Community Compost Lab Assistant

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW 

Food Well Alliance (FWA) is a collaborative network of local leaders working together to build thriving community gardens and urban farms across metro Atlanta. Our mission is to provide resources and support to local growers to connect and build healthier communities. Our vision is for an equitable, local food ecosystem in which everyone can participate and benefit.

In 2015, Jim Kennedy, chair of Cox Enterprises, and Bill Bolling, founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, had an idea to build healthier communities across metro Atlanta by connecting and supporting members of our local food movement. FWA exists to bring this vision to life. Today, we support more than 120 community gardens and 35 urban farms in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties.

Since 2015, FWA has engaged thousands of people annually around the issues of local food and has provided more than $4 million in direct resources to nearly 200 farms, gardens and local food organizations across our 5-county service area. We have turned farmers into entrepreneurs, community gardeners into vocal neighborhood leaders, and citizens into champions for healthy soil.

Food Well Alliance accomplishes its work through two primary program areas:

• Resource Center - We provide centralized resources to build a supportive ecosystem for thriving community gardens and urban farms. We accomplish this work through 5 areas of support: Knowledge (e.g. trainings and workshops), Volunteer and Labor Support, Compost, Tools & Equipment, and Capacity Building Grants (for urban farms, community gardens, and community food organizations).

• Policy & Planning - We bring local government leaders together with community and local food leaders to develop plans that bring urban agriculture into city planning processes similar to a housing or transportation plan. We accomplish this work primarily through our City Agriculture Planning, in partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission. We are currently focused on implementing the region’s first ever City Agriculture Plan in the City of East Point and taking steps to launch the next metro Atlanta city to participate in City Agriculture Planning.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Food Well Alliance is seeking a Community Compost Lab Assistant (CCLA) to assist the Community Compost Lab Operation Manager (CCLOM). The assistant will report directly to the CCLOM and Urban Agriculture Project Manager. The CCLA will assist with the execution of composting local food waste to create a finished compost product that will be distributed to local farmers, community gardens and home gardeners. The ideal candidate can work both autonomously and as part of a collaborative team, is detail-oriented, thrives in a fast-paced environment, can effectively balance competing priorities and doesn’t let anything fall through the cracks. She/he/they are excited to contribute to a positive and productive team culture whose main goal is to use data-driven decision making to support urban agriculture.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with the Community Compost Lab Manager to efficiently manage the Compost Lab at Truly Living Well Farm.

• Manage data and metrics tracking for compost lab that include temperature, amount of food waste, amount of compost produced, etc.

• Receiving and incorporating material into piles, turning piles, monitoring ASP blower systems, sifting and bagging finished compost.

• Keep the Community Compost Lab site free of standing water, trash and debris.

• Work through Compost Site Operator’s Training course with Community Compost Lab Site Operations Manager.

REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated interest and experience in urban agriculture and composting practices.

• Ability to operate a tractor and ability to learn how to operate heavy equipment.

• Must be able to follow EPA guidelines regarding data reporting and daily operational practices.

• This position is 12-15 hours per week.

• Proficient in Microsoft and G Suite.

COMPENSATION

This is a contract position that requires 12-15 hours per week. The hourly wage is $17/hour.

DIVERSE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Food Well Alliance is a community that is proud to represent different racial, socio-economic, gender, and other identities. Our diversity as a community is our strength, driving our ability to be empathetic, visionary, and effective leaders in the local food movement and our city.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email your resume to jobs@foodwellalliance.org, to the attention of Brandon Crumsey, Urban Agriculture Project Manager, by July 30, 2022 at 5 pm. Include “Compost Lab Assistant” in the email subject line.