Program Manager for Youth Development Gardening: Summer

At the Lemberg Children’s Center in Waltham, we are launching a new program for high school students. We prefer a bilingual Spanish/English Progam Manager with experience in organic gardening and youth leadership. See the description below:

PROGRAM MANAGER

Environmental Stewardship Youth Development Program

(for high school students)

Location: Lemberg Children’s Center, 457 Old South St., Waltham, MA 02453

 (in walking distance to commuter rail)

Program Dates: July 6 – August 13 (6 weeks)

Hours: Tues, Wed, Thurs: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pay range: $24-28/hour, depending on experience

TO APPLY:
Email a resume and contact information with a cover letter describing why you feel you are a great fit for this position. References will be requested if selected for an interview.

Send email to: janetfuchs@brandeis.edu

Janet Fuchs, Environmental Program Director

Lemberg Children’s Center, Waltham, MA

Job Description:

The Youth Development Program Manager will be responsible for leading, mentoring and supervising a group of 4-6 high school students in a hands-on environmental education and leadership program, on the campus of the Lemberg Children’s Center in Waltham, MA, and off-site locations. The Program Manager will ensure a caring environment and age-appropriate levels of guidance, while encouraging personal responsibility and leadership. We are looking for a Program Manager with experience in gardening and environmental education, as well as knowledge of Positive Youth Development. The Program Manager will build pro-environmental behaviors while mentoring students to develop confidence, self-efficacy, work ethic and professional workplace demeanor. The Program Manager will model values of responsibility, supportive relationships, safety and positive social norms.

The Program Manager will assist the Director in planning curriculum and will supervise the day-to-day operation of the program. The Program Manager will supervise organic gardening, landscaping projects, and off-site environmental conservation projects (under the remote direction of Janet Fuchs, Environmental Program Director), while providing the participants with:

·       Physical and psychological safety

·       Clear and consistent expectations

·       Supportive relationships

·       Opportunities to belong

·       Clear rules of behavior and values

·       Appropriate responsibility and meaningful challenge

·       Opportunities for skill building and career readiness training

The Program Manager will be responsible for:

·       Planning, organizing and leading the daily program with the help of 2 college interns

·       Safety and well-being of the students

·       Following Covid safety protocols and other safety protocols

·       Being on campus 1 hour before the youth arrive every morning and 1 hour after they depart, to clean and prepare activities for the next day.

·       Documentation of attendance, curriculum and activities through our Lemberg Garden Google Drive

Required:

·       A commitment to environmental stewardship and principles of conservation and sustainability

·       Prior leadership of youth

·       Prior gardening experience/knowledge of plants and plant care, composting

·       Great communication and collaboration skills

·       Reliable, punctual, energetic, creative

·       Comfortable using garden tools and basic carpentry hand tools

·       Willing to work outdoors in all weather and model safety and appropriate dress for protection against sun and rain

·       Valid driver’s license

Experience preferred:

·       Bilingual Spanish/English

·       Training in education and child development

·       Environmental science background

·       Knowledge of and experience with Positive Youth Development

·       CPR and First Aid (may be required to acquire before the program starts)

If hired, this position requires a CORI check and fingerprinting.

ABOUT LEMBERG CHILDREN’S CENTER

https://www.brandeis.edu/lemberg/environmental-education/index.html

Gersh and Sarah Lemberg Children’s Center, Inc.  

The Lemberg Children’s Center provides the highest quality educational childcare for all families, in a positive learning environment, while innovating and supporting educational research. We work with educators and teachers in training, with parents, researchers and professionals to support parenting education, non-violent problem solving, environmental awareness and attachment, trust and resilience. We enroll up to 75 children, ages infant to 6 years of age. Environmental Education is a core part of our mission.

Environmental Education at Lemberg

Environmental Education is essential for children and our community. At the Lemberg Children’s Center, we educate children to care about conservation, energy use, gardening, healthy eating, and interconnectedness on this fragile planet. The Firefly Scientists’ Community Garden and Playground is a creative, exploratory space for children and our collaborating partners to experience nature, food production and community engagement.

Our 1 acre of open space includes a diverse food forest with 20 fruit trees, kiwi and grape vines, berries, vegetables and herb gardens, and a small patch of wild forest for exploration and quiet reflection. Every year, we expand our food production and improve the soil with organic, regenerative methods. We have developed a curriculum for early childhood environmental education which is distributed nationally.

We collaborate with community partners to engage K-12 students from local schools in sustainability and environmental stewardship projects in the Waltham and surrounding areas. We collaborate with the Brandeis University Sustainability Office and Brandeis Community Service organizations, training college students in principles of regenerative agriculture and early childhood environmental education.