Research and Education Associate

Status: Full time, Non-Exempt
Reports to: Director of Special Programs
Location: Tilth Alliance Main Office – Wallingford, Seattle, WA and Rainier
Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands and University of Washington, Bothell Campus.

Tilth Alliance Mission:
Tilth Alliance is helping to create an ecologically sound, socially just, and
economically vital food system across Washington State. We believe that all
people deserve access to healthy, nutritious food. For 40 years we have taught
people to grow, prepare, and eat food in ways that sustain the environment,
promote health, and support producers’ ability to make a living. Changing the
way we grow, cook and eat food has the potential to transform people’s lives
as well as the communities in which we live.

Position Description:
Our Youth Education program engages young people, adults and families of
diverse backgrounds to explore their local food system through hands-on and
experiential learning activities in the garden, farm and wetlands. These
include programming and volunteer opportunities around growing food,
environmental stewardship, and cooking and sharing food in community. The
Research and Education Associate is a dynamic position that will primarily
focus on a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research project (80%).
The NSF research includes co-designing equitable garden and field-based
science education in K-3 classrooms with families, teachers, and community-
based organizations. The research will also explore sustainable garden and
outdoor learning environment design at participating schools. Aside from the
research, the Associate will support education programming at the Rainier
Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands (RBUFW), which includes classes, camps, farm
tours, service learning and family days (20%). The Associate will work
collaboratively with colleagues and local communities and must be open to
different perspectives and experiences to address issues related to food
access, equitable field-based science education, and sustainability in support
of the development of an equitable food system. This position will require
frequent travel between the Tilth Alliance office, school and partner sites in
Seattle, RBUFW, and meetings at the University of Washington Bothell.

Responsibilities:

National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Assistance (32 hours/week)
•Work with the research partners, the University of Washington and Seattle
Public Schools, on a co-design team and participate in weekly design meetings
•Contribute to developing models, teaching materials, and website for
equitable field-based science education in K-3 grades
•Work with participating schools on sustainable school garden design and
development, and technical assistance for outdoor learning environments
•Regularly collaborate with families and teachers from participating schools
•Assist with organizing and creating a learning community with Community Based
Organizations
•Keep detailed records of research activities and participate in gathering and
analyzing data
•Co-facilitate workshops for families, teachers, and CBOs
Youth Engagement (8 hours/week)
•Provide opportunities for community engagement at RBUFW through Family Days,
camps, and other community events
•Work with children, teens, and adults in outdoor garden and farm education
settings
•Support Youth Education programs including Garden Educator Workshops and
Seattle Learning Garden Network
•Maintain detailed records of program metrics
•Engage a diverse range of community members through relevant experiential
programming
•Attend staff meetings, contribute to board reports and other tracking,
support events and other duties related to being a member of the Tilth
Alliance staff.

Required Qualifications
•2-4 years of experience designing and developing school gardens or outdoor
classroom environments (not limited to food gardens. Can include rain, native,
permaculture, restoration, wildlife and others)
•Proven ability to develop and implement curriculum for elementary classrooms
•Experience working collaboratively with school administrators, teachers, and
students
•Demonstrated ability and success working with people from a variety of
racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, with various lifestyles and sexual
orientations
•Outstanding organizational, attention to detail, and time management skills
•Creative and motivated. Ability to problem solve and work in dynamic settings
•Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
•Self-directed and able to work independently as well as with a team
•Able to work evenings and weekends on occasion, or as needed
•Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and Google Drive
•Able to transport self and materials reliably to education and outreach
locations. Frequent travel is required in and around Seattle and to University
of Washington Bothell.
•Ability to lift 50 pounds

Desired Qualifications and Attributes:
•2-4 years of experience coordinating outdoor environmental or school garden
programs
•Understanding of agroforestry or permaculture design principals
•Knowledge of and commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and
environmental justice
•Experience and familiarity building partnerships and working within SE
Seattle communities
•Experience training, coordinating, and supervising volunteers
•Previous experience on research projects with communities a plus
•Ability to teach and write in Spanish, Vietnamese, Amharic, Somali or other
languages a plus
•BA or BS in a related field, or comparable experience in a related field

Benefits and Compensation:
This is a full-time, non-exempt position that requires willingness to work
some evenings and weekends, as well as travel between sites around Seattle.
Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401K (not matched),
paid time-off and sick leave. This position will be based at the Good Shepherd
Center in Wallingford, and some work at University of Washington Bothell and
Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands in South Seattle. Compensation is $17-21
per hour.

To Apply:
No phone calls please. Submit a letter of interest and resume as one document
in PDF or Word format outlining 1) your experience with the qualifications
listed above and 2) why you are interested in this position. Email all
materials to hr@tilthalliance.org with the subject “Research and Education
Associate Application.” This position is open until filled. Applications
received by October 12, 2018 will be given preference.

Tilth Alliance is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to
cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that
diversity is essential to achieving our mission. Tilth Alliance is an equal
opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or
applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin,
race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification
protected by federal, state, or local law. Women, people of color, and
individuals from under-represented communities are strongly encouraged to
apply.