Operations and Development Coordinator - Temporary

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 Third Sector New England, Inc. (TSNE) (tsne.org).

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

This is a temporary position.

Essential Functions

Communications

• Work with the development team to develop and create the design, preparation, and distribution of newsletters, annual reports, websites, flyers and other GTC communications.

Development Tracking, Stewardship, Research 

• Assist with the diversification of  revenue sources by proactively planning and researching for future desired awards;
• Conduct research on donor prospects to expand donor base; 
• Prepare sponsorship solicitations opportunities;
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Operations and Development Assistant Director to distribute 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 pledges including sustainer gifts for monthly development reports to Executive Director;
• Update donor payment methods, as needed;
• Support the Operations and Development Assistant Director in maintaining GTC’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database (Neon) including grant pipeline, timeline set-up and donation tracking and reconciliation with TSNE;
• Develop a list of opportunities for donor outreach and community engagement for GTC’s existing donors;
• Support the coordination of planning and logistics for virtual and in-person events and fundraising events.

Organizational Development & Administration

• Support and participate in staff meeting, including take meeting notes, sending minutes, and following up with action items;
• General Organizational and Board Committees Support including sending meeting invitations, managing note taking, and following up with action items (committees meet every other month);
• Provide administrative support as needed, including management and purchasing of office supplies, copying and printing, and scheduling meetings and travel;
• Work the GTC Farm Store for at least two shifts a month;
• Drive GTC refrigerated truck and passenger van, as needed;
• Other duties as assigned.

Additional Requirement

• Completion of Undoing Racism Workshop.

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

• At least 1 year of published communications and administrative experience including program content transfer into website, newsletter and social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn;
• 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 Driver’s License Check and willingness to drive large vehicles (GTC refrigerated truck and passenger van);
• Successful Background/CORI Check;
• 1+ years Project Management experience, preferred;
• 1+ years Communication experience, preferred;
• Experience with a CRM such as Neon or Salesforce, a plus.

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; 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 remotely. Occasionally work will be done at Gardening the Community in Springfield, MA. 

Schedule: This is a temporary position. The hours for this position will be flexible up to 18 hours a week. This role requires the ability to work occasional mornings, nights and weekends.

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $19.48/hr and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is not eligible for benefits.

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.