Watsonville + Santa Cruz, California
Permanent Full-Time Position
Rolling Interviews Starting January 1st, 2016
March Start Date
About FoodWhat: FoodWhat is a youth empowerment and food justice organization that uses food, through sustainable agriculture and health, as the vehicle for growing strong, healthy, and inspired teens. We partner with low-income and struggling youth to grow, cook, eat, and distribute healthy, sustainably raised food and address food justice issues in our community. We serve high school aged youth (primarily in alternative education and continuation high schools), and prioritize teens struggling from low family income, academic challenges, trauma, foster care, and substance abuse. Youth from Watsonville to Santa Cruz join the FoodWhat Crew on our two farm sites through spring internships, summer jobs, fall business management positions, and leading community events. Our highly intensive core programs serve 60 youth annually through a graduated leadership model. We create a safe space where youth engage in leadership development, personal growth, and job training. At FoodWhat, we inspire personal transformation by supporting teens in finding their voices and developing lasting confidence in themselves. Check us out at www.foodwhat.org.
In 2016, FoodWhat will be celebrating our 10th year. Alumni youth speak of their profound transformation and growth from their time at FoodWhat. In this staff position, you will be at the core of our relationships with youth and their experience at FW. In 2015 we made significant strides in deepening our programmatic elements in Watsonville. We have solid financial standing, and we’re on a serious growth trajectory. We are now looking for a fourth staff member to take a leadership position to drive our programs forward, particularly in Watsonville, and into our next decade of work. You should be ready to hit the ground running, implementing our existing programming in your first year, with an eye toward program development and innovation to take FW to the next level shortly after.
Position Description: We are looking for a highly motivated, detail-oriented and energetic person to join our staff in this newly created position of Programs Manager. This position will work in concert with our Farm Manager and Executive Director in the planning and implementation of our farm-based Spring, Summer, and Fall core youth programming, in-school Winter Community Educator program, and year-round Junior Staff training, as well as organizing our two big on-farm events, managing FoodWhat Alumni activities, and performing other tasks related to youth mentorship and program coordination.
This position demands an individual with a high level of programmatic functioning who is truly gifted in working with youth. You will be a leader in our organization, and a partner, mentor, coach, and cheerleader to the youth. You are someone with outstanding relationship building skills who is personable, approachable, a great listener, and passionate about our mission. You get the big picture while being a strategic thinker who can dive in and get the daily work done. Most importantly you are a deep believer in the power and potential of youth and willing to do everything in your power to support youth in removing any barriers to their success and growth. You’re playful, comfortable being you, and willing to share your personal magic with FoodWhat youth while creating safe space.
Responsibilities:
Direct program team in design and organization of innovative, dynamic and transformative core programming
Manage the day-to-day implementation of all FW programs
Outreach and hiring of all FoodWhat youth
Leading and/or coordinating activities including workshops, farming, cooking, job training and community service with youth in core programs (Spring/Summer/Fall)
Workshop creation/updating/implementation
Mentoring youth to organize our two big on-farm annual events (Spring Strawberry Blast and Fall Harvest Festival)
Outreach, coordination and training for our youth-led, peer-to-peer, health and food justice Community Educator workshop series
Managing the FoodWhat Alumni network, including organization of two annual Alumni events
Partner with the ED and Development Manager in sharing FW’s story
Supporting implementation of fundraising and community events
Participate in program evaluation (quantitative and qualitative)
Developing social media and web communication
Supervision of full and part-time staff, seasonal program staff, interns, and volunteers
Required Qualifications:
§ At least 3-5 years youth development experience with low-income youth (teens), preferably from an empowerment perspective
§ Strong facilitation and group management skills
§ Knowledge of and experience with low-income communities and under-served communities of color
§ Understanding of and commitment to social justice with an analysis of systems of power, privilege and oppression
§ Passion for building community and deep relationships
§ At least one year farming or gardening experience and skill (formal or informal)
§ Bilingual Spanish speaker
§ Positive, creative, and flexible
§ Ability to work independently and in team setting, and in fast-paced, changing environment
§ Completes tasks successfully and within specified deadlines: demonstrates strong time management skills implementing programs on time and on budget
§ Dependable with thorough follow through
§ Ability to handle multiple programs/projects at once; strong organizational skills and attention to detail
§ Demonstrated ability to build and maintain successful relationships
§ Good communication skills: verbal, written, electronic and with a variety of audiences
§ Highly competent in use of computers and comfort using technology on a daily basis; additional software experience a plus (database, graphic design)
§ Utilizes and can exemplify tools or strategies for maintaining self-care and personal well-being
§ Physically fit to meet the demands of working on farm with youth with ability to lift 50lbs.
§ Willingness to work non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends as programs demand
§ Valid California Driver’s license and vehicle for personal and youth travel
Preferred:
Bi-cultural
Rooted in Watsonville—preference given to Watsonville residents, or those willing to relocate to and engage in the Watsonville community
Experience with cooking/nutrition fundamentals a plus
Position details:
This is a 40-hour per week, full time position with paid vacation, sick time, and holidays. Full medical, dental, and vision benefits provided. Salary commensurate with experience starting at $45,000.
How to apply
To Apply:
Please email partnership@foodwhat.org with the email subject line “Programs Manager” with your name. Please attach a single pdf “YourName.pdf” that includes these three items:
1. A cover letter that shares the unique skills you bring to the table and includes the date you are available to start
2. A resume with at least two professional references
3. A completed application. Review the attached application available for download here http://bit.ly/1N94PwU and answer some questions to demonstrate your skills and approach. The application is not optional; you must return all three components to be considered for the job.
We will begin reviewing and accepting candidate material immediately. A team of FoodWhat staff, youth and community partners are intended to guide this process and be part of the decision-making.
FoodWhat is an anti-discrimination, pro-equity program. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applicants only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.