Assistant Director, Operations and Programs

Gardening the Community (gardeningthe.org) is a black, indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC)-led urban agriculture organization, centered in a Springfield, a BIPOC community, engaged in youth development and advancing racial justice to build healthy and equitable communities. We work with youth from Springfield, 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 Assistant Director, Operations and Programs 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 program management systems are supported and utilized to ensure organizational effectiveness and inform strategic direction.

The Assistant Director, Operations and Programs leads and participate on improvement teams, with a willingness to continuously improve internal processes so we can more efficiently and effectively serve our participants and communities. The incumbent has proven success in a management role and will strengthen GTC leadership with a focus on interdepartmental collaboration, change management and advancing environmental justice education and strategies into GTC programming. The position reports to the Executive Director and is hybrid (onsite and remote).

Essential Functions

People and Operations

• Directly supervise Farm Manager, Youth Leadership Program Manager, Youth Program Associates, Volunteer Coordinator and Volunteers; 
• Provide operational supervision to the ED’s direct reports;
• Promote a high functioning team, directing the work of others and ensuring team members have the resources and support they need to complete the program work and develop professionally;
• Support ED in hiring and onboarding processes;
• Coordinate onboarding for all new staff members;
• Act as trusted advisor and thought partner to the ED while exercising the highest level of discretion; 
• Participate in communications, meetings, and training with fiscal sponsor.
• Manage and oversee daily operations and administrative tasks and make recommendations to Executive Director;
• Provide timely and accurate expense reports to fiscal sponsor. 
• 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;
• Manage the purchasing of office supplies, copying and printing, and scheduling meetings and travel;
• Vendor management;
• Support staff with technology needs and act as a liaison between program staff and IT/technology vendors;
• 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. 

Program Management

• Oversee short- and long-term programs;
• With Executive Director approval initiate new programs and adapt existing programs as needed;
• Document program outcomes including tracking progress on program metrics and evaluation goals;
• Track program expenses and compare budget; provide quarterly updates;
• Serves as the day-to-day leader on program(s) responsible for problem solving and assisting team with challenges that arise;
• Collaborates with the team to develop and execute an evaluation plan, utilizing data to monitor program progress, drive improvements real time, and evaluate the program after close-out;
• Create meaningful partnerships, and overcome barriers in service of achieving better, more equitable outcomes.

 Administration and Communications 

• Participates in internal processes to promote learning across FSO team members;
• 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). 

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.

• 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;
• Committed to build and drive a team and culture of positivity, confidence, competence, and togetherness;
• Successful Background/CORI Check;
• Successful Driver’s License Check and willingness to drive large vehicles (GTC refrigerated truck and passenger van);
• 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:

• Be able to work on a farm site 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 15 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.

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? 

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed in person at Gardening the Community in Springfield, MA. There is opportunity for some remote work 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 salary range for this position is $55,000 - $62,400/year and is commensurate with experience.

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

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): twelve paid holidays, three weeks of vacation, one week of personal holiday, and ability to accrue up to 487.5 hours of health leave time for benefited staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• 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/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.