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Are you looking for great talent to help grow your innovative agtech enterprise in Saskatchewan? Why not partner with us!
We help fast-growing companies hire quickly by connecting them to pre-vetted, talented, highly skilled alumni from our Digital Agriculture Specialist Program. We’re bringing talented people, food, and technology together.
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The Automation and Digital Agriculture Specialist Program from Palette Skills consists of 130 hours of training, designed to get participants to the forefront of automation and digitization technologies in agricultural production and processing. The program’s goal is to get highly skilled workers ready to hit the ground by giving them the tools they need to identify, manage, and implement technological solutions across the agri-food value chain in Saskatchewan.
Our alumni have been trained by industry experts with hands-on, project-based learning in emerging technologies such as GIS, IoT, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and big data. Along the way, they’ve developed a full suite of professional skills including project management, fundamentals of business development, problem-solving, and team-building.
The current offering of the Digital Agriculture Specialist Program is now full. If you’d like to be a participant in our next program, join our waitlist.
Help our candidates get started on the path to one of the fastest growing careers in Saskatchewan.
We work with dynamic companies to develop rapid upskilling programs that prepare talented candidates for in-demand roles.
Join one of our programs as a hiring partner and access a pool of qualified, pre-vetted talent ready to join your team.
We know that the sector is filled with potential, yet faces acute challenges sourcing and training great talent. We believe that by developing new pipelines of talent, we will empower our agtech companies to do what they do best – scale and grow.
Going forward, employers must plan for, attract, assess and develop these non-traditional candidates, because it’s clear that meeting agtech’s talent needs requires new and innovative solutions. Properly supported, these new workers will be crucial to securing Canada’s global brand for clean, sustainably produced food.
There’s never been a better time to build this kind of talent in the agriculture space. Leaders and innovators in the sector know that the province—and the country—face a serious labour shortage when it comes to farming and food. Indeed, some analysts predict that by 2029 the province will struggle to fill as many as 12,000 jobs.
New positions can easily take 3-6 months to fill – senior roles might take even longer. Our programs allow you access to well-trained and diverse talent within weeks, at no cost.
You can take a lead role in consulting with us on program design to ensure that learning outcomes reflect the skills that you are looking for.
Participate in the development of a new upskilling program that will help you and other companies meet the talent demands of the province's burgeoning ag-tech agriculture sector.
You will be learning about digital agricultural practice in Saskatchewan, including: the agriculture supply chain; principles of sustainable agriculture; Indigenous resource rights; principles of crop production; irrigation & water management; agricultural machinery; post-harvest and food processing; soil management & crop fertility. Participants will also learn about precision agriculture, remote sensing, GPS, GIS, IoT, sensors, robotics, machine learning, AI, & drones, project management, as well as an introduction to agri-business. To find out more about the curriculum, reach through our email (agtech@paletteskills.org)
This is a very intense program intended to prepare people with the right foundational abilities and aptitudes with the fundamental skills and knowledge required for a career in digital agriculture. If accepted into the program, we expect those who attend to commit not only to completing the intensive program, but to doing homework and putting in the extra effort within and outside the program required to secure a role in the industry.
There is no guaranteed job after the program. We are confident that your commitment, combined with our innovative curriculum, will secure you a successful career in the industry. We make connections with hiring partners from across Saskatchewan, and you’ll be learning from industry leaders in workshops led by professionals in agtech. In addition, you can expect to participate in networking events with hiring managers from established agtech companies.
We work with program participants to help them transition into new roles. Program staff check in with participants up to 6 months after completion of the program. We are committed to a placement rate of over 90%.
No. Participants do receive a certificate of completion, as well as top-level training and connections with industry. The sole goal of this program and primary reason to apply is to provide you the tools and support needed to launch a career in the agri-food technology industry following program completion.
The program has been valued at $8,000 CAD, and includes the many events, activities, facilitators, and partners who take part in the program.
We have a council of employers associated with the program in different ways. We have working relationships with employers in Saskatchewan, including KPMG, Precision ai, Parametrics ag, BASF, Lucent Biosciences, and others.
Throughout the program, we focus on professional skills training that prepares you for success in your new career. This training includes 1:1 coaching, résumé and cover letter review, interview practice, LinkedIn coaching, networking support, and more. We also connect you with industry professionals and hiring managers in the field through networking events, panel discussions, and guest speaker sessions.
We are currently in the second cohort of the program.
This program is for individuals ready to start a full-time career in the industry immediately after the program. It is not suitable if you are currently studying full time. If you have a few months to a year left of your ongoing studies, we recommend you apply for a future offering of the program.
If you’re committed to transition to a career in the agrifood industry, and to working with a different company and in a new role, and you can attend the two intensive weeks and six weeks of part-time sessions (including in-person sessions), you may be eligible to apply.
At this time, the program is only available to residents of Saskatchewan.
This program is for individuals who are residing in Saskatchewan. If you are planning to move to Saskatchewan, you are welcome to apply for the program when you will be there in person.
This is a competitive program that seeks applications from and accepts participants who are motivated to succeed in a career in the digital agri-food and technology industry. The application process is designed to assess whether applicants have the fundamental soft and technical skills needed for success in the industry.
Yes, we can arrange a car-pool for you to attend in-person sessions. Sometimes there can be arrangements for transportation, depending on distance and need.
The application process consists of two main steps. First, check the eligibility criteria required and submit an application for the program. Then, if selected, attend an interview where we will assess your fit for the program. Expect discussion about your interest in the program, as well as behavioral discussion and verbal skills assessment.
We’re looking for people who have foundational training in computer literacy, and who are comfortable with numeracy and technology. They should be passionate about transitioning or upskilling to a career in the automation digital agriculture industry. Individuals from many backgrounds can be a fit for the program. We care a lot about the program fit.
Applying to the Automation and Digital Agricultural Specialist program is easy! The application form begins with short questions you can answer with a click. Next, you’ll be asked a few short answer questions designed to find out more about you, and what drives you. Answer each of these questions in no more than 100 to 200 words. You’ll also be asked to upload a current resume, and then you’re ready to click on the submit button.
Applicants are invited to the interview stage based on several criteria, including transferable skills, goal alignment, and communication skills. Although the online application for the program is brief, it’s important to respond thoughtfully, in detail, and in full sentences to the questions asked.
Yes. Interviews are recorded to assist with application decisions.
There is NO fee to apply, but if you are selected to join the Automation and Digital Agricultural Specialist Program, you must pay a program fee of $150.00 CAD + tax, payable by credit, cash, or e-transfer.
Applications to the program close on January 9th, 2023 at 12:00 CST. The first day of the program is January 16, 2023. To be fully enrolled in the program, you must pay 2 days prior to the beginning of the program.
We will assess your English skills in your application, and during the interview. We don’t require documentation on any proficiency tests that you have taken. However, make sure your proficiency is reflected in your written and spoken answers. You can use a number of free tools to help check for spelling or grammar errors before you apply.
You don’t need to include reference letters to apply for the program. If you are selected for an interview, and you think a reference letter will help us understand why you are a great fit for the program, let us know!
Make sure you apply before the start date of the program you’re interested in.
Applications received after program start dates will be added to a waitlist for a future program offering.
Please try using a different device or browser to submit your application. If this does not resolve your issue, please contact us at agtech@paletteskills.org.
The following are the main reasons why applications to the Automation and Digital Agriculture Specialist program are rejected:
If you would like more information about your particular application file and outcome, please email agtech@paletteskills.org and a member of our team will be happy to connect with you.
Great question! Once you’ve submitted your application, you can make any changes within 24 hours. Email agtech@paletteskills.org with your full name and contact information, and include any changes you would like to make to your application.
If you have not heard back from our team within 5 standard business days, please check your spam folder. If you have not received anything, reach out and we will provide you with an update: agtech@paletteskills.org.
During the first week, you will be required to attend online workshops to review your resume, Linkedin profile, elevator pitch, etc. so that you’ll be ready for apply for jobs. During the second and third week of the course, you will be required to attend online classes and complete project work from 9-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. During the rest of the five weeks of the course on evenings and weekends, you will be required to collaborate with coaches and the program team to apply for jobs and seek required support from the program team. The exact dates are being finalized.
Palette Skills’ programs are demand-driven, and designed in partnership with industry and academic leaders. Extensive discussions and design sessions with employers, and academic and industry partners as well as research regarding current and future labour market projections have helped shape our program content, with individual assignments mirroring what will be expected of employees in the workplace.
You can expect 10 hours of team or individual reading and homework each intensive week, and 5 to 8 hours for each of the part time weeks. Assignments are designed to reflect actual tasks you may be asked to complete on the job.
You must have access to a laptop or desktop with a good internet connection in order to fully participate fully in the program.
The program is mostly online, with both online workshops & lectures. There will be in-person sessions for hands-on training and networking opportunities. You will be notified ahead of time for these in-person activities.
While class participation is important and valued, we understand that people may have to miss the occasional class. We record all lectures so that participants can watch them on their own time. At the end of each lecture there will be a quiz/assignment that participants must complete to successfully graduate from the program.
We are enrolling candidates residing within Saskatchewan, and ideally you will be applying for jobs in Saskatchewan. We encourage you to apply for all jobs that are convenient to your location.
There is no compensation for attendance to in-person sessions. Our participants are provided with demos, event access, and on-site training. These are all key parts of the program. Please let our team know if there are financial barriers prohibiting you from full participation in our program.
While class participation is important and valued, we understand that people may need to miss the occasional class. To accommodate for absenteeism, we record all lectures so that participants may watch them on their own time. Please note that at the end of each lecture, there will be a quiz/assignment that participants must complete to successfully graduate from the program.
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