Teacher Naturalist - Garden Coordinator

WHO WE ARE:

When you work for Hidden Villa, you become a part of something BIG: a nonprofit organization with over 60 years of service delivery bringing diverse people together to learn and grow towards a sustainable, healthy, and just future for all. Founded in 1960, Hidden Villa empowers young people with the skills, experience, and tools to build solutions for climate change, food security, and an inclusive society.

All voices are needed at Hidden Villa. We want our team to reflect the diversity of our community builders and participants. We seek employees for all backgrounds and life experiences to join our staff. People who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), People with Disabilities, People from LGBTQ+ communities are all encouraged to apply for our open positions. Our vision, in part, is for a fair and equitable workplace, where diversity is celebrated and can truly flourish. We recognize we have a ways to go and a lot to learn.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: 

Hidden Villa is seeking a creative, collaborative educator who is growth and solutions oriented. The Garden Coordinator reports to the Senior Manager of Education and provides engaging instruction for the pre-K through 12th grade environmental education and challenge education programming of Hidden Villa. This is a full-time, non-exempt position with benefits, including vacation and sick leave, medical, dental, and retirement benefits. The compensation for this position is $26/hour.  The responsibilities for this position primarily center around teaching (75%). Other responsibilities (25%) include managing the educational garden, communicating with other departments, and developing specialty curriculum. During the summer season, this position provides primary leadership in garden education and activities for the Summer Camp program. The start date for this position will be January 2023.

Hidden Villa has over 50 years of providing experiential, place-based learning opportunities that focus on building connections with food & farms, wilderness exploration, environmental stewardship, and environmental and social justice. The Garden Coordinator works closely with the Senior Manager of Education and other instructors to deliver high quality experiences that connect participants to climate change mitigation, healthy local food systems, an antiracist and just society and place-based outdoor education for all. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead groups of students through on-site and in-classroom programs using the organic garden, wilderness and farm animals
• Support educational program logistics and administrative systems
• Communicate regular updates to staff and volunteers regarding changes in the garden space, program resources and needs
• Plan and manage a quarter acre educational garden, including daily projects and chores
• Harvest and preserve food for programs and participants
• Coordinate and manage garden volunteers 
• Provide garden training and informational materials for staff and volunteers
• Act as liaison with the agricultural and animal husbandry programs on site
• Support and supervise interns in garden planning, maintenance, and instruction
• Contribute to department and organizational strategic efforts around service, access, outreach, impact and program design and delivery
• Support training and mentorship of Summer Camp staff in education garden protocols and activities 
• Lead garden education and activities Summer Camp program
• Occasionally support organization-wide weekend or evening events
• Other tasks and duties as assigned from time to time

DESIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE:

• Relevant educational background and experience in environmental education, garden/farm education or related fields
• Organized team player, capable of working with or without supervision, with excellent communication skills
• Experience, skills or abilities with any of the following: farms and gardens, working with diverse populations, wilderness experience
• Must pass a Livescan background check
• Be willing to become certified in CPR and First Aid upon employment

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

This is a nonexempt, full-time position. Workdays are Monday through Friday. The pay rate for this position is $26/hour. Occasionally weekend or evening shifts will be required to support organization/board events.  Hidden Villa provides an excellent benefit package that includes vacation and sick leave, medical, dental, vision, acupuncture/chiropractic and retirement benefits. All applicants will be required to complete Livescan fingerprinting before hire.  Hidden Villa is a non-smoking environment.

How to apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@hiddenvilla.org.

Hidden Villa is committed to creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization at all levels. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.