Now Hiring: Community Gardening Program Coordinator and Educator
JOB DESCRIPTION: Community Gardening Program Coordinator and Educator
Job Overview: The Community Ecology Institute (CEI) seeks a three-quarters time Community Gardening Program Coordinator and Educator to fill a unique role within our non-profit organization. This position will be approximately equal parts work at our Freetown Farm location and work offsite in the community, as described in the responsibilities and duties below.
Freetown Farm Garden Coordination and Educational Program Development: 50%
• Support the design and maintenance of Freetown Farm’s community gardens by coordinating assistance from volunteers and organizational stewards
• Help lead the planning and delivery of farm and garden community education classes, including preparation and delivery of a climate victory garden / micro-farm installation and maintenance training program
• Support and coordinate with CEI team members in growing plants for community installations
• Support the creation and preparation of videos, social media, and website posts, newsletters, fliers, pamphlets and other informative materials related to CEI’s community gardening initiatives
• Coordinate onsite produce sales as well as distribution of produce to community partners (e.g. Roving Radish, Columbia Community Care, Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center)
• Prepare and maintain a variety of records and reports related to assigned activities; assist with data analysis to comply with grant reporting requirements
Offsite Community Garden Coordination: 50%
• Work with landowners, homeowner associations, nonprofits, government agencies and others to develop and install ecological gardening projects
• Visit prospective community garden sites as part of the site selection process for our Climate of Hope victory garden / micro-farm program
• Provide customers with project proposals, to include project concept map and written description with square footage, basic information about garden elements, cost estimates, sample project photographs, and information regarding ongoing maintenance
• Lead community garden installation events, including the coordination and oversight of trainees participating in the Climate of Hope ecological gardening program
• Ensure offsite garden designs are implemented professionally and according to specification
• Help coordinate and oversee CEI community events and educational/service activities
• Support ongoing community garden maintenance and the coordination of food distribution throughout the community
Required Qualifications:
Desired Qualifications:
Physical demands and work conditions:
This position requires the ability to see for purposes of performing essential job duties, including utilizing tools and operating mechanical equipment; understand speech at normal levels in person and on the telephone; communicate so others will be able to clearly understand a normal conversation in person and on the telephone; operate basic gardening and farming equipment with dexterity; lift/carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds; and regularly engage in sustained physical work as required to install and maintain gardens.
Hours and Compensation: Position is salaried part time at 30 hours per week
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5 pm ET April 11, 2021 or until the position is filled.
TO APPLY: Please email the following to cdamore@communityecologyinstitute: Cover letter, resume, and names of three references with current contact information.
For More Information Contact:
Chiara D’Amore, Executive Director
Email: cdamore@communityecologyinstitute.org, ph: 443-832-3824
Equal Opportunity Employer: Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at the Community Ecology Institute. CEI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies or programs. People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for this position.
Job Overview: The Community Ecology Institute (CEI) seeks a three-quarters time Community Gardening Program Coordinator and Educator to fill a unique role within our non-profit organization. This position will be approximately equal parts work at our Freetown Farm location and work offsite in the community, as described in the responsibilities and duties below.
Freetown Farm Garden Coordination and Educational Program Development: 50%
• Support the design and maintenance of Freetown Farm’s community gardens by coordinating assistance from volunteers and organizational stewards
• Help lead the planning and delivery of farm and garden community education classes, including preparation and delivery of a climate victory garden / micro-farm installation and maintenance training program
• Support and coordinate with CEI team members in growing plants for community installations
• Support the creation and preparation of videos, social media, and website posts, newsletters, fliers, pamphlets and other informative materials related to CEI’s community gardening initiatives
• Coordinate onsite produce sales as well as distribution of produce to community partners (e.g. Roving Radish, Columbia Community Care, Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center)
• Prepare and maintain a variety of records and reports related to assigned activities; assist with data analysis to comply with grant reporting requirements
Offsite Community Garden Coordination: 50%
• Work with landowners, homeowner associations, nonprofits, government agencies and others to develop and install ecological gardening projects
• Visit prospective community garden sites as part of the site selection process for our Climate of Hope victory garden / micro-farm program
• Provide customers with project proposals, to include project concept map and written description with square footage, basic information about garden elements, cost estimates, sample project photographs, and information regarding ongoing maintenance
• Lead community garden installation events, including the coordination and oversight of trainees participating in the Climate of Hope ecological gardening program
• Ensure offsite garden designs are implemented professionally and according to specification
• Help coordinate and oversee CEI community events and educational/service activities
• Support ongoing community garden maintenance and the coordination of food distribution throughout the community
Required Qualifications:
- Education and experience: any combination equivalent to provide sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and abilities listed above
- Typically, this would be gained through a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Agriculture, or a related field and/or relevant work experience.
- Three or more years’ garden management, horticultural program, landscape design or related experience
- Experience developing and implementing educational trainings
- Project management experience, including record keeping, report preparation, and budget management
- Knowledge of and experience with Mid-Atlantic local native and invasive plants, shrubs and trees, ecology and habitats
- Passion and ability to engage, coordinate, and educate the community and community teams on environmental topics and hands-on gardening techniques in the field
- Experience with principles of training and providing work direction
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation ability
- Excellent leadership, collaboration and team skills with demonstrated customer-management experience
- Ability to multitask, prioritize, and respond to internal and external stakeholders in a timely manner
- Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
- Self-starter, motivated, professional and organized with great attention to detail
- Maryland Driver’s license and own transportation (mileage reimbursed at IRS rate)
Desired Qualifications:
- Certification as a Master Gardener
- Certification in Permaculture Design
- Certification as Chesapeake Bay Landscaping Professional Level I and II
- Ability to create garden plans drafted with industry standard programs such as AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch-Up, Smart Draw, etc.
- Business development experience
Physical demands and work conditions:
This position requires the ability to see for purposes of performing essential job duties, including utilizing tools and operating mechanical equipment; understand speech at normal levels in person and on the telephone; communicate so others will be able to clearly understand a normal conversation in person and on the telephone; operate basic gardening and farming equipment with dexterity; lift/carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds; and regularly engage in sustained physical work as required to install and maintain gardens.
Hours and Compensation: Position is salaried part time at 30 hours per week
- 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday to Saturday
- Salary: Mid to upper $30,000s depending on experience and ability to help grow the company
- 90 hours paid time off and paid holidays
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5 pm ET April 11, 2021 or until the position is filled.
TO APPLY: Please email the following to cdamore@communityecologyinstitute: Cover letter, resume, and names of three references with current contact information.
For More Information Contact:
Chiara D’Amore, Executive Director
Email: cdamore@communityecologyinstitute.org, ph: 443-832-3824
Equal Opportunity Employer: Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at the Community Ecology Institute. CEI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies or programs. People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for this position.