Farm Manager - River City Youth Ops
(Flexible hours, Part-time. DOE: 15-30 hours per week, March - October)
Overview
The Farm Manager is responsible for the daily operations of the River City Youth Ops urban farm network, with potential to also mentor and supervise youth program participants. This position works in conjunction with the Program Team, including Program Director and Manager.
Apply with a resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications and experience in urban farming, farm management and operations, and working with youth in an educational setting. Apply to info@youthops.org by Feb 27, 2023.
Location
River City Youth Ops is in Spokane, Washington, in the West Central neighborhood, with on-site meetings/duties out of our landlord, The West Central Abbey. Optimal hire will be able to manage independent projects, remote work communicating by email, spreadsheet, and phone, with flexible duties such as errands, managing farm tasks, and preparing for season.
Responsibilities
Manage farm operations: soil health and amendments, timing of planting and maintenance of crops, watering, weeding, harvesting, washing, packing, tool maintenance, equipment procurement and general site upkeep for community aesthetic.
Represent RCYO in the community with our greenhouse and market partners.
Offer supervision, training, and incorporate youth in management of farm and market operations and other farm-related tasks with project-based learning.
Manage and maintain soil, plants, tools, equipment, storage shed, irrigation, and projects as needed (i.e. beekeeping).
Record keeping and information management of farm activities including but not limited to: seedling/transplant dates, input usage, irrigation, harvest dates/yields, market sales, and seed/input inventories using Google Drive. (Prior experience creating and utilizing systems preferred.)
Communicating with youth participants utilizing active listening, non-violent communication, and motivational interviewing (attend team training in April).
Coordinate the beekeeping equipment needed (and work with the Program Director to manage a certified beekeeper volunteer).
Occasionally work weekends to oversee watering and support Community Workdays.
Qualifications
Farm work experience. Or educational equivalent in hobby gardening, urban farming.
Bachelor's degree or relevant work experience in agronomy, permaculture.
Experience in urban farming, gardening, farm management and operations.
Mentoring and working with youth from diverse backgrounds.
Unwavering commitment to delivering a sincere, high-quality, educational job-training program for young people.
Passion for working with youth in a respectful, positive, and empowering way.
Strong sense of ownership and integrity, from small or tedious tasks to large projects.
Excellent relationship-building and collaboration skills with diverse groups of people.
Genuine enthusiasm to engage with youth and the community on a regular basis.
Willingness to learn and implement compassionate communication strategies, such as active listening and nonviolent communication.
A commitment to cultivate an inclusive organizational culture that recognizes existing systemic inequity.
Additionally, share your experience with:
Knowledge of small farms, urban agriculture, market gardening, irrigation systems, composting, and beekeeping.
Food access and food systems issues.
Ability to manage multiple urban farm sites, including a working understanding of farm equipment, such as a broadfork, and ideas for projects to extend the growing season.
Email, Google Suite and Drive, Sheets, and Documents.
About River City Youth Ops
River City Youth Ops creates opportunities for youth enrichment in the West Central neighborhood through community engagement, job training, and education. We envision a diverse community of empowered, skilled and capable youth working to strengthen themselves and their local environment. River City Youth Ops is an urban farm project—founded with the vision to create environmentally friendly and restorative opportunities for youth. Our program supports trauma-impacted and low-income residents who may have challenges that we learn about over the course of the summer. This position will be meaningful because you are directly involved with our youth and facilitate daily activities that educate, inspire, and help our youth experience their first job in a team setting on our farms.
