Company description
Concrete Safaris is a model for social change in which children learn how to alter the physical world around them by navigating New York City's infrastructure, becoming confident, experienced, effective leaders at an early age, committed to their health and environment. Since 2008, Concrete Safaris has provided youth with the experiential education to become healthy leaders and environmental advocates for themselves and their communities.
Job description
This high-energy position is for someone who loves getting children and youth outdoors to design gardens and grow food, lead garden-based lessons, and/or perform other outdoor play activities at a high level while leading children and youth. The individual interacts well with children, youth, families, and community agencies, has experience organizing garden events, and possesses superior behavior management skills. The individual will develop, plan, coordinate and administer fun, educational, youth-centered garden events, directly oversee staff, and hire and train interns and volunteers.
CS operates gardens across 9-acres of NYC Housing Authority property in two public housing developments. You will be responsible for ensuring that these gardens are thriving and well-utilized, and that participants are maximizing learning and volunteerism in a safe, fun environment.
This position will involve 17.5 hours per week working with 50 after school students in the 2nd - 5th grades to provide education in organic urban agriculture, ecology, and botany and to develop active living events to improve their community's health. Lead a team of interns in various cycles throughout the year whom you will teach to lead garden workshops and conduct garden maintenance activities contributing to increased production. Track core competencies, complete program evaluations, and report results. Lead brainstorming sessions with the students to design gardens for families in East Harlem. Plan and lead field trips. Work with team to develop long-term growth strategy. Help raise funds to make plans a reality.
The full-time garden program coordinator will help establish and then predominantly work in soon-to-be-started year-round programs for 14-24-year-olds who may have non-violent, non-sexual criminal histories. Throughout the year, interview, train, lead, manage, and track progress of interns in cohorts of approximately 12 youth –with up to 24 youth per 10 – 34-week cycle. Train youth to lead garden programming. Sustain gardens. Work with the community to beautify spaces and distribute produce.
During the school year, develop and deliver garden programming for and teach interns to lead CS' field trip program called Green Exercise Days serving 2nd - 5th graders in NYC School District 4, East Harlem, approximately 4,000 children. Lead group teambuilding games during these events with 50 - 500 children and adults. Create and/or improve 4 seasonal lessons incorporating grade-appropriate standards from NYC Science Scope and Sequence and NYC Common Core. Lead garden maintenance activities contributing to the production of 3-4 tons of vegetables, herbs, and fruit.
Maintain garden tools and gear. Track inventory.
Develop budgets. Recruit and manage assistants, interns, and volunteers. Submit bi-monthly payroll reports for all interns in your program area. Contribute to weekly social media updates of students' work via video and pictures. Compile reports and evaluations on garden, youth, and event outcomes. Write quarterly success reports.
Work with parents to develop initiatives that increase parent involvement in gardening, setup related equipment for events, activities and programs as needed, attend and participate in staff meetings and related activities, and participate in outside committees as assigned. Perform other responsibilities as required.
Education/Experience: a) Bachelor's in Environmental Science, Hort, or related field AND b) Four years experience or more in a related field including administrative procedures.
Training: CPR for professional rescuer, or ability to obtain within the first month of hire. First Aid Cert., or ability to obtain within the first month of hire.
Must pass pre-employment background check, and have ability to work unsupervised in presence of participants.
Knowledge of: Garden and recreation programming including child and youth activities and development, special events, exercise, leadership, event planning, and fundraising. Principles and practices of supervision, training, and performance management. Knowledge and ability to apply rules and monitor program compliance with related laws and regulations. Knowledge of child/youth development principles and practices.
Work with people from all walks of life. Plan, organize and implement fun, outdoor, garden-based social action programs and special events with a team. Teach botany, horticulture and landscape design, and vocational training. Work under stressful situations; stay calm; and have excellent problem solving skills. Participate in active recreation activities. Use mathematical reasoning. Provide administrative and professional leadership and direction for program personnel. Deal courteously and effectively with the public. Prepare program budget and reports. Maintain records. Maintain effective relationships with professionals, subordinate employees, organizations, volunteers, and general public. Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
Skills: Operate modern office equipment and current technology and applications, such as Microsoft Office computer applications, Excel, Word.
Physical: Ability to conduct activities involving walking, standing, and general movement 75% of the time and sitting 25% of the time. Please note: special event days may require 10+ hours on your feet. Ability to lift and carry burdens weighing up to 50 lbs. Ability to grasp and manipulate office equipment as well as tools, equipment and materials used in the maintenance of garden facilities. Ability to use a computer for extended periods of time. Maintain a current annual health screening.
Salary: $40,000 + benefits.
Starts OCTOBER 2016.
Required experience: youth development, re-entry population, gardening: 4 years or more.
Required education: Bachelor's
Spanish a plus.
Compensation
this position is: salaried, less than $50,000
Application instructions
This job expired on November 21, 2016
Deadline
no deadline