Job Opportunity

Program Coordinator

Green Corn Project (GCP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping low-income residents of Austin and surrounding areas grow their own organic vegetables. With the help of volunteers, GCP installs food gardens for use by individuals and families who have limited access to fresh, nutritious food. Our vision is that Central Texans have affordable, fresh food grown in ways that conserve natural resources, promote self-reliance, and strengthen communities.

GCP’s program coordinator (PC) reports to the Board of Directors to organize and run our gardening programs in order to achieve our mission. 

Primary Responsibilities

1. Oversee the scheduling and running of GCP workshops and events, including Seeds to Starts, Dig-in Leader Training, and Dig-ins.
2. Set up and update GCP on-line services for events including posting workshop dates on our website, setting up our volunteer registration system, and emailing/ calling volunteers.
3. Maintain relationships with our garden recipients, including followup calls to ensure recipients have what they need to succeed in growing their own food. This may require personal visits, emails, texting, and phone calls.
4. Maintain or oversee the maintenance of GCP’s transplants from Seeds to Starts workshops.
5. Purchase and pick up – or arrange for delivery of –  materials needed for Dig-ins and workshops, including garden soil, compost, tools, vegetable seeds, and any additional transplants needed. 
6. Maintain contact/relationship with frequent volunteers, which includes sending regular email communications to request volunteer help. 
7. Monitor GCP’s email and forward emails as necessary to specific GCP members  for action.
8. Deliver (or make available for pickup) transplants and compost for garden recipients who can garden on their own.
9. With help from volunteers, ensure that tools and storage shed stay in good condition for garden installations.
10. With help from volunteers, maintain GCP’s demo garden.  
11. Be available on weekends, especially during spring and fall Dig-in seasons, to coordinate and lead volunteer activities. Weekend Dig-ins are usually from 8 a.m. to noon.  
12. Produce a once-monthly report on activities, including garden installations, website updates and fundraising efforts, and provide a copy to board members before each monthly board meeting. 

Other Responsibilities:

1. Represent GCP at community events intended to sign up new garden recipients, raise funds, attract new volunteers or raise general awareness. 
2. Set up and lead projects between Dig-in seasons, including mulching, maintenance and special garden installations. 
3. Maintain the garden recipient database (spreadsheet) and statistics on primary activities, including new garden installations, garden refurbs, and volunteer turnout.
4. Assist with planning and implementing fundraising projects and events as needed. 
5. Assist with securing grants and in-kind donations to provide continued support for GCP’s mission. During slow garden installation times, take the lead on a particular grant application if the need arises.
6. Assist with social media by providing timely content about dig-ins and workshops  (text and photos) to GCP’s volunteer social media coordinator.
7. Assist GCP’s volunteer social media coordinator by providing timely content for  regular newsletter.

Job specific and people skills:

1. Familiarity with or ability to learn on-line systems for use in task and volunteer management, including Asana, GivePulse, Constant Contact, and Google. 
2. Better than average organizational skills.
3. A kind, patient and respectful demeanor when working with volunteers and garden recipients.  
4. Access to a personal computer and ability to use it for GCP work and monthly GCP’s board meetings (usually on Zoom).  
5. Ability to work outdoors in all sorts of weather.
6. Physically able to perform basic gardening tasks, including lifting bags of soil, shoveling compost, and trimming and weeding overgrown garden beds.
7. Ability to work collaboratively and transparently with GCP board members and volunteer committees.

Qualifications:

1. 2+ years of organic gardening experience.
2. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
3. A passion for GCP’s mission. 

Preferred qualifications: 

1. Previous experience working with volunteers.
2. Previous experience working with or for a nonprofit organization. 
3. Basic building skills and knowledge of tools needed to build raised garden beds. 

Hours and Compensation:

The GCP Program Coordinator works an average of 10 hours a week. More hours will be needed during busy times (spring/fall) up to 20 hours a week as follows (although special projects may call for more hours which can be worked with prior approval from the GCP board):

1. Jan-Feb: 10-20 hrs/wk: garden planning, workshops, garden maintenance, admin
2. March: 20 hrs/wk: dig-in leading every sat/sun, planning, maintenance, admin
3. April-July: 5-10 hrs/wk: planning & admin
4. July-Aug: 10-20 hrs/wk: garden planning, workshops, garden maintenance, admin 
5. Sept: 20 hrs/wk: dig-in leading every sat/sun, planning, maintenance, admin
6. Oct-Dec: 5-10 hrs/wk: planning & admin

Hourly rate of pay is $18-$25 depending on experience.

Application Process:

Please email your resume and cover letter to admin@greencornproject.org. The cover letter should cover how your skills and experiences prepared you for the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Also, please include a list of 3 professional references including name, relationship, email, and phone number. Final round candidates will be given a background check before an employment offer is finalized. 

Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled.