Seasonal Garden Coordinator & Instructor

Position/Title: Day Educator

Start Date: March 2023

Salary Range: $25/hour

ABOUT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

City Parks Foundation (CPF) is the only independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer programs in public parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. We are dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community development, and education programs for all New Yorkers. Our programs and community building initiatives -- located in more than 350 parks, recreation centers, and public schools across New York City -- reach 425,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities.

• We connect youngsters to nature in the urban environment with education programs that provide learning experiences through classroom and hands-on activities in parks, urban forests, coastal areas, gardens, and recreation centers.

• We present the largest free, outdoor performing arts festival in NYC through SummerStage, presenting artists of the highest quality across multiple disciplines and genres, and marionette puppet theater in all five boroughs with our Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and the roving PuppetMobile.

• Partnerships for Parks, a public-private program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks, supports and champions a growing network of leaders who care and advocate for the transformation of their neighborhood parks.

• Free golf, tennis, track & field, soccer, and fitness programs bring high-quality instruction and equipment into areas where few organized athletic opportunities exist. We offer leveled training, year-round scholarship coaching, and special pro events.

POSITION SUMMARY

Learning Gardens brings year-round, field and school-based garden science learning to NYC school children and community members. Our gardens are outdoor classrooms that provide vibrant green space in some of New York City’s most densely populated neighborhoods. We operate four gardens in three boroughs. Using our four community gardens, CPF presents engaging interdisciplinary lessons to expand student learning around urban ecology, horticulture, soil science, and sustainable urban food systems. Students in 2nd – 8th grade and their teachers receive resource materials, curricula, and tools to enhance their understanding of ecosystem services and address the unique challenges of growing food in an urban environment. High School interns are trained in garden instruction and horticultural techniques throughout the spring and then work alongside Learning Gardens staff throughout the summer.

The Seasonal Garden Coordinator and Instructor will be responsible for the day-to-day field operations in our main Learning Gardens located in Brownsville, South Jamaica, and the South Bronx. This includes garden maintenance, repairs, coordinating volunteer events, and overseeing the community gardener program. He/she will also implement summertime groups instruction in the gardens at one site. The ideal candidate will be an excellent time manager, able to multitask, very well-organized, and an effective communicator.

This is a seasonal, nearly 8-month position reporting to the Associate Director of Environmental Education/Learning Gardens, and will supervise up to 2 summer college employees and up to 15 high school interns.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 2 years of garden/farming experience, including some carpentry and building experience

• At least 2-3 years outdoor educational experience, preferably with high school students

• Extensive knowledge in horticulture skills including, but not limited to: plant science, companion planting, maintenance, IPM, composting, aquaponics, beekeeping, etc.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Organized, attention to detail, multi-tasker, and good time management skills

• Strong proficiency in Google Drive and Office applications (docs, sheets, slides)

• A strong interest in teaching culturally relevant gardening lessons and promoting sustainable eating

• Self-starter who takes initiative

• Experience with conflict resolution

• Must have a valid driver’s license with willingness to travel throughout NYC alone

• Ability to lift 40 lbs and perform strenuous outdoor tasks and work in all weather conditions

• Open availability to work occasional weekends and evenings

• Bi-lingual in Spanish

• Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination

• Preferred Associate’s or BA/BS degree in related fields, such as Plant Science, Horticulture, Environmental Education, Botany, Soil Science, etc.

DESIRED QUALITIES

• Passionate about using urban green spaces to build community

• Committed to working towards equity and access to healthy food and environment for all New Yorkers

• Familiar with and able to grow cultural crops that reflect Brownsville, Brooklyn; South Bronx, Jamaica, Queens, and East New York, Brooklyn communities

• Positive and energetic disposition

• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team is essential

• Self-starter with a positive, can-do attitude and consistent follow-through

• Demonstrated success working with diverse students, especially youth from low-income communities

• Adaptability and cultural competency needed to work collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class and religion