KCCG is hiring!

Kansas City Community Gardens, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has an opening for a Community Partner Gardens (CPG) program director. KCCG empowers and inspires low-income households, community groups and schools in the Kansas City metropolitan area to grow their own vegetables and fruits. The CPG program partners with over 270 local not-for-profit agencies and community organizations to develop and coordinate vegetable gardens located throughout the metro area.

Members of historically underrepresented or oppressed groups are encouraged to apply. KCCG believes diversity and inclusion strengthen our communities and workplaces. KCCG does not discriminate based on race, gender identity, religion, age, ethnicity, disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status or citizenship status.

Position Description: The Community Partner Gardens Program Director will oversee the CPG program and work with community agencies and organizations to promote, develop, coordinate, plant and maintain successful food producing gardens that will benefit low-income residents.

Salary range: send an email to ben{at}kccg.org to inquire about salary range

Reports to: Executive Director

Responsibilities:

- Directly supervise the CPG team to accomplish program goals and objectives:

1. Manage and work collaboratively with the CPG team to carry out program activities
2. Work with the Executive Director and CPG team to assess and identify program needs and to set program direction and goals
3. Assign program tasks and garden site caseload to CPG team members
4. Ensure that the CPG team is developing and promoting sustainable best gardening practices
5. Represent the CPG program on the KCCG Admin team

- Maintain and assist existing Community Partner Gardens:

1. Develop and maintain a working relationship with garden staff/volunteers at existing Community Partner Gardens
2. Mentor emerging garden leaders/volunteers
3. Enroll CPG sites annually for program participation
4. Assess the condition of Community Partner Gardens and work with garden staff/volunteers to identify specific needs
5. Work with garden staff/volunteers to develop planting plans and garden preparation/development plans
6. Coordinate resource delivery of seeds, plants, tilling and garden supplies for garden sites
7. Conduct site visits and provide technical assistance as needed to ensure garden success

- Develop new Community Partner Gardens:

1. Promote CPG program to the community
2. Recruit and enroll community agencies and organizations for program participation
3. Mentor emerging garden leaders/volunteers
4. Evaluate the garden sites and assist garden staff/volunteers in garden site selection
5. Work with garden staff/volunteers to identify garden purpose & goals and to prepare a garden development plan that will outline the needed actions to prepare the site for gardening
6. Assist the garden staff/volunteers with garden construction
7. Coordinate gardening resource delivery as appropriate
8. Conduct follow-up activities and site visits to ensure garden
9. Conduct follow-up activities and site visits to ensure garden

- Coordinate resource delivery for Community Partner Gardens

1. Update and distribute enrollment forms, seasonal order forms and invoices via Salesforce
2. Place orders/arrange delivery for lumber and soil as necessary
3. Facilitate access to garden supplies and tools as needed

- Provide gardening education and technical assistance to garden staff/volunteers:

1. Prepare and teach gardening workshops for CPG gardeners
2. Provide “one on one” gardening education for site specific needs
3. Distribute educational materials as needed
4. Evaluate and “troubleshoot” garden problems and provide appropriate recommendations
5. Promote and teach sustainable best gardening practices

- Manage KCCG micro-grant programs (KC Grow and Sprout Grants)

1. Promote microgrant opportunities to CPG sites
2. Conduct water audits
3. Assist CPG sites with grant applications
4. Manage grants approval process with the grants committee
5. Manage communications with grant applicants
6. Manage grant fulfillment – engage contractors and order supplies as needed

- Collect data and help maintain program records:

1. Keep complete records on all Community Partner Gardens
2. Assist in tracking seed and plant orders
3. Collect program data as required by grants
4. Assist with analyzing demographic data
5. Assist in preparation of program reports

- Participate in the overall operations and mission of Kansas City Community Gardens:

To empower and inspire low-income households, community groups, and schools in the Kansas City Metropolitan area to grow their own vegetables and fruit

- Perform other duties as assigned

Areas of Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; and to listen and solve problems collaboratively and proactively
· Proficient use of office software, email, smart phones and other technology
· Ability to interact in a professional, courteous, and confidential manner with others and to function as an ambassador of the agency in a wide variety of venues and circumstances
· Mentoring and team building skills
· Organizational skills/record keeping skills
· Ability to assist with garden constructions
· Ability to work comfortably outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
· Vegetable gardening knowledge

Preferred qualifications/experience:

· A minimum of 5 years’ experience working with community gardens, horticulture, community engagement, education and outreach across all abilities and age span
· College degree in relevant field (social work, community development, horticulture, education, nutrition etc.)
· Program management and team supervision experience
· Vegetable gardening experience
· Proven record in working with adults from a variety of racial, cultural and economic backgrounds.
· Educational experience (teaching/training at some level)
· Experience working with non-profit organizations and volunteers

Additional Information/Requirements:

· This position is a full-time salaried position with excellent benefits.
· Candidates must own or have unrestricted access to reliable automobile transportation, provide proof of automobile insurance and a copy of a valid Missouri or Kansas driver’s license.
· Candidate must be available to work limited weekday evenings and Saturdays

Please send resume and cover letter by February 18 to: Ben Sharda, Executive Director – ben{at}kccg.org