Community Garden Coordinator

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.  

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.

• 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.

• 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.