Company description

NYRP improves, maintains, and programs open spaces in communities lacking adequate resources. Working on public and private land citywide, NYRP’s flexible approach to land management serves as a model for non-profit municipal engagement. Together with partners in city agencies, non-profit organizations, and local communities, NYRP demonstrates the social and environmental value of building ownership over open spaces.

Since 1995, NYRP has stewarded 80 acres of city parkland and operated 52 community gardens, with more than 20,000 square feet of food production space, throughout the five boroughs. Over the last 10 years, NYRP has expanded this work, leveraging its experience and expertise in order to help community-based organizations (schools, non-profits, urban farms, etc.) build and renovate garden spaces through its Gardens for The City (GFTC) program. Currently, GFTC works on approximately 20 partner gardens each year, the majority of which are urban ag-focused.

Job description

Salary: $24.00/hr

Start Date: July 19, 2022

End Date: November 19, 2022

Schedule: Tues-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat, 8am-4pm (some evenings and the very occasional Sunday required)

Reporting Location: Northern Manhattan Sherman Creek Center Field Office (3725 10th Ave., New York, NY 10034)

Classification: Seasonal, Full Time, Non-Exempt


In 2021, NYRP launched a new Urban Agriculture program to support the range of urban growers (community gardeners, teachers, urban farmers, etc.) in its broad network. NYRP is seeking a Seasonal Urban Agriculture Coordinator, reporting to the Urban Agriculture Manager, to operate as boots on the ground for the program in 2022. This is a dynamic position; the Coordinator will serve as an educator, a researcher and problem solver, and as a builder and garden maintainer. They will function as a primary point-of-contact and service provider for GFTC partners, helping to implement a support strategy for each GFTC site that builds on a partners’ specific needs and opportunities. They will also help facilitate a publicworkshop series, organize materials distribution campaigns (i.e. Cover Crop Campaign) and lead a variety of training sessions. The position offers a unique chance to get to know NYC’s urban agriculture and food justice movements, while empowering communities across the five boroughs.

To be successful in this role, a candidate must have strong communication skills, some background in education or public speaking, and familiarity with gardening / farming. The work is relationship-centered and hands-on, so the Coordinator should be eager to get their hands dirty and to build meaningful connections to constituents. The dispersed nature of the program means that the Coordinator will often work independently, balancing multiple projects at once. Candidates need to be skilled time managers and excited about the chance to spread themselves across growing spaces and throughout the five boroughs. The Coordinator will often be called on to run programming that requires bringing materials and supplies to various garden sites using NYRP vehicles (including larger vehicles like pickup trucks and cargo vans), so a valid and clean driver’s license is an absolute must.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide guidance and hands-on support for a range of urban agriculture topics, including garden planning, planting, basic garden maintenance (weeding, watering, etc.), production infrastructure, pest/disease management, season extension, soil health, and more.

• Assist with the delivery of gardening materials and supplies to GFTC partners and NYRP gardeners across the city
• Develop and implement trainings and workshops for audiences large and small
• Maintain excellent communication with the Urban Agriculture Manager, GFTC partners, and other program constituents
• Update our proprietary database system and other record-keeping systems regularly
• Help to steward a very small number of demonstration and experimentation beds in NYRP gardens

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Prior experience working in food justice, community gardening, agriculture, and/or horticulture
• Background in education, especially environmental or experiential education, and/or group facilitation and public speaking
• Direct experience with underrepresented BIPOC communities (personal, lived experience or professional, work experience)

• A valid and Clean NY state driver’s license (mandatory)
• Able to lift 40 lbs; embraces the physical nature of this work
• Willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Excellent communication skills (bilingual English/Spanish preferred)
• Flexible team player, capable of both working independently and collaborating with colleagues

• Organized, enthusiastic, and a resourceful problem-solver who is eager to learn
• COVID vaccination is required to be considered for the position

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline