Good Help Posting: COMMUNITY GARDEN COORDINATOR

This college garden is located on a college campus with gardeners including staff, faculty, and students at the college, and community members from neighborhoods near the college. The college strives to be a model urban garden on a college campus.

With a focus on both garden education and the incorporation of best practices in urban gardening, for over a decade, the college garden has enjoyed support from both the College’s administration and the communities from which our gardeners come.

The part-time Community Garden Coordinator will work within the Office of Environmental Health and Safety / Sustainability. In addition to helping to maintain the community garden and with assistance from Campus Sustainability, the Coordinator will work with faculty, staff, and students to facilitate programming that centers on sustainable gardening practices, from composting, urban farming, organic methods, native plants, and related topics.

RESPONSIBILITIES: This position is a part-time position to:

&#8226 Work independently, effectively, and safely, in gardening and related work, including planting, watering,

fertilizing, pruning, weeding, mulching, and caring for the garden.

&#8226 Continue to develop the garden’s potential as a green resource for the College.

&#8226 Collaborate with green/gardening organizations in NYC for both direct benefits to the garden and to

demonstrate our commitment to urban gardening.

&#8226 Work with individual members of the garden, the College Community, and organizations around New York City to promote regenerative gardening methods and sustainable urban gardening.

&#8226 With the assistance of EHS / Sustainability staff, work with various college offices, faculty, and staff to include the garden as a key part of the College’s sustainability plan. This may include volunteer events, workshops, and college courses.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

Experience: Several years of experience with garden maintenance required; familiarity with budgeting and basic

Office programs and the use of social communication media are highly desired; teaching experience is a plus.

Required skills include:

&#8226 Understanding of urban gardening techniques and sustainable horticultural practices.

&#8226 Familiarity with operating and caring for gardening tools and equipment.

&#8226 Familiarity with regionally native plants and plant-wildlife interactions.

&#8226 Commitment to organic growing practices.

&#8226 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

&#8226 Highly organized, flexible, and comfortable with semi-structured work environments.

&#8226 Socially skilled, diplomatic, and comfortable working with different stakeholders in the garden.

&#8226 Committed to the goals of the College as a public educational institution of higher learning.

&#8226 Ability to work independently, lift up to 50 pounds at a time, be able to squat, lift, bend, and stand for extended periods of time.

BENEFITS / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Hours will vary throughout the year, with fewer hours per week in the winter, but as many as 25 hours a week throughout the growing season from early spring to late fall. The employer offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees and eligible dependents based on job title and classification. Employees are also offered pension and Tax-Deferred Savings Plans. Part-time employees must meet a weekly or semester work hour criteria to be eligible for health benefits.