Greenhouse Operations Coordinator & Community Engagement Liaison

Benefits:

• Free food & snacks
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Wellness resources

Supervisor: Executive Director
Start Date: When position is filled
Hours: Full Time, 32 to 40 hrs/wk
Schedule: Tuesday - Friday with occasional Saturdays for community events
Organization Mission:
Feedem Freedom Foundation (FFF) is a Black-led small farm incubator that supports emerging Black farmers to grow and celebrate culturally-specific ancestral foods. We provide programming on two farms: our collective CROPS farm in Multnomah County, the Rockwood Community Farm in East Portland. Our programs foster Black entrepreneurship and workforce development, connect small producers to institutional markets, build cooperative growing efforts, and create agricultural pipelines for youth to build greater food sovereignty for our community.
What we are looking for:

The Greenhouse Manager will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Feedem Freedom nursery at Rockwood Village Farm. The Greenhouse Manager will train nursery workers, grow plants, create displays, respond to customer queries, and manage stock levels. The Greenhouse Manager position works collaboratively with the staff at Feedem Freedom and Mudbone Grown (MBG) to implement strategies that result in an engagement with the Black and BIPoC community of east county who have lived experience with poverty, racism and gender oppression.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Greenhouse setup
• Purchase supplies for Greenhouse
• Manage Greenhouse irrigation system
• Manage Greenhouse propane heating system for Prop tables
• Create Greenhouse systems operational guide
• Create Greenhouse crop plan for starts
• Propagate plant starts for community growers, MBG/FFF farms, retail sales, and future research projects
• Setup systems for order forms for plants
• Co-Create a work plan
• Curriculum development input
• Community propagation workshops
• Future nursery staff or apprentice instruction
• Work on (Data capturing system)
• Assist with running reports and inventory
• Work closely with Mudbone Grown and Farmers to address community needs
• Help or advise on outreach materials

Propagation Produce for the People (PPP) Program Apprenticeship Development:

• Curriculum development / co-creation with OSU and other community partners to create greenhouse management and apprenticeship programs
• Outreach and promotion of the PPP program
• Work with MBG/FFF Staff and other community partners to coordinate Community Partner Days and other events

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two -year experience working in the nursery field assisting.
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal and customer service skills
• Proficiency with Google Platforms or a willingness to learn and adapt quickly to meet the needs of the organization
• Demonstrated cross-cultural communication skills and commitment to equity and inclusion
• Experience working with food insecure populations and/or personal experience of food insecurity.
• Ability to telework for some meetings and tasks
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment
  

Working Conditions:
Work performed in the greenhouse involves a significant amount of walking. This position is fast paced, very physical, and involves standing for extended periods of time; as well as repeatedly stooping, squatting, kneeling or bending. May move and carry objects up to 50 pounds. Work is also performed in a variety of office settings, which requires using a telephone and sitting/ standing at a computer for extended periods of time. You must have access to reliable transportation for travel to the facility and the farm. You will work on evenings and weekends when volunteer shifts are occurring.