Director of Urban Agriculture

Organization Description

At Greater Newark Conservancy, we are dedicated to enhancing the well-being of Newark's communities through nutrition-focused education and inclusive wellness programs. Our approach integrates hands-on community programs and food service educational seminars to promote sustainable health and wellness practices. We empower individuals and communities to lead healthier lives by providing access to gardens, nutritious food, and wellness resources. Join us as we cultivate growth and nurture well-being throughout the city of Newark, New Jersey.

Position Description

The Director of Urban Agriculture is a key member of the leadership team at Greater Newark

Conservancy, providing strategic and operational leadership for the Urban Agriculture Department. The

goal of the department is to address food insecurity, provide access to growing spaces and mitigate

environmental impacts across Newark by developing, implementing and managing strong programs alongside community members and partners.

The Director oversees four core program areas:

• Food Production: Manage all food production activities, primarily the hydroponic greenhouse at Branch Brook Park, ensuing efficient, year-round production of fresh produce. Lead the development of educational and technical assistance programs to support other growers, youth development, and community members.
• Food Initiatives: Oversee the distribution of produce through the development of food retail operations, including regular farmers markets, farmstands, the year-round CSA program and partnerships with local organizations, with a focus on developing sustainable market infrastructure in the city.
• Plot-It-Fresh Community Garden Program: Support Newark residents in accessing space to grow food by partnering with local community gardens and urban farms, developing programming and workshops for gardeners and providing resources to local growers.
• Newark Tree Canopy Initiative: Led by the Nature Conservancy, Greater Newark Conservancy is a community partner on a large tree planting initiative, overseeing the planting of trees and community engagement in the central ward.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Management and Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight and operational management for all urban agriculture programs, working with program managers to ensure successful program development, implementation and execution
• Oversee greenhouse operations, including crop planning, food safety compliance, data management and reporting
• Lead the expansion of the Conservancy’s food access initiatives, affordability, community engagement and sustainability
• Support the continued development of the community gardening program maintaining relationships with partner sites and gardeners, supporting year-round programming and providing direct resources to garden sites year-over-year
• Support the tree planting and community engagement efforts for the Newark Tree Canopy Initiative, working with The Nature Conservancy and partner organizations to ensure successful outcomes
• Continue the development and implementation of systems for tracking data and outcomes, evaluating programs and reporting impact
• Continue the development of process documentation for all programs, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols
• Identify and lead the development and implementation of sustainability best practices throughout all program areas (i.e. resource usage, composting, waste mitigation, etc.)
• Support fundraising activities, leading and collaborating on grants to support new or existing programs
• Manage program budgets and department finances
• Along with the Director of Development, support grant and reporting deliverables
• Along with the Executive Director and other leadership staff, support the ongoing success of the organization, its staff and programs

Team Management and Development

• Supervise and mentor program managers and department staff, ensuring proper communication channels are established and the team feels supported
• Maintain a collaborative, mission-driven team culture
• Oversee recruitment, training and professional development opportunities for staff

Community Engagement and Partnerships

• Cultivate and strengthen partnerships with community members, urban growers, local organizations and food system stakeholders, seeking feedback and fostering opportunities to collaborate
• Develop programs alongside key community stakeholders, leveraging steering committees and advisory boards and/or developing needs assessments tools to ensure program development is in line with community needs
• Represent the Conservancy in community coalitions, conferences and events

Strategic Growth and Innovation

• Identify opportunities to strengthen and expand the Urban Agriculture Programs, incorporating feedback from community members and partners
• Stay informed about trends and best practices in urban agriculture, food access and community-based food systems
• Contribute to long-term strategic planning for the Urban Agriculture Department and the organization as a whole
• Collaborate with internal teams to share impact stories from Urban Agriculture programming

Qualifications

• BA/BS in agriculture, environmental science, sustainability, food systems or related field, or equivalent professional experience required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in urban agriculture, food systems, or communitybased programming.
• 3-5 years demonstrated success in managing teams, budgets and multi-faceted projects
• Working knowledge of hydroponic and soil-based growing systems, greenhouse opertaions, or controlled-environment agriculture
• Excellent communication, leadership and organizational skills
• Ability to manage data for operational and reporting purposes
• Valid driver’s license for at least three years and clean driving record
• Experience living and/working in Newark preferred

Success Factors

• Commitment to racial, environmental, and food justice
• Able to work outdoors to operate markets and run events in variable conditions
• Passion for food justice, community health and supporting local food systems
• Commitment to equity and inclusion in food access programming

Physical Demands

• The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of

those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Regular work schedule for this position is approximately 40 hours per week (Monday-Friday) and may require additional hours, including on weekends, as necessary
• Unless otherwise noted, this role will take place in person, either in the office of Greater Newark Conservancy, or out in the field
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception, Ability to adjust focus and Ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear
• The employee is frequently required to stand, bend, and walk

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $68,000 to $75,000 per year plus benefits

Medical and Dental Insurance

Flexible Time Off, plus holidays

Parental Leave

Fluent in English

Conversational or fluent in other languages a plus