New Roots Agriculture & Community Education Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

JOB OVERVIEW: 

The New Roots Agriculture and Community Education Coordinator will be responsible for the management and implementation of the youth agriculture and community garden programs. The Youth Agriculture Learning and Leadership (YALL) Program is a youth agriculture and leadership program for high-school aged new American youth. This position is responsible for the development, facilitation, implementation, and execution of the youth program activities and will provide program and data collection management. This position will also manage and implement community garden programming, including recruitment, enrollment, plot placement, and communication. Finally, this position will collaborate with the Agriculture and Food Access Coordinator and Agricultural Program Specialist to deliver production technical assistance to farmers and facilitate greenhouse access. This position reports to the New Roots Program Manager.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Youth Agriculture Program Activities

• Design the YALL program each year, adjusting and improving programming as needed in conjunction with the New Roots Program Manager.
• Coordinate the outreach, enrollment, and documentation of youth participants
• Develop program curriculum including agriculture, food safety, marketing, food systems, and leadership topics.
• Facilitate youth program sales avenues and manage sales funds in conjunction with the New Roots Program Manager.
• Collaborate with New Roots team to maintain farming equipment and vehicles, including implements, tools, irrigation systems, washing station, and post-harvest and handling equipment, including arranging for upkeep, purchasing and replacement of tools and equipment as needed, and tracking inventory. 
• Develop and maintain strong community partner relations, establish coordination meetings and conduct follow up as necessary; liaise with partners including: Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, Roots Charter High School, USU Extension 4H, and the Refugee Goat Project
• Keep accurate case files and participant records for all program participants; monitor and record skill acquisition for Y’ALL participants.
• Manage and supervise AmeriCorps, interns and volunteers
• Coordinate with New Roots Program Manager to collect and maintain relevant data for New Roots grant and donor deliverables including yearly end of season surveys with participants
• Contribute to grant writing and reporting requirements

Community Garden Program Activities

• Facilitate outreach, enrollment, plot placements, and orientations with new and returning gardeners
• Regularly communicate with New Roots participants to coordinate participation in Community Gardening program activities, including access to garden plots, resources, and training and technical assistance.
• Provide orientations to new gardeners and support with education as needed and requested by participants on topics including planning, seed starting, composting, soil fertility, soil testing, soil amendments, and crop rotations.
• Develop and maintain strong community partner relations, establish coordination meetings and conduct follow up as necessary; liaise with partners including: Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, Wasatch Community Gardens, the City of South Salt Lake, the City of Millcreek, and Salt Lake City Office of Sustainability.
• Support the Agriculture and Food Access Coordinator and Agricultural Program Specialist as needed with garden infrastructure including irrigation, common area upkeep, and volunteer group management.
• Collaborate with New Roots team to keep accurate case files and participant records for all program participants; monitor and record skill acquisition with New Roots participants. 
• Coordinate with New Roots Program Manager to collect and maintain relevant data for New Roots grant and donor deliverables including yearly end of season surveys with participants.
• Contribute to grant writing and reporting requirements.

Additional Responsibilities

• Support the Support the Agricultural Program Specialist to provide production training to participants with topics including crop planning, pest management, soil health, food safety, and winterization.
• Oversee greenhouse operations including farmer greenhouse placement, growing garden and youth starts, liaising with Utah State University, and organization of open office hours at the greenhouse.
• Support farmers on some Saturdays at the farmers market, providing food safety and market preparation TA to farmers and supporting the farmers market team.
• Represent New Roots and Y’ALL in the larger community including attending outreach events, participating in media events, and planning and executing events and volunteer days. 
• Recruit and supervise volunteers including individuals and groups.
• Work with New Roots Program Manager in fundraising, development activities, and resource acquisition of in-kind and monetary donations.
• Work with New Roots Client Services Coordinator to make participant referral and wellbeing support activities, including supporting provision of community resources and referrals for participants.
• Comply with all policies and protocols of IRC
• Other related duties as assigned

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate degree, or equivalent experience, in Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Business Marketing, Communications, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years related work experience in agricultural marketing, education, food access, local food systems, or related field.
• Demonstrated understanding of local foods systems, youth education, and agricultural small-scale production in an urban setting.
• Strong organizational skills including: multi-tasking, prioritizing, planning, and effective time management.
• Previous experience supervising staff and managing program area implementation.
• Ability to work independently as well as on a close, collaborative team.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, with bi-lingual ability preferred.
• Ability to communicate with limited-English speakers, and demonstrated multicultural experience.
• Valid driver’s license, active insurance policy and access to reliable transportation.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: New Roots Program Manager

Position May Supervise: AmeriCorps members, Youth Peer Leaders, Interns, and Volunteers

Work Environment: 

• Standard office work environment along with travel in and around the service delivery area.
• Flexible to work Saturdays and some weekday evenings throughout market season, as needed.
• Ability to safely lift 50lbs.

Compensation: (Pay Range: $25 - $27) 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.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

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US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.