Seasonal Garden Coordinator

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 three 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 – 8 th 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 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 assisting the community gardener program. The ideal candidate will be an excellent time manager, able to multitask, very well-organized, and an effective communicator.

This is a seasonal, 8-month position reporting to the Director of Education and assisting the school day and internship program managers.

Urban Gardening/Farming

• Oversee maintenance and operations of three Learning Gardens with weekly work hours at each one to ensure proper care of gardens and plants
• Work with the Learning Gardens team to implement seasonal horticultural and maintenance plans for the gardens giving particular attention to managing weeds and pests using non-chemical methods
• Assist school day and internship program managers to prepare for and/or implement the following with students in the gardens: planting, weeding, tending and harvesting (September - November)
• Collaborate with the Learning Gardens team to perform garden maintenance tasks such as equipment inventory, site security, composting, seed starting, and greenhouse operations as it relates to the appropriate garden site
• Collaborate with front-line educators that use the garden for programming during the school day and after-school hours in garden programmatic and safety needs
• Perform or facilitate the repair of garden structures and equipment as needed
• Communicate and coordinate with NYC Parks staff including from Maintenance & Operations and GreenThumb as needed (soil and wood chip orders, tree pruning, stump removal, etc.)
• Keep any grassy areas within the gardens trimmed using a gas-powered weed whacker

Community Engagement

• Assist involvement in and commitment to intergenerational volunteering and additional community stakeholders in our main Learning Gardens sites: Grove Hill, CPF Liberty, and Abib Newborn
• Co-facilitate seasonal meetings or workshops with 20-30 community gardeners with open communication to establish norms and ensure compliance with the NYC Parks GreenThumb by-laws.
• Assist to coordinate with NYC Green Thumb when necessary
• Assist Learning Gardens team to plan and implement volunteer group projects

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 2 years of training and garden and/or farm experience
• Sufficient knowledge in horticulture skills including but not limited to: plant propagation and growth, soil science, companion planting, Integrated Pest Management, composting, etc.
• Ability, training and experience in operations/maintenance tasks including light painting, carpentry using power tools, operating light machinery including a weed whacker and a power saw, etc.
• Organized, attention to detail, and good time management skills
• Sufficient proficiency in Google Drive and Office applications (docs, sheets, slides)
• A strong interest in culturally relevant gardening and promoting sustainable eating
• 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 inclement weather conditions such as heat and light rain
• Open availability to work very occasional weekends and evenings

DESIRED QUALITIES

• 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
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team is essential
• Ability & willingness to maintain professionalism and boundaries at all times when working with youth
• Adaptability and cultural competency needed to work with youth and adults from diverse backgrounds in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class and religion

ABOUT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

At City Parks Foundation (CPF), we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming New York City parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through arts, environmental education, sports, and community building programs for all New Yorkers. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities.

Community engagement includes Partnerships for Parks, a public-private program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks, which supports and champions a growing network of community leaders who care and advocate for the transformation of our neighborhood parks and the Parks and Open Space Partners-NYC coalition of conservancies and alliances. We also administer the NYC Green Fund, a regranting program for parks and open space nonprofits and grassroots organizations.

We produce SummerStage, the iconic free, outdoor performing arts festival in NYC, presenting world-class artists from across the globe and our own neighborhoods on our mainstage in Central Park and in local parks in all five boroughs, and our Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and roving PuppetMobile present marionette puppet theater throughout New York City.

We connect youngsters to nature in the urban environment through progressive, experiential teaching. Using parks as classrooms, we provide learning experiences and hands-on activities in urban forests, coastal areas, and gardens.

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.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. City Parks Foundation does not offer visa sponsorship.