Sustainability Coordinator of Campus Gardens- UMass Amherst
We are excited to announce that the UMass Amherst Permaculture Initiative seeks a highly passionate, thoughtful and skilled individual who embodies holistic sustainability and shows a demonstrated commitment to social justice to fill the Sustainability Coordinator of Campus Gardens position. If you are experienced in regenerative agriculture, enjoy working with diverse groups, and are passionate about facilitating transformational learning, apply today!
This full-time, benefited position serves as a key role in the UMass Amherst Auxiliary Sustainability Department, whose mission is to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to increase the sustainability of our campus foodservices’ facilities and operations. We leverage resources, visibility, and leadership to propel the campus sustainability movement at UMass and beyond.
The Initiative: A unique and cutting-edge sustainability program, UMass Amherst Permaculture provides empowering hands-on education and leadership training, community engagement, and fresh, local, organic produce to the UMass campus. Founded in 2010, the initiative builds and maintains highly productive, highly educational edible gardens right on campus. The gardens are designed using permaculture principles and are installed by students, staff, and volunteers.
UMass Permaculture serves as an international model, which has inspired permaculture projects at campuses across the world. It has received global recognition and numerous accolades, quickly becoming the most widely recognized campus permaculture initiative in the country. In 2012, the initiative was honored by President Obama as first place winners of the White House Campus Champions of Change Challenge.
The Position: The Sustainability Coordinator of Campus Gardens will oversee the educational programming, community outreach, care and operation of current gardens, and development of new gardens when space is available for the UMass Amherst Permaculture Initiative. In doing so, the Sustainability Coordinator of Campus Gardens provides students, faculty, staff and community members with unique opportunities to make meaningful connections to their food, the earth, and each other.
The ideal candidate for this exciting and challenging position would possess extensive knowledge and experience in both production and regenerative agriculture, excellent problem solving skills, and the ability to develop successful programming in an academic setting.
Duties and Responsibilities include:
- Oversees and coordinates care and operation of campus permaculture gardens. Develops and implements new permaculture gardens.
- Teaches a two-session, one credit, hands on course (STOCKSCH 198P) in which students learn about permaculture basics while maintaining on-campus gardens in both the Fall & Spring Semesters.
- Supervises Departmental Assistants, student employees, and interns.
- Performs planning, community outreach, and program development for the UMass Permaculture Initiative.
- Performs marketing, communications, and public relations of the UMass Permaculture Initiative including web design, social media, posters/flyers, press releases, newsletters, brochures, etc.
- Supervises the weekly, seasonal UMass Student Farmers Market.
- Coordinates with faculty on interdepartmental research efforts in campus permaculture gardens.
- Conducts presentations and tours.
- Devises and organizes educational workshops and events.
- Holds open forums where students, faculty and staff may present ideas, comments or questions about environmental sustainability at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
- Acts as a consultant to other universities and institutions by responding to inquiries regarding permaculture, garden design and sustainability.
- Collects and analyzes garden data.
- Coordinates and distributes garden produce to residential and retail dining operations.
- Collaborates with university chefs (Chef de Cuisine) on sustainable menu development and best uses for garden produce.
- Performs other Auxiliary Services sustainability duties as assigned
Requirements:
- Knowledge of sustainability issues, regenerative agriculture, and best practices.
- Ability to develop and execute new programs within an academic setting.
- Problem solving skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Skill in application of the principles and practices of effective supervision
- Excellent team-building, relationship-building, and networking skills
- Ability to build and sustain excellent working relationships.
- Ability to lift 25 lbs.
- Permaculture Design Certificate preferred
Apply online here. For more information, please contact info@umasspermaculture.com.
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