Healthy Gardens Manager

Title: Healthy Gardens Manager

Department/Programs:  Healthy Gardens Manager/Inspiritus Healthy Gardens Program

Position Type:  Part-time/ Full

Location:   Nashville Office

Reports to:  Middle TN Regional Director

Travel %:  Up to 80%

Job Shift: Day and weekends as needed

Job Categories:  Nonprofit - Social Services

Reports To:  The Healthy Garden Manager will report to the Middle TN Regional Director and work collaboratively with the Family & Youth Services Program Specialist.

Job Overview

Inspiritus is seeking a professional and compassionate individual, experienced in vegetable gardening, to empower families and individuals in public and subsidized housing to grow their own gardens. The Inspiritus Healthy Gardens program provides individualized 4’x8’ft. raised-bed gardens to teach and empower families living in public and subsidized housing to grow their own fresh, nutritious vegetables thus promoting healthy eating. The gardens increase the nutritional content of meals in the diets of families living in poverty who often live in food deserts, struggle with transportation, and consume high fat and high salt content foods. Individuals and families raising gardens increase independence and responsibility since each garden is located right outside the door of each participant. Although the gardens are not communal, they have proven to decrease a sense of isolation, often found in low-income communities, and promote healthy social interaction and support.

The ideal candidate will have experience in growing techniques and be a patient teacher while allowing families to experiment with their own growing techniques. They will be an effective liaison for Inspiritus to grow the program in additional communities while maintaining existing sites. They will work with government entities and property management where the gardens are located. They will be willing to install new garden beds and work with families to build, plant, and maintain their own garden beds. They will encourage and celebrate successes and carefully guide families who struggle. They will be willing to work in the gardens with the elderly and those experiencing health issues. An exceptional candidate should demonstrate excellent communication, program development, analytical, and managerial skills. Position may/can move to full-time due to additional responsibilities and program needs. 

Responsibilities and Duties

•  Maintains contact with all gardeners by phone or on-site visits at least 2-3 times during the growing season.
• Assesses needs of gardeners and distributes supplies as needed.
• Coordinates and manages community plant days with volunteers.
• Picks up garden kits, soil, plants, etc. from the Nashville office.
• Transports garden supplies as needed.
• Teaches new families the essentials of planting and maintaining a garden.
• Responsible for distribution and retention of applications for new gardeners.
• Coordinates with apartment management to approve new sites.
• Visits new garden sites to assess the viability of growth.
• Encourages existing gardeners in the growing process to maintain neat and productive gardens.
• Collect and collates year-end production reports and surveys.
• Assist with bids for supplies as needed.
• Develop garden peer group meetings.
• Assist with connecting volunteer mentors and/or master gardener volunteers to new and existing gardeners. 

• Develops and creates partnerships with organizations, government entities, and potential new donors.
• Maintains accurate, current and complete service records according to established timelines, policies, procedures, funding sources, grants, and/or contracts.
• Displays independence in working with families in various settings (i.e., in home, community based, and center based).
• Develops strong alliances and support within the service providing agencies in the community. 
• Acts as an advocate for the individual(s) receiving services and the organization.
• Displays sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Conforms with and abides by all regulations, policies, work procedures, and instructions.

Non-Essential Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

Performs other duties as assigned to meet business and program needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Financial Responsibilities:

• None

Minimum Qualifications/Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience dealing with social issues impacting consumers and the community.
• Ability and desire to work within a team and to work independently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have the ability to communicate with all persons in a culturally competent manner.
• Must be sensitive to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Ability to take initiative and coordinate logistics.
• Ability to use critical thinking skills and make appropriate, difficult decisions.
• Ability to forge mutually respectful partnerships with persons served and their families.
• Willing and able to work evenings and weekends, as needed, to meet client/agency needs.
• Must be computer literate in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Must have personal vehicle, valid Tennessee Driver’s License, good driving record and appropriate automobile insurance.

Physical Demands:  Regularly required to talk and hear. Required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms. Required to operate personal vehicle.  Employee frequently lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions:  Outdoor environment.  Travels up to 80% of the time to meet with consumers, families, staff, service providers, and others.  While performing the responsibilities of this job, the employee travels by automobile and is exposed to changing weather conditions.