Company description

Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts (RTWM) works to alleviate hunger and reduce food waste while equipping communities with tools to cultivate food security from the ground up.

We operate four core programs—Rescue, Purchase, Gleaning, and Growing Gardens—that address immediate hunger needs while targeting systemic inequities and gaps in access. Together, our programs help over 96,000 individuals per month access fresh, nutritious food.

Our operations are powered by over 350 volunteers annually, including youth leaders, elders, immigrant families, and people with lived experience of food insecurity. We form lasting partnerships with 70+ agencies, informal distribution networks, and grassroots groups. Our staff collaborates regularly with state food policy councils, regional advocacy networks, and national peer organizations to exchange strategies and scale impact.

Our work is informed by Jewish and intercultural values of land stewardship, collective responsibility, and the moral imperative to nourish others. We are deeply grounded in the local community landscape, adapting our programs responsively and collaboratively. We believe in building relationships and in cultivating a food system where everyone has a voice and a choice in what they eat and feed their families.

Job description

GROWING GARDENS COORDINATOR (GGC)
Structure: Part Time (Hourly, 12-14 hrs/week) - employee or contractor possible
Location: Hybrid (remote + events/site visits in Franklin, Hampshire & Hampden Counties)
Pay range: $24-$25/hr
Reports to: Director of Intercultural Learning & Land-Based Programs

Note: We are also hiring for a part-time Youth & Young Adult Engagement Coordinator and Visual Design, Marketing & Communications Coordinator. You are welcome to apply for more than one position. We will be glad to consider a combined position for the right person. Please view here.

JOB OVERVIEW
RTWM’s Growing Gardens (GG) program supports diverse agencies in building and maintaining on-site gardens in which they grow culturally affirming food, flowers, and community with their constituents. We are in the process of evaluating impact and refining future trajectories of the program. The GGC plays a pivotal role in cultivating a vibrant, well-supported network of agency gardeners. They coordinate program logistics, ensure successful implementation of seasonal events and workshops, and support community partners in sustaining and strengthening their gardens. The GGC brings event planning and facilitation experience and is ready to lead on-the-ground operations while learning the program’s specific vision and approach. They steward volunteer engagement and ensure that GG programming reflects and supports our community partners' strengths, needs, and cultures.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Coordination & Partner Support

• Maintain strong, supportive relationships with up to 10 garden sites in Hampden, Hampshire, and/or Franklin Counties through regular visits and consistent communication;
• Offer garden partners technical support, facilitation, and resources tailored to specific goals and needs;
• Track and document each site’s development, successes, and challenges;
• Collaborate with supervisor to design and implement seasonal plans, sustainability strategies, and shared learning opportunities across sites;
• Collaborate with supervisor to select and onboard new agencies if/when appropriate.

Event Planning & Facilitation

• Take the lead in planning and executing GG workshops and events, including managing logistics, materials, outreach, and site coordination;
• Coordinate interpretation, translation, and other access needs for multilingual and multigenerational audiences;
• Schedule and facilitate monthly virtual "lunch chat" gatherings for garden staff and volunteers.

Volunteer & Administrative Support

• Work with the RTWM volunteer coordinator to steward strong volunteer engagement through outreach, onboarding, and consistent communication and support;
• Develop and/or adapt digital and print educational materials;
• Maintain accurate documentation of site-level expenses, in-kind contributions, and volunteer hours;
• Keep contact lists up to date and accessible;
• Contribute to strategy discussions and research to strengthen/refine future program direction.
  
  QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Embodies a commitment to the mission and values of Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts;
• 2+ years experience in event coordination, community organizing, program implementation, or similar;
• Experience with or knowledge of food equity, urban gardening, and/or land-based education;
• Skilled facilitator who can create inclusive, energizing environments for diverse groups;
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time-management skills;
• Basic to intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 or ability to quickly learn.

Preferred:

• Working knowledge of food security and/or human service agencies in Western Mass;
• Technical knowledge in two or more of the following areas: irrigation at different scales, crop planning, crop health, integrative pest management, soil health, food production infrastructure;
• Spanish language fluency and/or fluency in other languages spoken by local communities;
• Familiarity with Canva and one or more social media platforms.
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT & LOGISTICS

• Occasional attendance at in-person staff meetings at the Springfield JCC or retreats at varying locations;
• Virtual or in-person attendance at weekly check-in meetings with supervisor;
• Attendance at Growing Gardens workshops and events in Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties;
• Most partner sites operate within regular business days/hours (M-F 9am-5pm), so site visits, meetings, and events must occur during these hours. Otherwise, precise working hours are flexible, and work that does not pertain to a specific garden site or event can be done remotely.

Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Statistics show that women, People of Color, and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications; we invite you to break that statistic.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

August 01, 2025