Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative Coordinator

FLSA Status: Non-exempt, Part-time, Hourly

Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative

BCGC is composed of diverse community garden members who share a common commitment to organic, urban agriculture, and access to healthy food for all residents of Berkeley. By providing a forum for mutual support and the sharing of common resources, BCGC assists and protects existing gardens, facilitates the formation of new gardens, and advocates food security initiatives in our local schools and city. BCGC actively seeks to create a more sustainable society by engaging in environmentally beneficial urban land stewardship, which includes urban agriculture, the preservation of open space, habitat restoration, and cultivating community. To broaden its impact and build alliances, BCGC partners with other organizations that share its goals. Land, air, water, and seeds are our commonwealth, which we have a right and duty to protect. BCGC is fiscally sponsored by the Ecology Center.

Summary of Responsibilities:

The Berkeley Community Gardening Coordinator works to increase food security through the promotion of community gardening, the expansion of urban agriculture, and the serving and support of school and community gardens. The Coordinator provides information and education to the public, and serves as a liaison between community gardens, the City, and the residents of Berkeley.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Deliver compost to 5+ community or school gardens in Berkeley each month.
  • Coordinate annual meeting between all community garden coordinators and the Parks/Rec/Waterfront Department.
  • Coordinate with BUSD to aid school gardens, fundraising events, grant writing, etc.
  • Attend community garden meetings to determine what is needed, either from the city or BCGC, and mediate problems; keep gardeners and organizers in touch with events and with each other, planning meetings, events, etc.
  • Oversee tool lending and the distribution of free seeds to community gardens.
  • Write year-end reports on the status of each community garden for the City.
  • Survey community gardeners to obtain demographics of participants.
  • Pay bills, submit invoices, purchase supplies, and keep account of funds.
  • Meet annually with BCGC Steering Committee to share accomplishments, problem-solve, and vision.
  • Manage donations and engage in fundraising for BCGC.
  • Participate in the Berkeley Food Policy Council and Berkeley Climate Action Coalition Land Use working group to provide technical assistance on community gardens and to further goals related to community gardens and the expansion of urban agriculture.
  • In coordination with Berkeley’s Parks/Rec/Waterfront Department, provide public with technical expertise and education regarding Berkeley’s community gardens.
  • Provide outreach specifically to low-income residents of Berkeley to encourage them to participate in community gardening.
  • Maintain brochures, webpage, and other media relevant to BCGC and maintain contact and location list of all community gardens in Berkeley.
  • Promote community and school garden events.
  • Manage correspondence regarding BCGC.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Possess a passion for urban gardens, community, children, and healthy food for all
  • Possess knowledge related to urban agriculture, community gardening, food security
  • Demonstrate familiarity with community garden practices and structures
  • Possess project management skills; must be detail-oriented, accurate, efficient, and organized
  • Be dependable and strong in commitments; ability to work independently
  • Ability to work collaboratively with many different people; demonstrate a warm, patient, respectful, tactful approach to relationships
  • Ability to develop and maintain functional city relationships
  • Possess strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work with adults, youth, and children
  • Possess good listening skills; ability to effectively advocate for others’ needs
  • Possess logistical acumen; ability to create efficient processes and pursue long-term goals
  • Current CA Drivers License

Desired Qualifications:

  • High School Diploma/GED
  • Experience with urban agriculture or community gardening.
  • Project management experience
  • Experience working with government agencies or staff preferred
  • Experience writing grant proposals and/or reports preferred

Hours

12 hours a week, flexible schedule. Occasional evening or weekend meetings or events.

Wage

$18 per hour, 10 months per year. This position does not receive health benefits.

How to Apply:

  1. Complete application found at www.ecologycenter.org/jobs/
  2. Email resume, cover letter, and completed application form to BeeboTurman@gmail.com and Daniel@spiralgardens.org.

Application Deadline

September 20, 2015

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

We value diversity. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. EOE/AA