Community Gardens Manager

The Nashville Food Project

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Job Summary

Mission, Vision, and Values
The Nashville Food Project brings people together to grow, cook and share nourishing food, with the goals of cultivating community and alleviating hunger in our city. At The Nashville Food Project, we embrace a vision of vibrant community food security in which everyone in Nashville has access to the food they want and need through a just and sustainable food system. This mission and vision are guided by core organizational values, including hospitality, stewardship, interdependence, learning, justice, and transformation.

Organizational Background
The Nashville Food Project (TNFP) was born from the idea that good food is a matter of basic dignity. Since its start in 2007, TNFP has served thousands of Nashvillians facing food insecurity. In 2011, TNFP was incorporated as an independent nonprofit, shifting the focus of its meals program toward a collaborative partnership model and launching an urban agriculture program. Today, TNFP continues to connect people to nourishing food and to each other through vibrant urban agriculture projects, made-from-scratch meals, and food shared with local partners working to disrupt cycles of poverty.

Position Summary
The Community Gardens Manager engages Nashville community members and partners in TNFP’s community gardens, and is responsible for coordinating, planning, and facilitating community garden programming across TNFP’s garden sites. Reporting to the Director of Garden Outreach and Engagement (DGOE), the Community Gardens Manager (CGM) splits time between the McGruder Community Garden in north Nashville and the Community Farm at Mill Ridge in south Nashville. This position is responsible for recruiting and engaging gardeners and partners of diverse backgrounds, ages and levels of experience, as well as planning and facilitating programmatic activities between the TNFP community garden sites.

Job Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Program Management
● Collaborate with the Garden Team to coordinate and facilitate culturally relevant monthly workshops at each site that center gardening skills, food justice, and cultural knowledge
● Work with TNFP interpreters/translators and the Garden Team to create educational resources in support of TNFP community garden programs
● Plan, coordinate, and implement a seasonal community garden schedule to include community building activities outside of workshops (e.g., potluck dinners)
● Collaborate with community partners to create culturally relevant curriculum and events for youth education program offerings
● Support gardeners at Mill Ridge Community Garden by answering their questions and helping them understand how to access resources through the garden store available at the farm
● Manage and facilitate at least 2 weekly community workdays/garden office hours at each site, including monthly Saturday workshops and occasional events
● Supervise volunteers and onsite contract employees at each site as needed
● Facilitate educational programming for community garden interns and apprentices that cultivates individual learning goals and enhances pathways to leadership in food justice

Garden Management
● Collaborate with the Garden Team to create and implement community garden management plans at each site that utilize sustainable agriculture practices
● Manager regular and required garden maintenance at McGruder Community Garden, including soil preparation, compost maintenance, pest management, weeding, mowing, watering, harvesting and distribution of produce
● Support required maintenance at the Community Farm at Mill Ridge in collaboration with other garden staff
● Support infrastructure maintenance at each site as needed

Outreach & Engagement
● Collaborate with the Garden Team and interpreters to create an environment that is comfortable, safe, and inclusive for speakers of multiple languages
● Support the development and implementation of plans for community outreach and gardener recruitment for TNFP garden programs
● Implement community garden communication plans, which may include emails, videos or other communication
● Help foster, manage, and maintain partner relationships that engage people from diverse backgrounds in TNFP garden spaces for education and recreation
● Support the coordination of Community Advisory Council (CAC) meetings and participate in other relevant networks and coalitions as capacity allows
● Share resources and support implementation of programming with other community gardens in Nashville as capacity allows

Administrative
● Maintain accurate reporting of all community garden impact and evaluation metrics
● Maintain garden store records at Mill Ridge Community Farm and communicate any resource needs to Garden leadership
● Collaborate with Garden Team to develop and monitor budgets and work plans for garden programming
● Collaborate with Garden Team to develop communication materials and reports showcasing program highlights and accomplishments

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
● 2+ years experience in farm or garden maintenance
● Ability to work and communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, particularly across languages
● Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with diverse communities including nonprofits, volunteers and the general public
● Cooperative work ethic and a positive attitude; hard-working, conscientious, and responsible
● Well organized with attention to detail, record keeping and time management skills

• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
  ● Ability to manage multiple tasks and work in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness and ability to work in all types of weather (hot, rainy, and cold)
• Excellent written, oral, and electronic communication skills
  ● English fluency, oral and written
  ● Ability to regularly lift and move at least 40 pounds
  ● Interest in anti-hunger work and food justice

 PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
● High school diploma/equivalent or relevant life experience
● Experience engaging others in conversation including, but not limited to conversations around food justice and racial justice
● Experience in teaching and facilitation and/or a willingness to grow those skills
● Experience in community engagement and organizing
● Immigrants, refugees, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter outlining your interest in our work and mission to info@thenashvillefoodproject.org. Applications received on or before January 27, 2023 will receive priority consideration. Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

In all aspects of its work, The Nashville Food Project strives for a culture of inclusivity and fairness without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics protected by law.

Details

• Date Posted: January 5, 2023
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Other
• Service Area: Community Development