Operations and Development Assistant Director

Gardening the Community (gardeningthe.org) is a BIPOC-led urban agriculture organization engaged in youth development and advancing racial justice to build healthy and equitable communities. We work with youth to grow food on reclaimed abandoned lots in the Mason Square community of Springfield. We partner with the Springfield Food Policy Council on advocacy campaigns for increased access to healthy food and greater food security for historically marginalized residents. The impact of our work is far beyond growing vegetables. GTC contributes to the local and statewide food and racial justice movements that seek to change the root causes of the poor health and unjust food systems facing communities (especially low-income communities and communities of color) across the State. We are creating locally controlled food resources that support our young people, build community and offer sustainable alternatives to Springfield families.

GTC is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE (tsne.org).

The Development & Operations Assistant Director is an integral position at Gardening the Community, overseeing the organization's day to day management and its overall development strategies including staff events and communication, stewardship, and research and tracking. This position works closely with the Executive Director to ensure the management of GTC's operations and development systems are supported and utilized to ensure organizational effectiveness and inform donor development strategy.

The ideal candidate will have proven success in management role, with a special focus on advising, interdepartmental collaboration and change management. The position reports to the Executive Director and hybrid (onsite and remote).

Essential Functions

People and Operations

• Directly supervise Operations and Development Coordinator, Accounting Assistant, and Volunteers;
• Provide operational supervision to the ED’s direct reports;
• Support ED in hiring processes: Assist with drafting job descriptions, participate in the interview process, and screening candidates for positions, complying with TSNE’s HR policies and procedures as well as all other HR requirements, laws, statutes, policies and procedures;
• Coordinate onboarding for all new staff members;
• Act as trusted advisor and thought partner to the ED while exercising the highest level of discretion; 
• Keep the ED abreast of the real-time organizational culture dynamics, including employee wellbeing, project statuses, new proposals, and planning;
• Operations and Development Assistant Director will set and identify priorities and where to direct focus and identify metrics for success;
• Oversee daily operations and administrative tasks and make recommendations to Executive Director;
• Co-create, manage, and interpret operations reports for revenue generating sources including Farm Store and Plant Sale alongside the individuals leading those activities;
• Assess current processes and improve internal efficiency. Document standardized processes;
• Document program outcomes including tracking progress on program metrics and evaluation goals;
• Manage incoming and outgoing mail;
• Manage the purchasing of office supplies, copying and printing, and scheduling meetings and travel;
• Vendor management;
• Oversee payment processing, deliverables, invoicing, and reimbursement requests;
• Support Organizational Tech Systems including: website, GSuite (email creation for new staff and Google Drive organization), Excel, Canva, Neon, Mailchimp, Concur;
• Work the GTC Farm Store for at least two shifts a month.

Administration and Communications 

• Support & participate in staff meeting, including take meeting notes, sending minutes, and following up with action items;
• Work with the executive director to develop and create the design, preparation, and distribution of newsletters, annual reports, websites, flyers and other GTC communications;
• Social media management supervises staff and interns (focus around campaigns, fundraising, and newsletter).

Development Tracking, Stewardship, Research 

• Develop a list of opportunities for donor outreach and community engagement for GTC’s existing donors;
• Conduct research on donor prospects to expand donor base; 
• In collaboration with the Executive Director, coordinate all funder cultivation and appeal efforts, communications and acknowledgments;
• Support ED in individual donor cultivation, stewardship and appreciation including tracking in donor software Neon;
• Track and ensure timely grant and report submission with all required documentation (grant writing and report content handled by ED);
• Identify and evaluate eligibility for new grants;
• Oversee the maintenance of GTC’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database (Neon) including grant pipeline, timeline set-up and donation tracking and reconciliation with TSNE;
• Manage planning and logistics for virtual and in-person events and fundraising events.
• Ongoing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) creation;
• Work with GTC team members to coordinate GTC interns and volunteer program including outreach, tracking and recordkeeping, office/site orientation, and placement;
• Other duties as assigned.

Additional Requirements

• Completion of Undoing Racism Workshop

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

• Three or more years of relevant experience in managerial and/or supervisory experience;
• At least 1 year of experience managing communications and administrative experience including program content transfer into website, newsletter and social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn;
• Ability to work in an environment that is both highly independent and collaborative at the same time, and juggle multiple ongoing projects, responsibilities and relationships;
• Exceptional organizational, written and verbal communication skills;
• Maintain excellent judgment and discretion;
• Experience in data and budget management;
• Proven success in a project coordination role;
• Demonstrated commitment to GTC’s mission and core values;
• Demonstrated understanding of racial equity, food and/or health equity;
• Strong knowledge and experience using GSuite (Google Workspace, Word, Excel, etc.)
• Strong attention to detail;
• Successful Background/CORI Check;
• Successful Drivers License Check and willingness to drive large vehicles (GTC refrigerated truck and passenger van, preferred;
• 1+ years Project Management experience, preferred;
• 1+ years Communication experience, preferred;
• Experience with a CRM such as Neon or Salesforce, a plus;
• Bilingual, preferred.

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. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

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

• Work on a farm site;
• Work in a retail environment;
• Work in a retail farm store environment and in close proximity to other workers;
• Travel between farm sites;
• Exposure to inclement weather on occasion;
• Handle, objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit or stand (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time in front of a computer screen is an essential aspect of the position.
• Lift and/or move up to 25 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 primarily performed hybrid at Gardening the Community in Springfield, MA and remotely from personal home office.

Schedule: The hours for this position will be 37.5 hours a week. This role requires the ability to work occasional mornings, nights and weekends.

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $55,000/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 health leave time for full-time staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost MetLife 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!

To Apply

Please include the following documents with your application:

• Resume/CV – Use document upload section in the beginning of the application
• GTC specific cover letter to include answers to the questions below – You will be prompted to enter a cover letter towards the end of the application and will need to copy paste it into the space available not as an attachment.
• How do you see your role as a member of a justice and equity-driven organization working with and centering the lived experiences of racially and economically diverse populations? 

TSNE/GTC strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/GTC prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/GTC celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/GTC's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.