FRESH is hiring a Farm and Project Manager!

Apply here!

Overview

FRESH New London builds momentum for food system change through local agriculture and youth empowerment in New London, CT. We use food to connect to the community, engage in self- and community healing, encourage leadership, inspire stewardship and incite change. Our work spans three different program areas that are strongest when they intersect: growing food, connecting community, and empowering youth. The Farm and Project Managers leads the growing food bucket, while keeping the work of the other areas present and connected. Our core values include: cultural appreciation, racial equity, equal distribution of resources, sustainability of people and the planet, collective decision making, accountability and a focus on system change over individual behaviors.

FRESH New London is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE (tsne.org).

Responsibilities

We are looking for an energetic and passionate urban farmer to manage our newest farming initiative, Edible New London – a city full of food grown by, with and for the New London community. We are looking to expand our food production efforts to create new, environmentally sustainable growing systems, get more food out to New London families and build up new urban farming sites in the city, all with a focus on cultural relevance, racial justice and health equity.

Farm Management: From Seed to Sale

• Create and implement a yearly food production plan to support a small CSA, in collaboration with staff, youth, and community partners. Oversee the implementation of those plans;
• Work with the farming and youth team members to plan and implement weekly planting, maintenance, and harvesting schedule for all FRESH growing food locations;
• Manage plant propagation (some for sale in the community), succession planting and season plantings;
• Use environmentally sustainable insect and weed control, regenerative soil fertility management (including composting), irrigation planning and implementation (including rain water harvesting);
• Oversee the planning, construction and maintenance of new and existing sites;
• Manage and maintain farm vehicles (pickup truck, box truck and tractor);
• Work with community members (youth and adult) to include culturally appropriate produce/plants in annual plan;
• Keep detailed records of all farm activities and use them to inform future projects;
• Collaborate with other area farming initiatives as needed;
• Attend training to improve farming practices as needed.

Supervision and Education

• Collaborate with FRESH staff to connect youth and community members to urban farming projects;
• Use participatory education to teach basic gardening and urban farming skills;
• Integrate youth and volunteers into weekly farm planning and task work;
• Be available to advise and assist community gardeners, college students, K-12 students and others to grow food in New London;
• Supervise and guide Farm Assistants, Interns and Junior Staff members.

Additional organizational work

• Attend trainings about structural racism, white supremacy and social justice;
• Assist with community events;
• Participate in strategic planning;
• Attend regular staff meetings;
• Maintain communication with TSNE (FRESH’s fiscal sponsor);
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Strong, practical knowledge of agricultural skills and management; a commitment to community food security, and a passionate dedication to food justice, social change, and environmental stewardship;
• Minimum of 2 years of full-season agricultural experience;
• Commitment to racial and social justice;
• Working knowledge of sustainable farming, regenerative agriculture and urban farming methods;
• Ability to think about a long term vision, while implementing project details;
• Experience with and knowledge of basic carpentry;
• Supervisory experience with farm workers, volunteers, and/or youth;
• Highly organized and able to manage and track work on multiple sites;
• Experience working with youth, interest in youth leadership and youth development is strongly preferred;
• Strong communication skills, ability to work with team and community members respectfully and with patience;
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds repeatedly, do regular physical labor and arrive at work in the early morning;
• Experience and interest in working with diverse populations – different ages and various socioeconomic and political backgrounds;
• Qualities of self-motivation, time management, flexibility, and cooperation are a must;
• Basic Spanish language skills are preferred.

Special Requirements

Work on this urban farm includes time on the farm, greenhouse, outdoor classroom and office. It is hard and repetitive physical work that includes evening and weekend hours. Flexibility with scheduling is required. The right candidate will live in or near New London to maintain our garden sites. A current driver’s license, a clean driving record, and comfort with driving farm vehicles is required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be performed 100% onsite. Work is not eligible for remote work

Compensation: The salary for this position is $36,000.00 – $40,000.00/yr and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and sick time for full-time staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim;
• Low-cost Guardian Dental and Vision;
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care;
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance;
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA;
• …and more!

TSNE/FRESH envisions a society grounded in the principles of social and economic justice. As such, we strive to achieve excellence through a diverse and inclusive workplace that honors the unique talents and lived experiences of each person. Our vision and values are reflected in all our employment-related decisions, including hiring practices. Accordingly, TSNE actively seeks people who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in our work.

As an EOE/AA employer, TSNE/FRESH will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.