Garden Coordinator- PART-TIME

• Serve as the primary point of contact for community garden groups. 
• Communicate with gardeners through email, phone, and social media.
• Gather input from neighbors, businesses, and others on new gardens.
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings to design, build, and maintain the gardens.
• Work alongside new gardeners and volunteers to build garden infrastructure.
• With community input, plan and layout garden plots. Map and maintain a record of plots.
• Support the community garden leaders at each site; address their day-to-day needs, gardening activities, and any problems or emergencies.
• Lead, sometimes with community members, on-site educational events 
• Visit each garden to assess plant health, deliver materials, etc.
• Represent OFS at community events where the gardens are/might be located.
• Monitor and maintain garden tools and materials at each site. 
• Understand the garden budget and maintain spending records.
• Track purchasing for each project.
• Arrange for purchases and coordinate deliveries for each project.
• Collect data for internal evaluation to measure impacts https://farmingconcrete.org/barn/data-collection-toolkit/
• Attend OFS meetings. 
• Document community engagement with photos, quotes, etc.
• Maintain social media presence by providing photos, materials, and posts. 
• Track hours and mileage for work-related travel
• Other duties as assigned.

• Experience with gardening, agriculture and food systems, organizing, and community outreach preferred.
• Ability to teach gardening concepts to a variety of learners.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, including the ability to plan events and organize volunteers.
• Ability to manage several tasks at once and adapt to changing conditions (weather, volunteer cancellations)
• Able to work outdoors in all weather (heat, humidity, rain, and cold) and do manual labor.
• High School Diploma or G.E.D. certificate; or any equivalent combination of relevant education, general clerical training, and experience which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to adequately perform assigned tasks.    
• Applicants must be proficient in typing and basic computer skills.
• Valid Driver’s License

1. Able to work independently and cooperate as part of a team.
2. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
3. Access to a reliable vehicle to visit gardens and deliver materials. 
4. Positive attitude and willingness to engage residents collaboratively.
5. An understanding of and commitment to the Department of Social Services and Office of Food Security’s values
6. Ability to lift up to 25lbs regularly; 50lbs occasionally.
7. Experience leading or working in a large and high-paced urban/suburban Human Services Agency.
8. Lived experience.

• Must submit to and pass a criminal background check.
• Must be a registered voter in the State of Maryland.
• Meet all training and performance standards and demonstrate proficiency as required by the agency.
• Wear and use agency protective apparel and equipment in the performance of their assigned duties.
• Participate as an "Essential" employee in the department's snow and ice control program and other emergency or special activities as assigned.

Salary : $30,000 - $35,000