Hiring: Part Time Youth Farm Director

The Youth Farm is a unique partnership between the High School for Public Service and Green Guerillas. It is a one acre diversified production farm engaging the school community and surrounding neighborhood in farm-based experiential learning. Farm products are sold at a weekly farmers market increasing community access to fresh affordable food.

We are seeking applicants with experience in non-profit development, fundraising, leadership and familiarity with urban agriculture and the NYC and/or national food justice movement. 

The Youth Farm operates as a collective, with all staff working together to make important decisions. The Director is responsible for meeting with Youth Farm staff and community to set goals and program plans for the Youth Farm, and most importantly, fundraising for these programs. This person is responsible for staff and farm sale invoicing, tracking accomplishments, staff reviews and organizing strategic planning sessions.

The applicant should be an enthusiastic self-starter with experience in collective work environments. The ideal candidate should be equally comfortable taking initiative and working collaboratively in a close-knit team environment. Experience with grant writing and grassroots fundraising is a must for this position, as is knowledge of the current funding environment. Gardening and horticulture knowledge and familiarity with the food justice movement a plus.  

We are committed to creating a workplace that respects and values diversity – we strongly welcome candidates from all backgrounds as we are committed to hiring staff that reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of our community.

Roles and responsibilities include:

• Fundraise to support Youth Farm programs through grant writing, crowd sourcing, special events and other dynamic methods
• Build and sustain relationships with foundations, cultivate private donors, manage grassroots fundraising campaigns
• Maintain partnerships with the Wingate Schools that support the goal of enhancing youth engagement and learning on the Farm
• Facilitate staff meetings and strategic planning sessions
• Track staff hours and accomplishment for accountability and reporting purposes
• Responsible for bookkeeping and accounting, including staff invoicing, spending, and accounting for farm sales
• Work with Green Guerillas on fundraising, events and organizational development
• Work with and hire interns to help with special events, outreach and office work
• Work with Wingate administration to evaluate how the school’s objectives are being met

Qualifications:

• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Grassroots fundraising and non-profit development experience required
• Detail-oriented and highly organized
• Commitment to expanding food justice and knowledge about urban farming
• Experience in leadership, meeting facilitation and collective decision making processes
• Farm/gardening experience or horticultural training a plus
• Manage work hours and duties efficiently
• Excellent computer and communication skills, including Microsoft Office (Excel and Word); knowledge and experience using accounting software such as Quickbooks a plus

Please send a cover letter and resume to Bee Ayer at Bee(at)bkfarmyards (dot)com. The letter should include details of your availability, as well as details about your relevant experience and training.

Applicants must be available on weekdays during the day, and occasional evenings and weekends. This position is a paid part-time position and also includes fresh harvested vegetables, flower and herbs. Applications due September 26^th, position starts November 11^th.