vancouver, BC
Type: Seasonal Contract (November 28 to December 22, 2024)
Compensation: $22–$26/hour + travel stipend if applicable
About the Role
Forest for Dinner is attending the Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver, and we’re hiring a Market Sales Supervisor to lead our booth operations throughout the event.
As our onsite brand ambassador, you’ll engage directly with customers, oversee daily booth setup and presentation, uphold food safety and sampling standards, process payments, manage inventory, and supervise staff. You’ll work closely with the company owners and provide daily updates on booth performance and operations. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced public settings and takes pride in creating meaningful customer experiences.
Key Responsibilities
Booth operations
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- Manage daily booth operations for the full duration of the market
- Refill and organize booth materials; monitor product inventory and restocking needs
- Oversee booth logistics, cleanliness, and visual presentation to ensure a welcoming, professional space
Team supervision
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- Supervise Market Vendors and assign daily tasks
Ensure all team members follow VIHA food safety protocols for product sampling
- Supervise Market Vendors and assign daily tasks
Customer engagement & sales
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- Educate customers about our wild-foraged products and ethical harvesting practices
- Offer samples and provide pairing suggestions to enhance the customer experience
- Process sales transactions and track daily sales data
- Coordinate with the production team for restocking when needed
Brand representation
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- Represent Forest for Dinner with professionalism, friendliness, and a strong understanding of our products and values
Qualifications
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- Food Safe Level 1 certification required
- Experience managing retail operations, market booths, or other customer-facing environments
- Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Proven ability to work independently and adapt in real-time
- Reliable, with strong sales and customer service skills
- Enthusiasm for wild food, seasonal eating and local products is a big plus
Working Conditions
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- Contract role (Nov 28 – Dec 24)
- Evening and weekend availability required
- Outdoor event in a high-traffic environment
- Comfortable with physical tasks: setting up displays, lifting boxes, and standing for long periodMust be available for the full duration of the market schedule
How to apply?
If you feel drawn to the world of wild foods and want to be part of a small team that works with care, purpose, and connection to the land, we’d truly love to hear from you. Please send your resume and a short cover letter to info@forestfordinner.ca sharing a bit about yourself and why this role caught your eye.
Forest for Dinner is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals — including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and individuals from 2SLGBTQIA+ and other equity-deserving communities.
Market Salesperson
Shipyards Christmas Market
Location: North Vancouver, BC
Type: Part-time seasonal (shifts between Nov 28 and Dec 22, 2024)
Compensation: $18–$21/hour
About the Role:
We’re looking for a friendly, enthusiastic market salesperson to help represent Forest for Dinner at the Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver.
You’ll work under the direction of the Market Sales Supervisor to create a welcoming, festive atmosphere at our booth, offer samples, share our story, and sell our wild-foraged products. If you enjoy connecting with people, believe in seasonal, locally made food, and want to be part of a small team bringing the flavours of the forest to the holiday season, we’d love to meet you.
Key Responsibilities
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- Greet customers and explain products clearly and warmly
- Handle sales transactions
- Offer samples and maintain the sampling station to health standards
- Restock items and assist with booth setup/cleanup
- Keep the booth organized and festive
- Share knowledge about our company story, wild ingredients and foraging practices (training provided)
Qualifications:
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- Positive attitude and strong customer service skills
- Experience in retail or markets is an asset
- Reliable and punctual
- Food Safe Level 1 certification preferred
- Passion for local food and wild products is a bonus
Working Conditions
-
- Part time or full time – Contract role (Nov 28 – Dec 24)
- Evening and weekend availability required
- Outdoor event in a high-traffic environment
- Comfortable with physical tasks: setting up displays, lifting boxes, and standing for long periods
- Must be available for the full duration of the market schedule
How to apply?
If you feel drawn to the world of wild foods and want to be part of a small team that works with care, purpose, and connection to the land, we’d truly love to hear from you. Please send your resume and a short cover letter to info@forestfordinner.ca sharing a bit about yourself and why this role caught your eye.
Forest for Dinner is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals — including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and individuals from 2SLGBTQIA+ and other equity-deserving communities.
Our Core Values
High Quality + Hard Work
High quality is our signature. We carefully select only the very best wild foods and work hard to deliver the perfect products, each and every time.
Ethical + Trustworthy
Our ultimate aim is to be fair, loyal, and respectful toward our clients, our partners, and above all, the natural world.
Authenticity + Enthusiasm
We’re a small business working with local products. Being authentic and transparent is more than just words—we live it every day. We want to share our knowledge about plants and foraging with future generations.
Harmony + Balance
Our Team
After completing my master’s degree in agroforestry, I focused on wild edible food and Western Canada’s wild edible mushrooms in particular. Combined with a passion for cooking, I created my dream job with Forest for Dinner. We hope you love eating the delicacies we find in the forest as much as we enjoy picking them!”
With my bachelor’s degree in business administration in Quebec, I soon understood that business could be carried out in many ways. Forest for Dinner is a perfect combination of my love of nature, the Canadian wilderness, and my desire to run my own business. Now my office is in the wild, and my work feels in line with my values of preserving the ecosystem, educating people about ways we can do that, and transmitting food knowledge to future generations.”
If you’re interested in working and collaborating with us, please get in touch!