Organic Urban Farm Manager – Growing Gardens of Boulder County – Boulder, CO

Growing Gardens is a Boulder-based non-profit organization established in 1998 with the mission to enrich the lives of the community through sustainable urban agriculture. Growing Gardens helps people experience a direct, deep connection with food, the land and each other through our programs for diverse populations: the Children’s Peace Garden, Community Classes, Community Gardens, and Cultiva Youth Project. Our activities are centered in the heart of Boulder on 11 acres of land that has been in agricultural use for the past 100 years. We are expanding our programming with a 2 acre farm in Longmont in 2016. To learn more about Growing Gardens, visit www.growinggardens.org.

Job Title: Longmont Site Farm Manager
Job Status: Full Time Seasonal Employee
Reports To: Executive Director
Pay: This position is paid salary. Year 1 (2016): 9 months, 40 hours a week. Feb 15- Nov 15. Salary range for the first year $21,672- $26,500.
This is planned to become a salaried, year-round, position. Salary 2017 and beyond: $29,120- $35,360.

Benefits: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, IRA Retirement benefit after 1 year of employment. Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays)

Application Deadline: December 10, 2015. Applications will be reviewed immediately until the position is filled.

TO APPLY:
No phone calls please. Email your resume, cover letter, and two letters of recommendation with “Longmont Farm Manager” in the email subject line to: Megan@GrowingGardens.org

Job Purpose:
The Longmont Site Farm Manager will oversee the cultivation of a new, organic, two-acre urban farm focused on producing food for the Longmont community. In addition, this farm will be an urban, educational space for the Growing Gardens’ children’s, teen adult and senior programming. This position is also responsible for overseeing the Growing Gardens Food Project, which provides free produce, plant starts and seeds to community members in need to increase access to fresh, organic produce.

Required Qualifications

3 years of experience in organic vegetable production
Experience creating planting schedule, ordering seeds, starting plants in greenhouse and field
Experience creating and using field maps
Using and maintaining drip irrigation, tractors and other farm implements
Exceptional relationship-building skills
Ability and desire to be a guide for children visiting the Longmont farm for tours and field trips
Excellent communication skills (public speaking, recruiting, interacting with adults from other non-profits, email and phone communication)
Teaching skills including developing and implementing age appropriate lessons and workshops on agriculture
Mentoring skills including the ability to provide group and individual feedback to teens, interns, and coworkers, ability to organize, prioritize, and delegate tasks
Experience managing large groups
Experience collaborating with non-profit agencies to meet a common goal
Ability to multi-task and delegate
Successful project management skills
Ability to work long hours (starting in the early morning) in dry heat, rain, cold
Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with a small staff
Bilingual Spanish/English is highly desired

Major Functions and Accountability

Reports to Executive Director
Coordinates with other Growing Gardens site and director staff to fulfill program needs
Work with Volunteer Coordinator to schedule and manage volunteers for

special projects

Oversees weekly intern work day at farm
Oversees vegetable production and donations from farm to Longmont

community through the Growing Gardens Food Project

Be a liaison for Growing Gardens to visitors of all ages to the Longmont Farm site
Education and training (interns and tour groups)
Outreach and marketing work with participating agencies and organizations
Record keeping and administrative work around farm production and Growing

Gardens Food Project

Attend weekly staff meetings

Growing Gardens Food Project

Overseeing the Growing Gardens Food project will be roughly 20% of the position. This program spans both our Boulder farm and the new Longmont Farm.
Outreach to current community partners and determining new partners to continue building a strong donation program that benefits all parties
Keeping careful records of donated produce, seedlings, and seed packets across all Growing Garden’s programs.
Coordinate with agencies and individuals participating in Growing Gardens Food Project to complete pre and post program evaluations
Following up with stakeholders and maintaining open communication throughout the season to ensure project success
Managing harvest, preparation, and distribution of all donations
Coordinating with Boulder based intern to record and track pounds of weekly donations from the Boulder site.
Communicate with agencies receiving Boulder food donations and make sure the donation process is happening smoothly in conjuction with intern help.

Longmont Farm Management

Install and maintain irrigation system
Oversee all transplanting and seeding at Longmont Site
Coordinate with Hawthorn Greenhouse Manager for seedling production in early spring
Weeding, pest management, and site upkeep
Harvest, process, and distribute produce
Managing intern and volunteers to assist in farm tasks
Proper use and maintenance of farm equipment including, tiller, mower, and manual farming implements
Community and farm liaison
Joyful sharing of your knowledge and crops with children’s programming
End of season chores including winterizing beds, irrigation, and tools

Events

Growing Gardens hosts a number of events throughout year. This person will work with all other staff to make these events successful.

Special Requirements:

Hours change seasonally and additional time may be required, including occasional weekend and evening work and long hours as necessary
Ability to operate computers, mobile devices, office and farm equipment
Ability to interact with volunteers, interns, youth, people with disabilities and the general public on a daily basis
Ability to work on uneven terrain in the field
Must be able to successfully manage multiple, high priority tasks in a fast-paced environment
Must be able to lift 50lbs
Must have a reliable vehicle for transportation between sites and partner organizations. Must have a cell phone. ($20 per month cell phone reimbursement will be issued)
Must submit to a fingerprint background check
Must have current CPR and First Aid Certification prior to start date

This position offers many great rewards and is a great opportunity to put your heart into your work place.

How to apply

Application Deadline: December 10, 2015. Applications will be reviewed immediately until the position is filled.

TO APPLY:
No phone calls please. Email your resume, cover letter, and two letters of recommendation with “Longmont Farm Manager” in the email subject line to: Megan@GrowingGardens.org

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