Salary: $23.27 – $28.28 Hourly
Location : Carpinteria, CA
Job Type: Part-Time
Department: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
Opening Date: 07/12/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
ABOUT THE POSITION AND OUR AGENCY
Applications are being accepted for the position of Community Garden Coordinator
(part-time position)
Apply immediately. Recruitment is open continuous.
Deadline to be considered for first review: Friday, July 28, 2023, at 11:59 PM PST.
The City of Carpinteria is looking for an individual with excellent customer service and a passion for community gardening to manage the City’s Community Garden Program. The incumbent will perform a variety of operational and administrative support activities while overseeing 104 garden plots available through paid membership. The incumbent will also provide continuing education on issues related to organic gardening, healthy eating, natural history, and sustainability to the general public.
This is a part-time position. The individual will work 20 hours a week spread over a minimum of three (3) days including Saturdays.
The City of Carpinteria is a quaint coastal community with small town charm, valued by visitors and residents alike. Beautiful beaches, breathtaking mountain views, and a diverse economy make Carpinteria a wonderful place to live, work, and play!
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES
The duties/assignments may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Outreach and communications: Serve as the primary contact for all garden-related matters and assist with the City’s outreach to increase the level of active participation in our gardens and provide support for existing and new gardens. In some cases, leading information sessions at neighborhood meetings or local events will be required of the job. In addition to communication with the public, the Garden Manager will be required to collaborate with partner organizations in and outside Carpinteria.
- Garden logistics and budget: Handle all garden-related logistics including facilitating infrastructure improvements, soil deliveries, water access issues, vendor relationships, garden budgeting and purchasing. This includes both handling the ongoing demands and needs of the gardens, forecasting future requirements, and visioning of how to improve the delivery of gardening support services in the future.
- Management of garden plots: Manage the public use of the garden plots, including billing and payments.
- Education: Serve as an educational resource for gardeners in one-on-one and group settings by providing expertise and support. Coordinate regularly scheduled public educational presentations.
- Garden volunteer coordinator: Manage volunteer days in gardens and the logistics leading up to these days.
- Liaison and representative: May assist, attend, and/or lead various stakeholder meetings such as the monthly Garden Coordinator meeting and Food Policy-council meetings related to urban gardening.
- Data management: Manage all data relevant to the City gardens including gardener contact information, garden infrastructure needs, gardener surveys, soil delivery and other shipments to gardens, soil quality and testing in gardens and grant-related accounting.
- Grant writing and reporting: Assist office staff with grant writing and reporting related to the Community Garden Program. Responsibilities will vary with specific tasks assigned as needed and to address the changing needs of the gardens.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The following are minimum qualifications necessary for entry into the classification:
Any combination of education and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for a Community Garden Coordinator. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is:
Education and/or Experience:
High school degree or equivalent.
License, Certification and Other Requirements:
All licenses and certificates must be maintained as a condition of employment.
- A valid appropriate California driver’s license may be required.
- Maintain a satisfactory driving record.
- Knowledge of Carpinteria’s diverse neighborhoods and in particular Carpinteria’s food system and environmental arena is highly desired.
Skills and Abilities:
- Strong organizational skills: Must be highly reliable with a keen sense of responsibility. A can-do attitude to their work, with a creative approach to solving problems. Ability to manage a large amount of information required of an organization handling the needs of the different community gardens. Ability to multi-task and work well under pressure.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills: Oral and writing skills and an ability to relate to and communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and styles. Ability in Spanish language is a plus.
- Strong Computer skills: Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and Outlook. Social media such as Facebook and Instagram are desirable. Photoshop skills are desirable.
- Excellent project management skills: Proven track record in setting project objectives and timelines and managing tasks against a project plan. Ability to manage multiple project components and make adjustments in response to changing conditions.
- Physical abilities: Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Activities using upper and lower body may include weeding, digging, planting, raking, trimming branches, carry bags of mulch or compost, raking, and cutting grass, shoveling, digging.
SELECTION PROCESS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DEADLINE TO APPLY: This recruitment is open continuous. Deadline to be considered for first review is Friday, July 28, 2023, at 11:59 PM PST.
Each candidate’s background will be evaluated based on information submitted at the time of application.
- Application information must be current, concise and related to the requirements in this job announcement. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified.
- A resume may be included with your application, however it will not substitute for the information requested on the application.
- Those considered most qualified will be invited to participate in an appraisal interview.
The City of Carpinteria is an equal opportunity employer.
Under the terms of the city’s benefits plan and policies, part-time (temporary, seasonal, or extra help) employees are not eligible for benefits, other than those required by federal or state law (e.g. paid leave in accordance with Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 – AB1522 and City policy). The City does not participate in Social Security; in lieu of social security, part-time employees, not currently CalPERS members, are enrolled in the City’s 457 Deferred Compensation retirement plan. If you are a CalPERS member or CalPERS retired annuitant, please notify Human Resources.
01
Please briefly describe your experience assisting, coordinating, and/or running community gardens. Please include the number of years of experience and the name of the agency where you gained this experience.
02
This position involves collaborating with partner organizations in and outside the City of Carpinteria. This includes working with public schools, local after school programs, and hosting student visits at the garden ranging from elementary to high school. Please briefly describe your experience working with elementary to high school students.
03
This position will involve garden budgeting and purchasing. Please briefly describe your experience in this area.
Required Question