Youth Programs Instructor: Manhattan & Bronx (Part-time)

Position Type: Part-time, hourly

Reports To: Senior Program Manager

Hours: Approximately 6-8 hours/week, schedule TBD

Pay Rate: $25/hour

Location: TFFJ partner sites in Manhattan and the Bronx

Organizational Overview

Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) is building a food-secure future through school-based, youth-led hydroponic farming, providing local, sustainably-grown produce to food desert communities, and building health, education, and opportunity equity. TFFJ trains students in Title I elementary, middle, and high schools to maintain indoor hydroponic farms through hands-on farm education in STEM, health, and culinary school day classes, as well as food justice and nutrition-focused afterschool programming.

Position Overview

Partner with TFFJ to build an equitable, sustainable, and healthy food system throughout New York City through school- and community-based, youth-led hydroponic farming! TFFJ is seeking a part-time Youth Programs Instructor to support our hands-on food justice, hydroponics, urban agriculture, culinary, and youth leadership programming across TFFJ partner sites in Manhattan and the Bronx.

Reporting to the Senior Program Manager, the Instructor will adapt, lead, and co-lead engaging youth activities in school- and community-based settings, including afterschool programs, school-day classes, farm-based learning experiences, workshops, community events, and special programming. Working closely with our Program staff and site partners, and using prepared lessons and activities, this role will support youth engagement and classroom management, prepare and reset materials, and contribute to safe, joyful, and inclusive learning environments for all participants.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working directly with young people, brings strong facilitation skills, and is excited about helping students and educators explore food, farming, health, science, and community change through hands-on learning.

Please note: This is a part-time role intended for the duration of the 2026- 27 school year. Opportunities to extend the role are dependent upon funding.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Youth Program Facilitation

• Lead and co-lead hands-on activities related to hydroponics, food justice, urban agriculture, sustainability, nutrition, cooking, STEM, and youth leadership.
• Facilitate prepared TFFJ lessons, workshops, afterschool club sessions, and community-based youth programs, adapting when required to meet the needs and engagement levels of participating youth.
• Support students and educators in making connections between food, farming, health, the environment, community, and equity.
• Help create activities and learning experiences that are accessible, participatory, and responsive to students’ varied learning styles and prior knowledge.

Youth Engagement and Safety

• Build positive, respectful, and appropriate relationships with youth participants, informed by Positive Youth Development principles.
• With support from the Senior Program Manager, use clear expectations, positive behavior management, and restorative approaches to support participation.
• Actively supervise youth during activities, transitions, and program routines following TFFJ and partner-site policies.
• Create a program environment where all young people and partner staff feel welcome, capable, and excited to participate.
• Support inclusive participation for students across age levels, learning styles, language, and comfort levels with hands-on learning and food and farm experiences.

Program Preparation and Operations

• Prepare, organize, transport, set up, and clean up program materials, always returning partner sites to their original state.
• Support basic data collection, participation and engagement notes, and program feedback using TFFJ’s Airtable-based data collection systems.
• Communicate effectively and consistently with the Senior Program Manager about supply needs, facilitation and implementation challenges, and program quality.
• Follow all TFFJ and partner-site protocols for youth safety, materials, food handling, and space use.
• Support program documentation and reflection so that TFFJ can continuously improve program quality.

Team Collaboration

• Collaborate with TFFJ program staff, school-based staff, district partner Farmer-Educators, and community partners.
• Participate in onboarding, training, supervisory meetings, and periodic team meetings.
• Support occasional school and community events.
• Represent TFFJ professionally and positively when working with students, educators, families, school staff, and community partners.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience working with youth in an educational, afterschool, camp, community-based, or enrichment setting.
• Strong youth engagement and group facilitation skills.
• Strong interest in working with youth and educators in a fast-paced, hands-on learning environment.
• Ability to create a warm, structured, inclusive, consistent, and energetic learning environment.
• Reliable, organized, communicative, and comfortable working in dynamic program settings.
• Ability to travel and consistently arrive on time to partner sites across NYC.
• Proficient in Google Drive and able to learn and manage data tracking software; comfortable using a Windows PC for email, data entry, and calendars.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to complete required ServSafe and youth safety trainings along with other compliance tasks.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working with a range of youth, from elementary to high school.
• Experience with food education, gardening, hydroponics, cooking, environmental education, STEM, and/or youth leadership programming.
• Familiarity with restorative practices, positive youth development, culturally responsive education, and/or trauma-informed practices.
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Commitment to social justice.
• Connection to or experience working in NYC public schools or NYC community-based settings.

To apply:

Interested candidates should fill out an application via this Airtable form. You can apply in one of two ways: either upload a resume and cover letter, or input your information using the form fields.

• However, in either case, you will be required to describe a hands-on activity, lesson, workshop, or program you led or supported. What was the goal, what did participants do, and what made it successful?

TFFJ embraces inclusivity and wants our employees to be as diverse and multifaceted as the communities in which we operate. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture but also our reputation and the organization's achievements.

TFFJ’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and diversity applies to all aspects of employment: recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; and terminations. TFFJ does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, sex/gender (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, unemployed status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.