EDUCATION MANAGER
Common Ground Farm’s Education Manager leads, manages, and oversees all education programs, including Preschool on the Farm, Farm Camp, Farm to School educational programming, and adult workshops. The Education Manager leads people of all ages to learn about fresh food and farming, and grows engagement and understanding of the natural world. The Education Manager will oversee the planning and development of all educational programs, including scheduling, coordinating, overseeing registration, lesson planning, communication and promotion, evaluation, in addition to hiring and supervising education staff as needed.
Responsibilities:
Maintain a variety of long-standing and successful programs. These include Preschool on the Farm, Farm Camp, and Farm to School. The Education Manager will also have the freedom and opportunity to design and deliver additional mission-aligned programs. Operating programs includes designing and planning activities, preparing for sessions, as well as teaching, recruiting and training educators.
Set the education budget and meet program and revenue goals.
Work with the Executive Director to apply for grant funding, set tuition fees, and create proposals for new programs.
Track, monitor, and document all education related data and provide information to support fundraising efforts.
Coordinate and maintain positive relationships with community partners.
Attend monthly staff meetings and monthly or bi-monthly board meetings and participate in committee meetings.
Promote education programs through social media, weekly newsletter, via printed promotional materials, and at community events.
Collaborate with other staff members in long-term planning and projects that overlap with education, including managing the children’s garden, coordinating activities in the field, running educational activities at our markets, etc.
Collaborate with Executive Director, Beacon City School District staff, and community partners in management and development of Common Ground’s Farm to School program.
Lead all aspects of Farm Camp, including ensuring that all state and health requirements are followed; hiring, training, and supervising Farm Camp staff; managing enrollment; overseeing weekly staff meeting and planning sessions; communicating with families; providing outreach for scholarships; purchasing and managing supplies; and seeking feedback and making adjustments based on responses received.
Provide leadership in developing Farm to school Programming; including coordination with school district staff, community partners, and Common Ground team members and development and execution of curricula-linked programming.
Job Qualifications:
Required
At least three years of general teaching experience
Familiarity with growing vegetables and comfortable cooking with whole foods
Experience leading outdoor, farm, and food-based programs
Excellent leadership ability and demonstrated skill in managing teams to cultivate engagement and creativity
Attention to detail, experience building efficient systems, and excellent record keeping skills
Excellent work ethic, positive attitude, and flexible thinking
Ability to work independently and take initiative, set priorities, and see projects through to completion
Outstanding communication (oral and written) skills; ability to contribute to weekly newsletter and social media communication channels, and ability to share and accept feedback in a team environment
Comfort with teaching people of all ages, from age 2 to adult
Commitment to our shared vision on ensuring that all people in our community have access to farm-based education, regardless of income
Experience with Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office
Preferred
Experience running a summer camp
Basic Spanish language proficiency
Basic knowledge of arts and arts-based education
Schedule: This is a year-round salaried position set at 40 hours per week. The work week is Monday-Friday with occasional additional Saturdays/Sundays for weekend family and adult programming. During the 8 weeks of camp, the Education Manager is allotted an additional 5 hours overtime per week if needed.
Compensation: Starting range $22 to $24 per hour, depending on experience. Benefits include 100 hours paid vacation per year, 40 hours sick, paid holidays, monthly healthcare stipend, a free U-Pick share, 25% off all CGF programs, and two tickets to all CGF events.
To Apply: Please email a cover letter, resume, and three references to sember@commongroundfarm.org. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. We will begin the first round of interviews the week of February 3rd, 2025
Farm Crew: 2-3 positions available
Farm Crew Position Descriptions:
The Farm Crew will report to the Farm Manager and is responsible for vegetable production using organic methods, weekend greenhouse watering, and general farm upkeep. Additionally, one crew member will be responsible for staffing our weekly farmers’ market stand on Sundays.
All Farm Crew members will participate in the following:
Propagation and care of greenhouse seedlings, including weekend watering rotations.
Transplanting and direct seeding.
Setting up and maintaining field irrigation.
Setting up and maintaining row cover over crops to protect against pests and frost.
Routine weeding and targeted weed management.
Applying soil amendments.
Weed-whacking and maintaining farm aesthetics on a weekly basis.
Harvesting, washing, and packing produce in a timely, well organized manner.
Working with and leading volunteers of all ages and backgrounds.
Daily and weekly farm chores to maintain a tidy, organized environment.
Maintaining farm records for propagation, harvest, and donation, among others.
Delivering produce to community partners.
Winterizing the farm and cleaning out the fields in the fall.
Job Schedule
Farm Crew positions are seasonal. We aim to have one farm crew member start on Monday, March 3, 2025, and the other two farm crew members to start on Monday, March 31st, 2025. All farm crew positions will run until Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Farm crew members will be full-time and work 40 hours per week. Typical hours are 8am-4pm in the spring and fall, and 7am-3pm in the summer. Crew members will be expected to work at least one weekend day every week. From March-August weekend greenhouse watering duties will be rotated amongst the farm team.
Qualifications
Committed to Common Ground’s mission to support and engage our community by fostering access and connection to fresh food and local agriculture through farming, education, and farmers’ markets
Strong communication skills
Organized and efficient
Strong work ethic; must be a self-starter
Punctual-, arrive ready to work
Ability to work early mornings and long days
Ability to work in all weather conditions, including bitter cold, sweltering heat, rain, and wind
Ability to lift 50lbs
Valid Driver’s license and access to reliable transportation
Willingness to undergo background check (required to work with Green Teen)
Commitment to creating a safe and welcoming work space
While prior farming experience is not required, interest in learning farm systems is a must. This position is not a good fit for someone looking for a typical 9-5 job.
Compensation
This is an hourly position, paying $18/hr. Any hours worked over 40 will be paid at time and a half.
Benefits include 40 hours paid vacation, paid holidays, 40 hours of paid sick time, a monthly health care stipend, access to farm produce, and a farm crew care package that includes a work-attire stipend, personal care items, and professional development.
Application Process
Send a 1-page resume, cover letter, and 3 references to Rhys Bethke, Farm Manager, at farm@commongroundfarm.org, with the subject “Farm Crew 2025.” Please also include your schedule availability. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The first round of interviews will take place in January.
Common Ground Farm is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Common Ground Farm believes we are strengthened by the diversity of our staff, our board and our community and welcomes such diversity, including race, gender identity or expression, educational attainment, disability, veteran status, and personal experience with the criminal justice system. We welcome applications from people of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.