Company description

Truly Living Well (TLW) is an educational center for natural urban agriculture. We grow natural and organic food on our 3.5 acre farm. We connect people to the food through classes, training, volunteerism and tourism. 

Food justice is important to us. We work with a number of partners to create an equitable and sustainable food community in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

Job description Overview:
Creating composting has always been the foundation of our natural growing practices.  This past year, Truly Living Well (with support of its partners!) has developed a Community Composting Lab at its Collegetown Farm site in Atlanta's Westside. The farm-to-food-to-compost demonstration project is one of the first in the city and is designed to create a food recovery process that specifically engages communities. Our goal is to make composting the norm.

The Chief Composter (CC) will be responsible for managing  a  well-run community composting system and  helping to create interest, understanding and buy-in to the benefits and process of good composting.

The CC will be responsible for training adults and children, and training the trainer in composting best practices (on our farm and at other locations). The CC will  conduct tours, volunteer experiences and other activities to engage the general public.

As a new project, it's important that the CC documents impact and observations of community engagement. The CC will work with our community and project partners to maintain a productive, high quality composting operation. 

Responsibilities:

• Oversee composting operations at TLW’s Collegetown Farm. This includes: building and turning windrows, processing and sifting compost, collection and storing natural waste, and maintaining a high level of site cleanliness.
• Demonstrate commitment to best practices in urban composting operations to produce high-quality finished material for TLW farming operations, and sale to urban growers and community gardeners.
• Facilitate the maintenance of shared tools and equipment, and communicating all needs with the Farm Operations Manager.
• Create and improve processing systems, test piles at various stages of decomposition, and make adjustments based on observation, monitoring, and ease of processing.
• Ensure adequate supply of brown material on site to maintain steady throughput.
• Conduct training at Collegetown Farm and off site at other locations.
• Lead tours and engage stakeholders at Collegetown Farm.
• Lead and engage volunteers for composting and farm operations.
• Model and educate best practices.
• Oversee compost distribution program, maintaining accurate records.
• Manage food scrap drop-off processes (community and contract services) and engage new sources (businesses, schools, churches, housing complexes, individuals) as operation grows.
• Provide required data for monthly reports about organics processing, tours, volunteer engagement, and compost distribution.
• Participate in other urban farming activities.

Qualifications:

• Familiarity of commercial composting best practices. Experience in managing a compost site a plus.
• Experience in natural and organic farming.
• An ecological sense, knowledge of dynamic interplay between food system, farming, natural environments, society and individuals.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate the public about environmental stewardship, alone and in a team, and in a variety of settings.
• Ability to work with and engage diverse communities including children and senior adults.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license.
• Possession and maintenance of a working phone to receive calls, texts, and documents.
• Ability to drive a box truck, skid steer and/or tractor.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and to perform repetitive physically strenuous tasks.
• Solid work ethic with a sense of focus and urgency in goal achievement, no time wasted.
• Enthusiasm to work outdoors in all seasons and on weekends/evenings as needed.
• Commitment to observing high standards for environmental stewardship, even when such standards require detailed menial work like sweeping and picking up litter.
• Demonstrated interest/skill in accepting feedback and improving performance, learning and applying operational standards of working productively with colleagues/volunteers, and getting the job done well.
• Must pass a required background check.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (ideally, in a related field).
• Experience with computer applications (Excel, MS Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs).
• Demonstrated experience in supervision and/or training of others.
• Minimum one year of related work experience.

Compensation this position is : salaried Application instructions DeadlineMarch 30, 2020