Company description

Thimbleberry Collaborative Farm (TCF) is a nonprofit educational farm located in Boring, OR (about 40 min outside of Portland). Our mission is to advance individual, community, and environmental health in East Multnomah County by providing locally grown produce; access to land; education programs; and community-led events. TCF's education programs, including field trips and workshops, focus on growing and cooking with seasonal produce, as well as on the social, environmental, and health impacts of our food system, and what we can do to improve them. We donate our produce to local food pantries and partner with another nonprofit to provide healthy meals for low-income patients at a local medical clinic.

Job description

The Education Programs Manager is responsible for planning, preparing for, and hosting workshops, field trips, and education booths at various events. The position involves developing, as well as evaluating the impact of, lessons and meal plans that support a broad curriculum based in environmental awareness, nutrition, agriculture, and food justice. Curriculum at TCF is tailored to the needs and interests of the communities we serve, where educational content can be made accessible to all ages, as well as being fun and experience-based. The position involves developing and maintaining a learning garden, where we use organic and regenerative growing methods including low/ no-till farming, drip irrigation, composting, and integrated pest management. As a small, young organization, everyone helps each other whenever possible. Therefore, the Education Programs Manager will have opportunities to assist the Farm Operations Manager, Development Manager, and others on staff with their respective projects.

Responsibilities:

• Plan, prepare for, and host educational activities (workshops, field trips, educational booths at various Thimbleberry and community events)
  • Planning and prep will involve developing and testing lesson plans, acquiring materials, preparing for potential safety concerns, etc.
  • Hosting will involve being the primary person running planned activities related to growing, cooking, and food systems education; entertaining people of all ages when there is “down time” with games and conversation; helping to keep groups of up to 40 people safe and engaged at the farm
• Evaluate educational activities and improve them on an ongoing basis
• Design, create, and maintain, the learning garden and outdoor classroom space, including a kitchen area
• Coordinate with potential workshop partners and teachers interested in field trips
• Attend weekly all-team meetings
  Collaborate with the Farm Operations Manager to plan when and how the garden will be used for educational programs
• Collaborate with the Development Manager to provide information relevant for grant applications and with the marketing/ communications committee to provide pictures/ quotes/ videos/ etc.
• Help with farm operations as needed; may be up to 15% of the time for this position

• Care for chickens and other farm animals
• Recruit, hire, and manage education interns

• Help to coordinate volunteers on volunteer days
• Prioritize accessibility and equity when planning all educational programs
• Work closely with the Executive Director to plan programs, manage expenses, and manage liabilities (this will involve acquiring necessary permits and insurance, writing and distributing waivers, etc.)
• Perform other tasks for TCF as needed

Qualifications:

• Strong work ethic
• Friendly, enjoys working with people of all ages and abilities
• Experience with farm- or garden-based education would be ideal
  • Must have some experience with farming or gardening AND must have some experience with teaching youth, especially middle and high schoolers
• Experience with managing teams and/or individuals
• Attention to detail and good organizational skills
• Good teamwork skills
• Able to take initiative and self-direct
• Interested in and committed to:
  • Advancing all forms of social justice, especially food justice (improving our food system so that everyone has access to healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate food regardless of economic status, race, religion, etc.)
  • Responsible environmental stewardship
  • Working with a diverse team to serve a multicultural community
• Capable of lifting and carrying at least 50 lbs
• Able to use basic tools such as a shovel and wheelbarrow
• Prepared to work in a variety of weather conditions
• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States
• CPR, First Aid, and or food handler’s certifications would be ideal
  • These can be completed once hired, if needed

Opportunities Associated With this Job:

• Work with a small team of passionate nonprofit professionals
• Work in a fun, energetic start-up environment
• Meet other local players in the local food movement by attending meetings, trainings, and other networking events
• Leave the desk and computer behind and work with your hands in a beautiful, rural environment!
• Live near Portland, OR, an exciting city with one of the very best food scenes and access to endless outdoor activities

Time Requirements: 40 hrs per week

Work Model: Hybrid

Pay Details: This is a full time, salaried, exempt position that earns $50,000/ yr. TCF covers 90% of health, dental, and vision insurance costs; and covers 100% of basic life and AD&D insurance costs. Generous PTO policy, including a 4-week paid winter break plus 15 days of PTO to use throughout the rest of the year.

Thimbleberry Collaborative Farm (TCF) strives to use a community-participatory approach in order to ensure historically marginalized community members are centered in our work. TCF is dedicated to sustainable measures to ensure equity is holistically built into our work. TCF acknowledges the historical harm done in our food systems, primarily to Black and Indigenous communities, people of color, LGBTQ+ community members, and those living with disabilities, as well as to future generations and the ecosystems on which we all depend. TCF is committed to being equitable, diverse, inclusive and justice-oriented in growing our organization, through engagement with stakeholders, local organizations and community members, as well as through recruitment and retention of staff and board members.

TCF does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity).

Compensation

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

Application instructions

Deadline

June 08, 2024