We’re seeking an engaging, community-minded leader to join our small but mighty Urban Agriculture team at Cultivating Community!
Community Garden Engagement Coordinator
Position Type: Part-time, hourly, 20 hours per week
Supervisor: Director of Urban Agriculture
Compensation and Benefits: $23 per hour starting wage plus benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance. Employees receive paid time off and 9 paid holidays of their choice every year. Cultivating Community closes it’s office for one week in December and staff are paid during this closure.
Location: Cultivating Community office, 58 Boyd St; community garden locations, various in Portland
To Apply: Please send a resume, cover letter, and any questions to info@cultivatingcommunity.org by April 15th, 2024
Specific Responsibilities Include:
Community Garden Coordination
- Collaboratively assist Urban Ag. program staff in managing and maintaining Portland’s community gardens
- Support communications, physical projects, repairs, and respond to needs and requests relating to community gardens
- Participate in weekly Urban Ag. team meetings
- Assist with the overall garden registration and orientation process, surveys, fall checkout, and garden program events
Volunteer Coordination
- Coordinate with program managers, the Executive Director, and the Director of Urban Ag. to plan, schedule, and host volunteer work days across Cultivating Community;s locations
- Log and maintain an accurate volunteer database with contact information, hours, schedule, and upcoming events
- Manage and maintain the volunteer@cultivatingcommunity.org email account and respond to inquiries in a timely manner
- Work collaboratively with the Administrative Manager and program staff to understand program needs and coordinate appropriate orientation, training, supervision, support, engagement, and evaluation for all volunteers and interns
- Recruit and engage with volunteers to identify how they can put their particular skills to best use in the organization
Community Partnerships and Outreach
- Assist with planning and implementation of Cultivating Community-driven community outreach activities, such as pop-up picnics, garden tours, partner events, and more
- Enhance the organization’s visibility and brand awareness through consistent presence at approved local community events, such as nonprofit fairs, markets, and conferences
- Assist with resource development projects including business and community relationships
Other Work As Assigned
- Proactively establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff in all departments across the organization and select counterparts at external organizations
- Participate in staff meetings, board meetings, training, and other activities as requested
- Assist with garden-related communications as requested
- Assist with tasks related to Urban Ag. program staff leave and vacations including monitoring messages to the shared garden@cultivatingcommunity.org email account as requested
- Other tasks as assigned
Preferred Qualifications and Skills
- Strong commitment to Cultivating Community’s mission and values
- Background in gardening or farming and a basic knowledge of common garden plants, gardening techniques, and New England’s growing season
- Attention to detail, self-direction, good follow-thorough, and willingness to take on administrative tasks
- Excellent English written and verbal communication skills
- Portuguese written and verbal communication skills preferred but not required
- Ability to work patiently with diverse groups of gardeners and volunteers
- Excitement for community work and passion for bringing people together through gardening
- Proficiency in Google Suite and aptitude for learning other technology and software platforms as needed
- A working vehicle and willingness to use your vehicle to drive to garden sites (mileage reimbursed at 67 cents per mile)
- Ability to do some physical work relating to gardens, i.e. assisting with weeding and weed whacking, composting, laying down wood chips, measuring and marking garden plots, etc.
- Ability to lift at least 40 lbs
- Strong leadership skills and ability to engage and lead groups of volunteers (corporate groups, funders, and other individuals) in basic gardening tasks
- Flexibility and adaptability both to the seasonality in the garden and to meeting the evolving needs of the communities we serve
Cultivating Community does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, arrest record, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. All are encouraged to apply.
Header photo by Ian MacLellan