Farm Store Assistant

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 Farm Store Assistant is responsible for managing the daily operations of the farm store and farm stand during assigned shifts, and will also assist with other projects, as needed.

Essential Functions

• Leads the opening and/or closing of the farm store (including financial and product recordkeeping); ensures register close out sheets/receipts and paperwork are in order to present to the Financial Assistant;
• Ensures valuables are stored safely in dry storage area;
• Maintains store and cold storage cleanliness including daily compost, garbage and recycling disposal;
• Helps set up store product layout and culls through produce to make sure it is looking fresh;
• Ensures pricing signage is complete and synced with prices in Square;
• Works with other staff to develop educational materials about buying local, environmental benefits, and  farm store/GTC values, etc. for posting at the store and online;
• Role models good leadership, customer service, safe food handling, and work ethic for staff;
• Helps train any new store staff in store procedures, as needed;
• Staffs the Farm Store weekly based on assigned schedule (Saturday may be required); 
• Performs and supervises general store maintenance (including bathroom); refers issues concerning major repairs to Farm Store Manager/Executive Director;
• Will provide support on the farm, as needed;
• Contributes to the biweekly e-newsletter, as well as social media and website content when requested;
• Drive GTC refrigerated truck and passenger van, as needed;
• Completion of Undoing Racism Workshop
• Other duties as assigned.

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

• Successful background check;
• Successful Driver’s License Check, preferred;
• Ability to work Saturdays;
• Bilingual, preferred;
• Knowledgeable about GTC;
• Interest in issues relating to local food, food access, and sustainable agriculture;
• Retail experience, preferred;
• Highly detailed oriented;
• Experience in NEON CRM or other database management;
• Knowledgeable of Food Justice and Food Access issues and solutions;
• Completion of Undoing Racism Workshop;
• Experience working in an urban farm or garden setting (with GTC or other similar organization);
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Ability to work occasional mornings, nights and weekends.

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;
• 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 at Gardening the Community in Springfield, MA. Work is not eligible for remote work.

Schedule: The hours for this position will be flexible up to 32 hours a week during regular business hours. This role requires the ability to work occasional mornings, nights and weekends.Hours may vary depeding on the season.

Compensation: The pay range for this position is $17 - $19/hr.

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 and Employee-paid 403b plan 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/GTCs EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.