Company description

Teens for Food Justice strives to eradicate food insecurity through youth-led, community based solutions that can end the cycle of diet-related disease and poor health outcomes dramatically impacting low income communities, particularly those of color. We build high capacity hydroponic farms, capable of growing thousands of pounds of fresh healthy produce at Title I schools in New York City's food desert communities that is served every day in the schools' cafeterias and distributed free and affordably to the nearby residents. Students run these farms as part of their STEM education and workforce development training for a new green economy that can build a sustainable food system for all. Through both curricular day and after school programming, our students are also empowered as health/nutrition ambassadors and food justice advocates who can lead themselves and others to healthier futures.

Job description

Work with us and make a meaningful difference in the lives of food insecure youth and their families throughout New York City and beyond through school-based, youth-led hydroponic farming. Join a motivated and mission-driven team and organization to build local capacity for growing healthy food and effective advocacy for a just, sustainable food system.

As Farm Operations Manager, you will be responsible for the direction, management, and oversight of five high capacity, school-based NYC hydroponic farms, growing up to 35,000 pounds of fresh produce annually as well as new farms and program scheduled to come online in NYC, Denver, Miami and beyond. This will include training and oversight of Farmer-Educators who manage the farms and the student experience within the farms at each school campus.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Hydroponics Farmer-Educators in all areas.
• Helping the Hydroponics Farmer-Educators improve and implement farm Standard Operating Procedures
• Collecting basic data on crops and farm systems
• Plant propagation, cultivation and harvest
• Supervision of cleaning and maintenance

Desired experience and skills

• Experience in a commercial hydroponic, indoor farming operation (5,000 sf+)
• Experience with developing and managing a Food Safety Program
• Studies or degree in horticulture, agriculture or related field. Can be supplemented with experience.
• Understanding of instrumentation, data collection, basic process automation, and control systems
• Confidence in troubleshooting
• Experience in maintaining food safety, risk management, and hazard action plan protocols and standards

Specific Knowledge:

Knowledge of plant cultivation methods, propagation methods and disease identification and control are desired. Experience specifically with leafy greens, specialty crops and microgreens in a controlled environment is a plus.

Character Traits:

Self-starting problem solver, hard-working, detail oriented, and exceptionally organized with a passion for agriculture, healthy lifestyles, and technology. We are looking for a candidate who is a good communicator and has the ability to creatively get the job done with minimal oversight. You must be comfortable working with youth and interested in promoting knowledge of alternative urban Ag to students.

Industry Contacts:

All retail, wholesale, and foodservice customer contacts welcome. Relationships with hydroponic equipment suppliers, packaging suppliers, and/or distributors is a bonus.

Technical Skills:

Knowledge of growing, harvest, and post-harvest techniques for vegetable & fruit crops. Able to guide multiple farm managers in the production of leafy greens and vine crops grown in hydroponic indoor systems.

Required Skills and Experience:

• 2+ years of growing experience, preferably in a greenhouse or CEA environment
• Able to perform basic manual labor including occasional lifting of up to 50lbs
• You must be comfortable working with youth and interested in promoting knowledge of alternative urban Ag to students.
• A team player and desirous of working in a highly collaborative environment
• Good communication skills

Ideal Skills and Experience:

• 2+ years in CEA
• Studies in horticulture, agriculture, molecular biology, plant science (or related)
• Experience with inventory management systems, procurement, and logistics
• Understanding of instrumentation and data collection
• Knowledge of basic process automation and control systems
• Confidence in troubleshooting and problem solving complex systems

What does a person taking this position need to do in the first 3-6 months in order to be considered successful?

1. Ensuring compliance with TFFJ's growing protocol across all locations
2. Improving protocol where needed
3. Ensure Farm efficiency tracking method is in place and being measured an analyzed
4. Improving tracking methods where needed
5. Addressing pest outbreaks and farm issues and ensuring best practices are maintained at all sites to keep those at a mini
6. Able to manage all aspects of the operation in the absence of a Farm Manager
7. Recommendations for additional tools for farmers and managers to use have been communicated and some implemented.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000

Application instructions

Deadline

June 25, 2021

Attachment

click here to download the attached document.