Company description

Food Well Alliance (FWA) is a collaborative network of local leaders working together to build equitable and thriving community gardens, urban farms, and orchards across metro Atlanta. FWA’s mission is to provide resources and support to local growers to connect and build healthier communities. Our vision is an Atlanta that is locally grown and community connected.

FWA was founded in 2015 when Jim Kennedy, chair of Cox Enterprises, and Bill Bolling, founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, had an idea to build healthier communities across metro Atlanta by connecting and supporting members of our local food movement. Today, we support more than 300 gardens, farms and orchards in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties. We accomplish our work through two primary program areas:

•  Resource Center - We provide metro area farmers, gardeners and orchard stewards with essentials for success: tools, training, mechanical assistance, labor teams, tractor support, compost, seeds, seedlings, saplings, grants, and more.
• Policy & Planning - We bring local government leaders together with residents and community leaders to develop plans that bring urban agriculture into city planning processes in partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Job description

POSITION OVERVIEW

Compost Connectors is an innovative grant funded program created by Atlanta nonprofit Food Well Alliance (FWA) that provides K-12 students the opportunity to learn about composting practices with connections to the Georgia Standards for Excellence (GSE). This is with the goal to use compost as the connector to engage students and teachers in urban agriculture.

FWA is seeking a Compost Educator to lead the Compost Connectors agricultural after-school program at Booker T. Washington High School. They will report directly to the Urban Agriculture Project Manager and work with the Resource Center team to deliver the goals of this program.

The ideal candidate is someone passionate about agriculture and composting and has experience leading, chaperoning, and teaching high school students. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Successfully manage and track workflows and activities of up to 15 Compost Connector students while on site at BTW and on field trips during the school year
• Ensure that the students are following the Compost Connectors Code of Conduct
• Chaperone and lead the students on field trips to local farms, colleges, or agriculture related career experiences, which occasionally may be on weekends
• Using the curriculum resources provided by FWA, work with the Urban Agriculture Project Manager to develop a curriculum for the after-school program that connects to the GSE
• Using the developed curriculum, lead the students in activities such as composting, planting, building garden infrastructure, weeding, developing planting plans, cooking, preparing and preserving food, creating value added products, etc.
• Develop skills in the students on how to create compost, understand its benefits, and understand how it affects the food system.
• Teach and expose the students to different agriculture related careers that are available through both college and trade paths
• Develop leadership and green industry related skills in the students through curriculum-based activities
• Empower students to make a difference in their local food system
• With guidance from the Urban Agriculture Project Manager, collect and document data to track qualitative and quantitative information that will be used in reports to donors
• Maintain the garden space at BTW which includes watering crops, weeding, plantings, etc.
• Communicate program progress and status to FWA and school leadership
• Act as an ambassador to the students, staff, and faculty of BTW

REQUIREMENTS

• 1-2 years experience as a teacher or educator (high school preferred)
• Familiarity with agriculture and composting
• Availability for 2025-2026 school year; beginning in July 2025
• Ability to work 12 hours per week, 3 days Monday-Friday with occasional weekends
• Experience developing and following curriculum
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors, as assigned
• Appropriate dress which includes business casual in the office and at events and protective and weather-appropriate clothes at grower sites
• Reliable transportation to work (Because our business is located in an area without access to reliable public transportation, we only recommend that applicants with access to a vehicle apply.)
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to pass a background check
• Access to a laptop is preferred but we can accommodate if needed

COMPENSATION

Compensation for this position is $25/hour paid monthly and includes a mileage reimbursement option for off-site activities.

DIVERSE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY 

Food Well Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. We are a community that is proud to represent different racial, socio-economic, gender, and other identities. Our diversity as a community is our strength, driving our ability to be empathetic, visionary, and effective leaders in the local food movement and our city.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

May 02, 2025