We’re hiring at Growing Places Indy

Location: Indianapolis, IN
Job Type: Full-Time

Position Overview:

The Manager of Farm Production, Engagement & Education plays a pivotal role in fostering thriving communities by cultivating both people and gardens. The Manager is instrumental in realizing the vision of robust communities through active involvement in community farming. This multifaceted role involves not only successful cultivation of food and edible plants but also a profound commitment to engaging and educating individuals of diverse backgrounds, ages, abilities, and identities.

This position requires a unique blend of skills, as the Manager of Farm Production, Engagement & Education is expected to be equally adept at leading garden production and engaging in educational initiatives. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in realizing our vision of thriving communities through the harmonious integration of agriculture and community engagement.

Responsibilities and Desired Outcomes of the Position:

Community-Centric Agriculture Management:

Act as the liaison between garden production team and community engagement/education team, ensuring a seamless integration of efforts.

• • Production:
    • Spearhead initiatives to cultivate food within the community, emphasizing sustainable and environmentally conscious practices that are applicable and adaptable to a variety of city-based environments.
    • Plan and manage all aspects of farm production, including crop planning, planting, cultivation, and harvesting.
    • Implement sustainable and regenerative farming practices, ensuring environmental stewardship.
    • Oversee farm infrastructure, equipment, and irrigation systems.
  • Administrative:
    • Manage budget for farm production and farm-based community engagement and educational programs.
    • Record-keeping and data collection for grant reporting and program evaluation purposes.
    • Collaborate with GPI team/board on strategic planning and organizational development.
  • Team Leadership:
    • Collaborate with the GPI team to develop and implement strategies for garden production that align with community needs and values.
    • Supervise and mentor farm staff, apprentices, and volunteers.
    • Provide training and guidance on a variety of sustainable city-based growing practices and practices for community-based gardens/food production.
    • Boldly foster a positive and inclusive work environment that aligns with organizational vision, mission and values.
    • Ensure everyone working, learning and engaging in GPI gardens has the tools, knowledge, and skills required for safe and productive growing. 

Community Engagement:

Bridge the gap between garden production and community engagement/education, ensuring a holistic approach to community development.

• • Volunteers
    • Provide welcoming and engaging volunteer experiences to individuals and groups. 
    • Maintain online volunteer platform for ease of sign-up and reporting volunteer hours for grants and program evaluations.
    • Recruit volunteers through community partnerships, attending community meetings, assisting with social media content, etc.
  • Community Gardening
    • Demonstrate expertise in growing food and edible plants in various city-based environments, ensuring a resilient and diverse harvest.
    • Provide opportunities for community members to garden together on-site at GPI farms/gardens, as well as at partner locations.
    • Maintain GPI community gardening areas to ensure safety and aesthetic of spaces.
    • Manage use of tools, equipment and other GPI resources/spaces in shared use by community members.
    • Develop and execute community engagement initiatives, events, and outreach programs to support engagement, educational programs and produce distribution/sales.
  • Key Partnerships
    • Work with GPI team in identifying, cultivating and sustaining key community partnerships that advance community wellbeing through gardening.
    • Attend meetings with key partners, assist in preparation of reports and lead presentations as needed to sustain and grow partnerships.
    • Collaborate with local organizations to enhance community participation in garden/farming activities.

Education Programs:

• • Develop and implement garden/small farm education programs for a range of experience levels and application, including but not limited to GPI city-based growing apprenticeship programs, home gardener programs, child/youth gardening programs and community gardening.
  • Design and execute engaging educational programs that promote urban farming and gardening in diverse settings; working closely with individuals of all ages, abilities, and identities to create inclusive and accessible educational opportunities.
  • Develop partnerships with other Indianapolis farm/garden organizations for collaborative programs.
  • Develop activities and materials for garden-based educational workshops and events.
  • Coordinate with schools, community groups, and partners to facilitate educational initiatives.
  • Foster a sense of community ownership by encouraging active participation in gardening and farm-related activities.
  • Work with the GPI team to ensure that garden-based programming is aligned to the vision for community wellbeing, including incorporation of mind-body practices and values. 

Experience and Qualifications:

Agricultural Expertise:

• • Minimum 3 years of demonstrated skill in managing production gardens/small farms using sustainable and regenerative practices.
  • Demonstrated experience leading garden/STEM-based educational programs, preferably for a variety of age groups.
  • Understanding of Good Agricultural Practices (as applied to gardens/small scale farming), safe food handling and farm safety practices.
  • Knowledge of budgeting and financial management.

Education & Engagement Skills:

• • Ability to lead and motivate teams in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
  • Demonstrated commitment to community engagement and organizational collaboration.
  • Strong project management skills.
  • Experience in developing and delivering educational programs.

Collaborative Mindset:

• • Ability to lead and work collaboratively, fostering a culture of teamwork and shared success.
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to clearly articulate the connection between production and engagement/education to achieve community-centric agriculture.
  • Foster or establish networks within the nonprofit sector and community organizations.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
  • Commitment to personal and community well-being.

Passion for Inclusivity:

• • Demonstrated commitment to inclusivity, with the ability to work with people of all ages, abilities, and identities.
  • Multi/Bilingualism, especially Spanish fluency, is preferred.

Compensation:

Commensurate with experience, starting at $40,000. GPI offers flexible time off, location, and schedule. Health and retirement benefits are not currently provided.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to laura@growingplacesindy.org. Cover letter should clearly summarize candidates’ experience and reason for applying, aligned to the position. Applications are accepted until February 29, 2024. Growing Places Indy is an equal-opportunity employer committed to removing employment barriers and fostering inclusivity.

Growing Places Indy is hiring six Growing Community Practitioners for a 2024 program cohort.

The Growing Community Practitioner Program is a paid practitioner training program. Participants will be temporary (8-month, April-December 2024) part-time (20 hrs/wk) employees of Growing Places Indy. The program pays $20/hour.  

Practitioners will be selected based on application for how the candidate will expand city-based food production and food access in Indianapolis by incorporating gardening/urban agriculture into an existing or planned community-based project, initiative or business. Specifically, project proposals must be intended to interrupt food apartheid and cultivate food justice and equity. The program will connect Practitioners to Indy’s existing urban agricultural workforce network, while also bolstering a network of community-based food project practitioners trained with the skills necessary to successfully implement programs aligned to intended community impact.

Read more and link to the application here.