Garden Educator

Green Heart Garden Educator

Full time or part time; 10 – 40hr/week

Are you passionate about food, health, and outdoor education? Do you love working with kids and volunteers? If so, we want you to join the Green Heart Project team as our full-time Garden Educator!

Position Summary:
The Garden Educator’s primary responsibility is to lead garden-based learning activities for elementary and middle school students, including hands-on lessons in the garden and culinary classes, and build strong relationships with all school community members. This position plays a key role in strengthening students’ understanding of garden and kitchen connections, as well as how the food we grow affects themselves, their community, and the planet.

Areas of Focus: Educational Planning and Instruction (60%), Community Outreach (20%), Garden Maintenance (20%)

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Educational Planning and Instruction 60%
▪ Plan, prepare, and deliver Green Heart weekly lesson plans that facilitate active learning.
▪ Instruct and monitor groups of 12-25 students at a time.
▪ Ensure that the garden is prepared adequately for all students, volunteers, and school staff to use as an outdoor classroom.
▪ Lead and coach Green Heart Buddy volunteers throughout instruction to ensure student success.
▪ Confer weekly with the Green Heart programs team for lesson planning and delivery.
▪ Communicate weekly to coordinate lesson times and logistics with teachers and staff at partner schools, volunteer
Green Heart Buddies, and other Green Heart Project staff members.
▪ Plan and coordinate Green Heart programs at least twice per semester with partner school staff members.
▪ Acquire and organize all lesson supplies and materials for assigned programs.
▪ Assist with Youth Internship Program, as needed throughout the year.
▪ Other duties/tasks as assigned.
▪ Community Outreach 20%
▪ Take part in at least two community engagement events per semester at assigned Green Heart partner schools, such as Farm to Cafeteria activities, science fairs, staff meetings, PTA meetings, etc.
▪ Serve as a team player, leading and assisting on other organizational tasks, including but not limited to planning and executing public events.
▪ Other duties/tasks as assigned.
Garden Maintenance 20%
▪ Conduct weekly garden maintenance and upkeep at assigned partner schools, including watering, weeding, compost management, etc., with support and direction from the Farm and Garden team.
▪ Participate in all “Garden Workday” volunteer events at assigned partner schools.
▪ Other duties/tasks as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
▪ Must have bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience and training.
▪ Must have experience teaching or leading elementary, middle, or high school students in a structured setting, ideally in food, farming, or health education.
▪ Must have strong interpersonal skills, as well as verbal and written communication skills.
▪ Proficient computer skills and meeting apps, including collaborative applications such as Microsoft Suite or Google Workspace.
▪ Must be comfortable with “getting your hands dirty” and working in an outdoor environment on a regular basis.
▪ Skilled in group management (students and adult volunteers).
▪ Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

DESIRED COMPETENCIES:
▪ Demonstrated strong teamwork skills.
▪ Strong commitment to promoting and supporting health, education, and volunteerism.
▪ Ability to create a safe and inclusive space for a diverse community of stakeholders.
▪ High level of motivation and commitment to support and facilitate The Green Heart Project’s mission and philosophy.
▪ Ability to collaborate with a variety of school systems and community partners to build a positive public relationship.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
▪ This position may be required to work outside of general operating hours of business, including weekends and/or evenings.
▪ Regularly works in outdoor weather conditions, including but not limited to, exposure to extreme temperatures such as heat or cold.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
▪ Ability to frequently bend, reach, stoop, squat, pivot, turn, balance, walk, pull, and lift and carry up to 50lbs.
▪ Ability to quickly move hands and

If you are interested in joining our team, please send your resume and a cover letter to [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!