Garden Program Coordinator Position

Position: Garden Program Coordinator

Employment Type: Full-time

The Ingham County Land Bank Fast Track Authority (“Land Bank”) is looking for an energetic and creative individual to serve as the Coordinator of its Garden Program. The Garden Program Coordinator is responsible for the management and expansion of the Ingham County Land Bank’s Garden Program and will perform a variety of duties while encouraging and supporting community-based beautification and gardening projects on vacant Land Bank property. The Garden Program Coordinator is responsible for enhancing and evolving the Garden Program, which currently consists of 66 community gardens in neighborhoods throughout Lansing. The person in this position will also be responsible for developing and maintaining a positive connection between community/neighborhood groups, residents and the Land Bank.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a liaison between the Land Bank, local jurisdictions, neighborhood residents, neighborhood organizations and existing and potential gardeners in the creation, and continual maintenance, of community-based beautification and gardening projects.
• Develops program guidelines and maintains program records in the effort to support long-term program sustainability.
• Utilizes the Land Bank’s maps and parcel inventory to identify key parcels for future gardens in consultation with Land Bank staff. Maintains an inventory of possible garden space.
• Schedules and hosts neighborhood meetings in order to gather resident input in regards to new and existing gardens.
• Assigns gardeners space, secures signed program participation paperwork and ensures that participants are adhering to the program’s guidelines.
• Gathers, submits and analyzes soil samples. Notifies gardeners in regards to soil conditions and recommendations.
• Ensures the success of the current gardens by facilitating garden visits and regular contact with site coordinators in order to monitor and document gardeners’ needs and site issues and to confirm that gardeners are meeting program expectations.
• Maintains the Garden Program budget, secures program resources, solicits donations for garden supplies and facilitates resource allocation.
• Researches and coordinates grant writing and fundraising efforts.
• Serves as program representative at community events and conducts outreach presentations and gardener recruitment with interested groups/and or individuals.
• Serves as Garden Program media representative and utilizes the media in outreach efforts. Composes newspaper/magazine articles for publication and develops and edits outreach materials such as flyers.
• Distributes garden updates, in regards to new and existing gardens, to County Commissioners, City Council members, neighborhood organization heads and centers as well as other interested groups and individuals.
• Explores entrepreneurial opportunities to share with gardeners in order create economic development opportunities for gardeners.
• Administers grants available to program participants.
• Available occasional nights and/or weekends.
• Performs other, related duties as necessary.

Minimum Applicant Requirements

• One or more years of experience in community development work
• Knowledge of food security issues facing low income communities
• Comfortable working with individuals of diverse backgrounds
• Excellent writing skills, especially as it relates to grant writing
• Background /experience in gardening (green thumb preferred)
• Ability to work under minimal supervision (self-motivated)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Willingness to work both at a desk and outside in urban neighborhoods

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience working in low income/opportunity neighborhoods
• Passionate about building community through food security and beautification/blight elimination efforts
• Extensive knowledge of and interest in urban gardening/farming
• Willing to supervise and mentor a full time AmeriCorps member and part-time summer interns or AmeriCorps members
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) experience
• Adept at social media and creating marketing materials
• Assertive yet fair in dealing with conflicts
• Visionary thinker able to apply creative solutions to unforeseen problems.

Compensation and Benefits
Compensation for this position will range from $28,000 per year to $35,000 per year depending on experience and qualifications. The Land Bank will pay the employer’s share of Social Security and Medicare taxes. Sick and vacation time allowance. No other benefits are offered at this time.

Hours and Expectations
The Land Bank’s office is open for business Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Garden Program Coordinator is expected to be generally available between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, or as otherwise mutually agreed. Work on evenings and weekends may be required.

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and three references by 5pm Friday, October 18 to:
Jeff Burdick, Ingham County Land Bank Executive Director
422 Adams Street
Lansing, MI 48906
jburdick@ingham.org

The Ingham County Land Bank is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.