Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (“Snug Harbor”) offers dynamic programming in the arts, horticulture, agriculture, education and recreation for diverse cultures and all ages, on a historic, welcoming campus that is a unique oasis in New York City.  We envision being a nationally visible yet locally impactful cultural organization beloved by all who visit.  We value artistic vibrancy, stewardship, conservation, inclusion, community, communication and discovery.  Located less than 1.5 miles from the Staten Island Ferry and easily accessible by public transportation, Snug Harbor welcomes nearly 500,000 visitors each year to explore our gardens, grounds and galleries.  Our 83-acre campus features 26 architecturally significant buildings and 14 distinctive gardens, including a traditional Chinese garden and a Tuscan garden.  A vibrant cultural hub, Snug Harbor is also home to several non-profit institutions, artists’ studios and small businesses.  Founded in the 19th century as a charitable rest home for sailors, today Snug Harbor is a growing, must-see destination.

The Position:

The Heritage Farm Market Coordinator helps grow and maintain our 2.5-acre production farm with fellow farmers, volunteers, and local workforce development programs.   As one of the largest urban farms in NYC, Heritage Farm grows over 100 varieties of crops for our 20-week CSA, as well as on-site farm stands and institutional clients. 

Snug Harbor is looking for a Part-Time Seasonal Farm Market Coordinator to join us from April to December, focused on our day-to-day CSA handling and distribution operations, weekly farm stands, and wholesale deliveries.  This position will involve daily front-facing interaction with our customers. This is a sales position and requires someone who is enthusiastic about local produce and cooking and committed to meaningful customer engagement. A positive customer service approach is required.  This job requires attention to detail while juggling multiple tasks and excellent record-keeping skills.

This is a highly physical role. Team Members will be standing, bending, crouching, pulling, pushing, and using basic hand tools in all weather conditions (including rain and extreme heat), all while maintaining a fast and efficient pace. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Anyone who is enthusiastic to learn, has a strong work ethic and interested in working on a small team in sustainable small-scale agriculture should apply.

This position reports to the Manager, Heritage Farm as part of the Community Impact Team.

Responsibilities:

Farming and Land Management

• Perform various farm labor tasks with a constant improvement mindset
• Transplant, thin, propagate, direct seed, cultivate, trellis, prune, weed, harvest, and wash produce, track production in coordination with Manager
• Support processing and usage of compost as it pertains to building healthy soils community-wide, including organics collection and compost processing
• Perform landscaping tasks such as weed-whacking, mowing, mulching, pruning, and other site management tasks as needed
• Perform snow removal, with expectations of availability during inclement weather

Community-Supported Agriculture and Farm Stands

• Collaborate with the Farm Manager to set up and break down CSA distribution events and farm stands
• Accept cash, credit card, and SNAP payments and maintain accurate harvest, market, and sales records
• Maintain a sales-oriented mindset while creating an attractive and engaging market experience
• Communicate the vision and goals of Snug Harbor professionally with the general public and act as a front-facing member of the Heritage Farm team with enthusiasm and a positive attitude
• Deliver wholesale orders and produce donations to local partners
• Support the creation of a weekly Farm newsletter with oversight from the Education Department and the Marketing and Communications Manager

Community Impact Team Support

• Drive company vehicles offsite to make purchases and deliveries, as well as support programming initiatives, local partners, and site operations
• Coordinate with Community Impact team members to provide weekly checks on all Community Impact Team vehicles, including the bobcat. Checks consist of fuel levels, warning lights, tire pressure, fluid levels, registration and inspection expiry dates, mileage, insurance, running hours, and other issues associated with vehicle care
• Support the Community Impact team in updating and improving the Farm Training Manual, which includes standard operating procedures, policies, and references.
• Support in completing administrative tasks, including daily and weekly agendas, work orders, purchase orders, inventories, and crop plan updates.

Qualifications:

• Experience working outdoors with physically demanding work for extended periods of time in all weather conditions (including rain and extreme heat) while maintaining a fast and efficient pace
• Experience working at a farmer’s market or in retail is highly preferred
• Able to communicate the values and ideas of Snug Harbor to a diverse customer base
• An enterprising attitude with a constant improvement mindset for teamwork and customer experience
• Proven record-keeping and money-handling skills and strong attention to detail
• Able to lift 50 lbs regularly and be able to stand, squat, kneel, bend, and crouch for extended periods of time in all weather conditions
• Interest in actively engaging community members in small-scale production agriculture and the techniques used in organic, low-till farming and teaching others the importance of this type of work
• Able to manage multiple tasks at once while managing time effectively
• Able to learn new tasks quickly and execute them immediately, including the use of hand and power tools
• Able to follow and uphold all safety protocols
• Exemplary communication skills and workplace professionalism, including appropriate work attire, positive attitude, timeliness, and adaptability
• Enthusiasm and commitment to being an active and flexible member of a small team
• A valid driver’s license is required
• Food handling certification preferred
• English facility required; Spanish facility preferred

Salary and Schedule:

The salary is $16.00 per hour. This is a part-time position, generally working a 25-hour work week with a 1-hour unpaid lunch. Typical hours are 8:30 am-4:30 pm, depending on weather and business needs.  Market positions are required to work adjusted schedules on CSA distribution days (Thursday) and Saturdays from May to mid-October for our weekly market.  Weekend and holiday work will be required for this position.