Garden Manager (Part-time, Non-Benefited) - Worcester State University

TITLE: Garden Manager
DEPARTMENT: Urban Action Institute
SUPERVISOR: Joanne Jaber Gauvin, Assistant Director, Urban Action Institute

SSTA APPROVER: Joanne Jaber Gauvin, Assistant Director, Urban Action Institute

SCHEDULE: 18.5 hours a week

General Statement of Duties:

Mission statement: The Urban Action Institute collaborates with students, faculty, and community partners to address social, political, and economic injustices in our society through field-based learning and advocacy for a more equitable city.

The Urban Action Institute manages the Worcester State University Teaching Garden, Hunger Outreach Team and an English Language Program. The focus of this position will be on managing the WSU Teaching Garden.

The Worcester State University Teaching Garden is a place where students from WSU, Chandler Magnet Elementary School, and the greater Worcester community come to learn about equitable access to healthy and nutritious food in urban areas, growing their own food, urban gardens, sustainable living and healthy eating. This position requires an understanding of urban food insecurity as well as an understanding of the people it affects, and how urban gardens can contribute to the resolution. The Garden Manager manages the outdoor garden classroom for Worcester State University (WSU). Specific duties include:

Essential Responsibilities:

Garden:

• Plan, manage, oversee and maintain the planting, harvesting and produce distribution for the entire ¼ acre garden.
• Planting: seed starting, winter sowing, acquire seedlings, crop rotation plan and planning.
• Strong knowledge of annual and perennial plant materials and knowledge of proper pruning practices.
• Prepare outdoor garden classroom space for learning, including the maintenance of materials, supplies and tools related to the outdoor garden classroom.
• Maintain tools and equipment, keep shed organized.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director to acquire needed supplies.
• Maintain hoop house, use space to start seeds and extend growing season.
• Repair Garden beds as needed.
• Beautifying and Maintain overall Garden area, including but not limited to, weeding, watering, cutting the grass, picking up leaves, thinning out perennials, composting.

Staff Management:

• Work collaboratively with the Garden Assistants, teach them how to care for the WSU Teaching Garden.
• Direct, oversee and participate in work performed by your team. This is a very hands-on position and requires candidates to perform any task they would ask their team to do. You will be expected to work alongside the team.
• Foster meaningful volunteer and leadership opportunities.

Administrative:

• Work with the Assistant Director to manage and oversee the garden budget.
• Work collaboratively with UAI Director and Assistant Director to communicate the needs of the outdoor garden classroom.
• Communications is essential for this position, Attend meetings, respond to communications via email and phone.
• Provide an educational, caring and safe environment for WSU and CMS students and all participants in the garden.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience with urban gardening, farming or related experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills including: excellent verbal and written communication skills, time management, prioritizing and delegating.
• General computer skills including Microsoft office suite and tools for garden planning.
• General carpentry skills.
• Ability to lift up to 40lbs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Fluent in Spanish.
• Knowledge of organic practices.
• Understanding of Permaculture, Agroecology, and/or perennial foods.
• Experience organizing and planning gardens or farms.
• Experience working with diverse groups of people.

Worcester State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer which seeks to reflect the diversity of its community.

This is a part-time, non-benefited, hourly position.