Food And Agriculture Assistant

Job Overview:

Under the supervision of the Food and Agriculture Coordinator, the Food and Agriculture Assistant will support day-to-day farm operations and site maintenance of New Roots Garden (Queens), and facilitate training activities, community engagement, and support production and garden projects. This position will work with staff, interns, garden members, volunteers, and community members to increase production and information exchange at the farm and garden sites. This position is currently a part-time position with the potential for extension. The expectation of this role is to work in-person at the garden during open hours for the growing season (April-November) plus administrative duties remotely and in office, and administrative duties remotely and in office during the winter (December-March).

Major Responsibilities:

• Contribute to overall site maintenance: weeding, watering, filling up water tanks, picking up trash, organizing tool shed + greenhouse
• Expand current growing areas, create planting schedules, and maintain shared/public areas
• Coordinate work-day activities with community members and support volunteers on site.
• Continue seed saving for successions and the garden’s seed library
• Examine and produce solutions for pest management
• Assist with harvest and distribution through farm stand shelf
• Provide support to community members to implement crop planning, site maintenance, and community outreach efforts
• Conduct community outreach for all program initiatives
• Develop and maintain community partnerships in Queens
• Track quantifiable measurements to assess project effectiveness via Excel and/or Farming Concrete, and ensure data is input into IRCs main database, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO)
• Supervise interns, land stewards, and volunteers
• Support and promote other New York Resettlement programming taking place at the garden (e.g. Health and Wellness mindfulness workshops) and that can benefit clients and community members (e.g. workforce programs)
• Other related duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in sustainable agriculture/urban farming projects is required
• A strong passion for and knowledge of Food and farming issues
• Physical ability to carry out gardening and farm-related activities required
• Demonstrated experience in community organizing and engagement, particularly with disadvantaged communities, preferred
• Experience working in a diverse and non-traditional setting with a diverse client base.
• Background in training or community organizing preferred

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multicultural environment
• Able to contribute both independently and as a key team member
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Language Skills:

• Fluent in English, both spoken and written; bilingual ability a plus, preferably in Filipino, Bengali, or Spanish

Preferred experience & skills:

• Ability to work independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional team structure
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to manage and work through change proactively and positively

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.