Our goals are to provide:

·        ACCESS TO FOOD: the opportunity to experience food through the process of growing, harvesting and tending with their own hands; teaching youth to prepare foods and laying the foundation for lifelong, healthy eating habits and self-sufficiency (life skills).

·        ACCESS TO EDUCATION: engaging youth in informal nutrition, science and math education through our hands-on approach of experiential learning that is FUN and provides “aha” moments

·        ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: the opportunity to learn about the environment through direct participation in sustainable agricultural practices. We connect cooking and eating to planting, tending, and harvesting these foods. Youth understand the importance of caring for our environment because it connects directly to their stomach!

We strongly encourage people of color to apply and join our team.
 

Green Plate Special (GPS) is hiring a Program Educator (PE) with experience in youth education and an interest in social justice and sustainability. GPS is a rapidly growing organization that offers seed-to-table programs serving youth ages 9-14. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career environmental and/or food education professional who is committed to inspiring young people to experience food in new ways and interested in joining a small team with big ambitions. This position has advancement potential. You will be based at GPS’s quarter-acre garden and teaching kitchen in North Rainier Valley, as well as off-site programming in the local public schools we serve.

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Education Director (EdD), this position has immediate opportunities for growth and leadership. We expect to support a high learning curve for the first 6-8 months with the goal to develop a strong alignment between the EdD and the PE in regards to job duties and leadership.  GPS requires a unique set of skills: someone who can teach to both food-growing and cooking, as well as having an education background. As an integral part of the GPS education team, the PE will maintain, support and help strengthen all aspects of the Green Plate Special youth programs while maintaining its mission. They will support and help lead the part-time education team with guidance from the EdD. This position is meant to increase the ability for GPS to serve more youth by creating greater capacity on-site (GPS) and off-site.

Our collaborative, supportive, and energetic work environment requires someone who enjoys working as part of a team and participating in all daily operations of the organization. Able to collaborate with all GPS staff to maintain the health and proper organization of supplies and equipment in the kitchen classroom, in the garden and for off-site programs. Someone who is skilled at prioritizing, leading by example, able to self-manage their time and can be flexible with their work hours due to a large variety of programs throughout the week.  

Primary Responsibilities:

Youth Education Support:

• Assist in all GPS youth programs, leading small teams and larger groups in garden and kitchen education
• Pre-program and post-program duties include: food prep, garden prep, space (kitchen/garden/off-site) set-up and clean-up, packing and transporting, food shopping (as needed)
• Contribute to and organize agendas, program content and recipe library
• Participate in garden projects and maintenance (planting, harvesting, watering, maintaining beds)
• Create, as requested by the EdD, set-up lists, shop lists, and teaching tools

Qualifications

• At least 2 years experience teaching or working with youth ages 9-14
• Preferred minimum of 3 years experience in environmental or food education
• Experience or strong interest in organic urban farming or home gardening
• Experience or strong interest in home cooking and recipe reading
• Schedule flexibility, as programs vary in times and some evenings and weekends are required

Other Requirements:

• A reliable form of transportation is required for yourself and any needed teaching materials, as well as for shopping needs
• Washington State Food Handlers card
• Washington State background check

Schedule and Benefits

General Hours:

• Monday-Friday
• 9:00 AM-5:00 PM average, but flexible between 8 AM and 8 PM (8 hour day) to accommodate programming and a 40 hour week
• Non-exempt, hourly, with overtime potential
• Some evening and weekend hours will be required for programming, special events, as well as some volunteer work parties

Benefits:

• Full medical, dental, vision insurance is provided
• Paid sick and personal leave, maternity leave, paid holidays and vacations
• Paid continued education opportunities

Employment Policy

Green Plate Special is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Green Plate Special does not and will not discriminate based on race, sex, socio-economic status, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ancestry, ethnicity, marital status, religion, differences in ability, or military status in personnel operations. This includes hiring and firing of staff, recruitment and acceptance of board members, volunteers, or recruitment and acceptance of students. We are committed to creating a progressive, diverse, and inclusive environment for our staff, board members, volunteers, students, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

What You Can Expect from GPS

• Prompt response to all applicants with requested information submitted via email
• Qualified applicants will be scheduled for an initial in-person interview with the Education Director or the Executive Director, including a tour of the GPS garden
• Those who qualify will be invited to return for a second in-person interview that will include one or two GPS staff
• Depending on the number of applicants, it is possible that a final interview will be requested for the top two finalists
• Everyone who interviews will be promptly contacted, whether they qualify for a next interview or not.
• Potential for professional and financial growth