Farm & Garden Program Manager
Company: Marion-Polk Food Share, Inc.
Location: Salem
Posted on: May 10, 2022
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Job Description:
Full-time - Management Position
Starting Annual Salary Range: $52,372 - $62,847
This position is eligible for a 5% bilingual differential if the
successful candidate meets the Food Share standard on our Spanish
bilingual test.
* The Food Share provides a comprehensive benefits package to our
staff who work 30 or more hours per week.
** This position is Open Until Filled - The first review of
applications will be on May 11, 2022. Apply soon!
Who are we looking for?
You are passionate about growing good food and addressing
inequities in our local food system. Our Farm & Garden Manager is
lead on programs that work alongside communities to change their
local food system for the better. The Manager focuses on empowering
young people and people experiencing poverty to grow culturally
relevant, healthy food, build community and strengthen food
sovereignty.
You are experienced at working alongside or advocating for people
who face systemic oppression or underrepresentation. This includes
young adults, BIPOC and LGTBQ+ individuals. Our Farm & Garden
Manager understands and listens to the voices of experience with
poverty and systemic oppression, as well as the complex
relationship with food and agriculture experienced by people from
all walks of life. They uplift and create space for the voices of
our neighbors facing hunger; and are willing to join an
organization developing its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and
Justice path.
You are organized and skilled at program management and community
education. Our Farm & Garden Manager runs solid, well organized
programs that are also flexible and responsive to community needs.
Programs are accessible to diverse groups, and are run by and for
those experiencing food insecurity.
Who are we?
Marion Polk Food Share's mission is to bring people together to end
hunger and its root causes.
We distribute nutritious food for individuals and families to more
than 100 local partners, including food pantries and meal sites,
and deliver Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors and adults with
disabilities. We operate an urban farm and support a network of
community gardens that connect people and their food and mobilize
community members to address systemic issues that lead to hunger.
Thousands of local volunteers, advocates and donors bring our
mission to life every day.
At the Food Share, our commitment is to:
Treat all people as our neighbor.
Encourage creativity and be willing to take risks.
Listen first and seek to understand.
Focus on shared goals.
Celebrate diversity, ensure dignity, and act equitably.
Statement of Purpose:
To build community power through food, facilitate educational
opportunities and strengthen local food systems through leading the
Food Share's farm & garden-based programs.
Summary of Role:
The Farm & Garden Program Manager is responsible for leading,
developing and implementing a vision for the Food Share Youth Farm,
the Community Gardens Program and our Community Ambassador &
Educational Programs.
Core Areas of Responsibility
Youth Farm: Oversees all aspects of farm management of the 6-acre
Food Share Youth Farm, a diverse, organic urban farm that engages
young people in sustainable agriculture by growing food for a Farm
Share Rx program. Develop the Youth Farm as a community-building
hub that celebrates Salem's diverse population, builds local food
sovereignty, and empowers youth to be food system leaders.
Community Gardens: Guide and manage the Community Gardens program,
which supports a network of over 60 gardens serving over 1,000
families from diverse backgrounds. Support programming that serves
BIPOC, immigrant and refugee gardeners and small farmers and
provides healthy, culturally relevant food for local
neighborhoods.
Community Education: Support effective, desired educational
programs that build grassroots community leadership in the food
system.
This is a management position and ensures that staff and volunteers
have clear work direction and guidance. The incumbent is
responsible to carry out the full spectrum of management
responsibilities in accordance with the agency's policies and
applicable laws.
Areas of Responsibility, Evaluation and Essential Functions:
Youth Farm:
Manages and directs youth development and community education
programming at the Youth Farm, focusing on an 11-week summer
program for teens and young adults.
Manages a fully functioning small, organic farm, growing a wide
range of vegetable crops. Leads seasonal agricultural planning and
site development.
Develops and manages distribution through the Farm Share Rx
program.
Manages relationships with Farm Share Rx partners, such as health
clinics, and oversees patient support and communications.
Leads and develops the Youth Farm team. Hires, trains and
supervises an effective, diverse team, including 4-5 staff,
interns, youth farmers and hundreds of volunteers.
Leads key Youth Farm partnerships, including those with OSU
Extension and Chemeketa Community College.
Responsible for training and safety of all farm participants and
volunteers.
Works with Facility Manager to ensure adequate maintenance for all
farm facilities and equipment. Evaluates needs and develops
facility plans as needed.
Develops Youth Farm educational curriculum and oversees curriculum
delivery. Ensures the inclusion of leadership development, soft
skills, horticultural education and community engagement
experiences.
Effectively includes youth in development and leadership of Youth
Farm program. Practices inclusion, operates from an equity
mindset.
Develops programming that supports and is relevant for youth from a
range of life experiences, including youth that identify as BIPOC,
LGTBQ+, recent immigrants and youth from low income
backgrounds.
Community Gardens & Community Education:
Provides clear direction and guidance for the Community Gardens and
Community Education programs.
Leads or supports key programmatic community garden partnerships,
such as with the City of Salem and local churches.
In collaboration with Program Coordinators, develops a community
gardens network that serves the needs of local communities.
Cultivates leaders, gauges and develops community buy in and
develops new gardens where appropriate.
Manages relationships with a variety of governmental and private
landowners of community garden properties.
In collaboration with Program Coordinator, supports our network of
volunteer coordinators, provides relevant training and
resources.
Oversees Ambassador Garden Education program, which works alongside
communities of color to support and develop relevant gardening and
food sovereignty programming.
Works with Program Coordinators to provide educational programming
reflective of community needs, both in terms of location and course
content and delivery.
Develops measures and tracking mechanisms to gauge effectiveness
and impact of garden programming. Adjusts programming utilizing
feedback
Develops strategy to build local community leadership through
garden network.
Addresses and resolves garden conflicts across diverse
communities.
General Responsibilities:
Increases public awareness and engagement in the Farm, Gardens and
Educational Programs. Establishes Youth Farm and Gardens as well
utilized community assets.
Explores additional programming opportunities through participatory
decision-making process. Engages with community partners and
neighborhoods to best leverage our assets.
Maintains and leads relationships with statewide professional
networks related to food systems and sustainable agriculture.
Works with Development staff to write and report on grants,
cultivate donors and engage with supporters.
Increases community awareness of the Food Share throughout all
program efforts.
Leads an effective, coordinated and supportive Farm & Garden team.
Directly supervises of 4+ staff.
Aligns programs with the strategic direction of the Food Share.
Participates in Food Share Management team conversations, advocate
for the Farm & Garden team and build positive relationships with
other departments.
Manages program budgets. Effectively communicates resource needs to
VP.
Develops detailed program reports and gauges program effectiveness
through evaluation efforts.
Other duties as assigned
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to
perform each essential duty and physical demand satisfactorily with
or without a reasonable accommodation. EOE.Minimum
Qualifications:
Three years of relevant professional experience. Education may
substitute for some required experience. Work in nonprofit program
management, social services, community health, sustainable
agriculture, food systems, environmental sciences, youth
development, community organizing, or related field considered
relevant experience.
Experience providing clear and effective communication including
explaining programs to a wide audience.
Experience using Microsoft Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, Access,
Teams and PowerPoint) in a job environment.
Experience participating in successful and inclusive
community-informed projects while working across teams,
departments, or organizations.
Intermediate to advanced skills in organic agricultural production
techniques.
Experience engaging, building and maintaining relationships with
diverse backgrounds such as: racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic,
socioeconomic, and other underserved/underrepresented
communities.
Must be financially literate and able to track and follow a
budget.
Must be able to develop and sustain strategies, build and support
networks and develop and execute plans for public outreach and
engagement.
Experience with compiling and analyzing feedback or program data
and sharing findings and recommendations in clear and impactful
reports.
Additionally, the successful candidate(s):
Must be willing to become knowledgeable of food safety laws and
regulations including earning a food handler's card or Serve Safe
certification.
Must pass pre-employment drug screen (excluding THC) and full
background check.
Must pass driving record check and be insurable through Marion-Polk
Food Share's vehicle insurance policy.
Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Ability to support and supervise a team effectively.
Ability to design and lead youth education programs
Ability to facilitate in-person and/or virtual engagement
processes, classes, trainings, or events with diverse community
groups/individuals.
Passionate about the work of Marion Polk Food Share and have lived
experience of hunger or poverty, systemic oppression, or strong
interest in food security or poverty issues.
Dedicated to solving issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Ability to work with and support underrepresented youth, BIPOC,
LGTBQ+, immigrant or refugee communities.
Experience with community organizing, outreach or engagement, a
plus.
High level of interpersonal skills with demonstrated poise, tact
and diplomacy.
Excellent organizational and follow through skills required.
Ability to successfully balance multiple projects and prioritize
effectively.
Ability to manage a small, organic farm. Sustainable agriculture or
gardening related certifications or experience, a plus.
Job Conditions:
Work will be performed regularly in an office environment. Extended
time at a work station will be required. Work will also be
performed outdoors, in all types of weather. Will regularly involve
sustained periods of standing and walking and moderate to heavy
manual labor, including bending, reaching, squatting, crawling,
stooping and use of hands, arms and fingers. Will regularly be
required to lift up to 50 pounds. Work will involve travel and use
of a MPFS truck, trailer, tractor, rototiller and other equipment.
Work on evenings and weekends will be required.
The Food Share provides essential services to our neighbors in
Marion and Polk counties. As a result, all Food Share employees may
be asked to report to work during local public health, weather, or
other environmental emergencies.PI174737246
Keywords: Marion-Polk Food Share, Inc., Salem , Farm & Garden Program Manager, Executive , Salem, Oregon
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