Company description

Wasatch Community Gardens (WCG) is a community-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food. Since 1989, we have provided children, adults, and families in Salt Lake County with access to land and education for growing and eating fresh produce, while building and nurturing community connections through gardening and healthy food. We accomplish this through six main programs: Advocacy & Justice, Community Gardens, Education, Job Training, Youth and School Gardens, and Volunteers.

Job description

Program Department Support: 40%

Team Management

Supervise a team of Program Directors
Model positive leadership with respect for others and a commitment to ethics, READI (Race, Equity, Access, Diversity, Inclusion)
Collaborate and optimize resources amongst program teams and the organization
Establish clear expectations, support strong performance, and foster a culture of accountability toward goals, collaboration and adherence to organizational standards
Take on tasks to fill staffing gaps when required
Encourage professional development and growth among program staff
Ensure program staff compliance with the law and organizational policy/process

Program Operations & Development

Oversee program leadership in maintaining, adapting, redesigning, and discontinuing program offerings based on staff sustainability, budget/funding considerations, READI alignment, and community demand
Identify opportunities to strengthen program sustainability, cost recovery, and earned-income generation while maintaining program quality and impact
Budgeting
Develop, follow, and review annual program budgets
Process and approve program staff expenses, reimbursement requests
Evaluate and approve program staff’s requests for professional development funding/support
Strategic Planning
Work with organization leadership, and program staff to update the organization’s 3-5 year strategic plan, monitor achievement of the plan’s objectives, and implement necessary corrections to achieve those goals
Assist programs in administering, managing, and collecting program impact surveys and data to track and analyze against goals
Track growth opportunities for programs, prioritizing neighborhoods with limited or no access to fresh, healthy food, and work with directors on feasibility of implementation
Internal Collaboration
Foster and exemplify the organizational attitude toward responsibility of cultivation of supporters, participants, programming, sites, and infrastructure.
Agricultural Operations (AgOps) Department
Ensure program staff collaborate with AgOps Managers and other staff to match program produce needs with production capacity
Ensure program staff collaborate with AgOps Managers to design sites, maintain infrastructure, and manage safe spaces for programming
External Relations Department
Ensure consistent program messaging and branding, and provide content for collateral
Coordinate and plan program involvement in organization events and outreach opportunities
Ensure program staff coordinate with External Relations team in managing technology platforms, which support data management, online offerings, and online registration
Collaborate with Grants team to identify funding opportunities, craft messaging to fit requirements, contribute to application and reporting processes on behalf of program staff, and ensure record-keeping to support reporting
External Collaboration
Field requests for programming support/partnership by receiving submissions, coordinating and attending initial meetings, matching requests to appropriate staff, and gather information to allow staff to make informed decisions around opportunities
Coordinate and/or attend meetings with partners, community stakeholders, neighborhood representatives, and other stakeholders engaged with WCG programming
Participate in and/or present at community gatherings, conferences, and other events related to WCG’s mission, values, and programming

Department Leadership: 20%
Advocate on behalf of program staff in leadership spaces
Lead planning retreats and budgeting process for the Program Department
Work with the Executive Director to adapt programming to changing community needs and budgetary environments
Coordinate with WCG’s other Department Directors to support collaboration and communication
Maintain and refine core administrative processes including: internal/external program reporting, strategic planning and follow-through, relationship matrices, adherence to READI principles
Establish and reinforce best practices for documentation, folder structures, and CiviCRM use
Participate in organization policy/process creation and accountability

Personnel Management: 30%

Lead recruitment, hiring, and dismissal processes for program director roles
Support Program Directors in recruitment and hiring processes
Lead and support programs in navigating interpersonal conflict amongst staff, partners, participants, and/or other stakeholders
Partner with leadership team on annual review processes; support staff in managing time, schedules, and timesheet compliance

Additional Responsibilities: 10%

Attend and participate in staff meetings, workdays, and trainings
Occasional public speaking surrounding programs in internal and external settings
Participate in and lead/support staff/board committees

Qualifications:

Required:

Bachelor’s degree in any field; prefer candidates with a graduate degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business & Communications, or related field
Minimum three years in a team leadership role, preferably supervising a team of 4+ direct reports
Minimum three years of nonprofit program management and development
An understanding of, and commitment to, equity and applied experience in infusing equity within organizations, including a strong racial equity analysis and an understanding of how racism and agriculture intersect
Experience in facilitating group processes and group dynamics, with an ability to mediate, manage conflict, and negotiate with partners
Superb interpersonal skills, with a history of forging strong relationships with multiple stakeholders
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Experience creating, negotiating, and working within a budget
Commitment to learning about/practicing anti-racism, inclusion, and equity in food justice
Positive and flexible attitude, ability to solve problems creatively, willingness to ask for help

Preferred:

Master’s degree or equivalent experience
Understanding of how to break large goals into smaller pieces, with demonstrated success managing teams to success
Valid drivers’ license required to use our company vehicles, if needed
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Gmail and Google, Canva, and Asana,
Experience following food safety protocols or willingness to learn

Compensation

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

Application instructions

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Deadline

October 15, 2026