Overview

Organization Information 

GrowNYC is a 54-year-old environmental nonprofit organization helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential services and taking action to make NYC a livable city, one where every person can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life. GrowNYC Programs include: 

  • Our network of Greenmarkets, Farmstands, and the work of GrowNYC Wholesale ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food. 
  • We blanket the five boroughs with resources like food scrap and clothing collections to make waste reduction, recycling, and composting easy for all. 
  • We build and support community and school gardens through volunteer days, technical assistance, training, grants and more. 
  • We provide 70,000 children each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment. 

Position Summary

GrowNYC’s Green Space Program is seeking an enthusiastic individual with experience in garden-based education, community organizing, crop planning, pest management and harvest data collecting, with a passion for sustainable, eco-friendly, urban agriculture both on rooftops and in-ground. The Green Space Garden Coordinator reports directly to the Green Space Program Director, and Assistant Director.

Requirements

Green Space Gardens Coordinator Responsibilities to include but are not limited to:

  • Planning seasonal crop plans and program activities around edible garden maintenance and design.
  • Provide guidance to building residents, in all aspects of intensive, eco-friendly, edible crop production on several rooftop gardens, with accompanying, resident-led garden activities.
  • Design and implement weekend and weekday, hands-on, garden workshops.
  • Plan and conduct monthly, social media updates to encourage long-term care, maintenance, use and self-sufficiency of the garden space.
  • Manage a materials budget, keeping accurate records of purchases, invoices, receipts and requisitions.
  • Bi-weekly team reporting on activities and updates, with both mid and final seasonal reports to program sponsors.
  • Occasional partnerships with other GrowNYC program initiatives including the Education Program and Green Space’s  Teaching Garden on Governor’s Island
  • Assist Education staff growing produce on our 1-acre Teaching Garden on Governor’s Island.
  • Occasional community garden builds and/or renovation throughout NYC’s 5-boroughs.

Required Qualifications 

  • Related Degrees or comparable work experience in Horticulture,  Sustainable Urban Agriculture, Natural Sciences or similar fields of study.
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience in related, urban agriculture program development   
  • Knowledge of sustainable urban agriculture techniques and program activities  
  • Good working knowledge of all types of advanced  gardening skills, edible plant identification. 
  • Experience with and comfort engaging with mature adults and supportive housing populations.
  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, and carry bulky/ heavy items and to work  in an outdoor setting in all types of  weather conditions.
  • Willing and able  to work weekends.

Ideal Qualifications

  • Passionate about urban farming, community organizing, and sustainable, local agriculture.
  • fluency in language other than English, a plus.
  • Comfortable with public speaking

Physical Requirements

  • Gardening often requires the ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
  • Workshops and garden maintenance requires standing sometimes, for long periods of time.
  • A  NYS  Driver’s license is a plus, however, operating a vehicle is not required.
  • Ability to work in an outdoor setting in all weather conditions

Schedule

The schedule for this position is 35-40 hours a week and requires 4-5 hours shifts and the ability to work weekends, as necessary.

Compensation

This position is a non-exempt, full-time, salaried position.  This offer includes a competitive salary of $ 50,000, per year, which will be paid bi-weekly and includes full benefits after 90 days of satisfactory performance (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, incentive savings plan, paid time off, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and potential for parental leave for full-time regular employees who have been employed with GrowNYC for 175 days and FSA programs). This position is union eligible.

Location

GrowNYC’s main office is located in Manhattan with rooftop garden locations in Flushing, and  Long Island City, Queens, and the  Melrose section of the Bronx. Our Teaching Garden is located on Governor’s Island and requires a ferry ride from 10 South St.,Manhattan. Other community gardens are located primarily in various sections of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.