Events + Engagement Manager

Job Description

Title: Events + Engagement Manager

Salary: $50,000-60,000 + benefits

Anticipated Start: July 1, 2025

Type: Full Time, Exempt

About Us

Global Growers Network (GGN) is a nonprofit based in Decatur, GA & Conyers, GA, and is home to a network of more than 200 diverse farmers and food systems leaders who are growing fresh, culturally significant foods for their families and the local marketplace. With a focus on equity, justice and diversity in our local food system, we represent over 20 cultures and languages. We operate a network of community gardens in Decatur and Clarkston, a market farm located at the Indian Creek MARTA station in Stone Mountain, and a 23-acre organic co-farm in Conyers.

The Launch of a New Venture

In 2025, GGN launched a reinvisioned engagement program, agriCULTURE CONNECTS, to offer curated events and experiences that are rooted in culture, community, and the local production of fresh and culturally significant foods. These initiatives recognize agriculture as a platform for connection and showcase how the diverse members of our network: 1) steward agricultural knowledge and heritage foodways; 2) increase food security; 3) represent stories of migration, traditions, and ancestral homelands; and 4) cultivate biodiversity through conservation practices that heal our planet.

As the social enterprise arm of the organization, agriCULTURE CONNECTS offerings include experiential learning and volunteer opportunities, cultural and culinary events, school field trips, and custom-designed events and gatherings. The initiative engages students of all ages, community members, organizations, and companies that wish to explore shared values of diversity, equity, social justice, regenerative agriculture, and environmental stewardship via our network of gardens, growers, farms, and related partners.

Activities are centered primarily at three Global Growers locations, each of which have unique global learning gardens, event and outdoor classroom facilities, and environments: The Rockdale Organic Co-Farm, Indian Creek Market Farm, and Decatur’s Kitchen Garden. Each of these sites highlights the specific heritages, agriculture, and foodways of growers there including cultures of East Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Black Farmers of the American South.

The new venture draws on fifteen years of organizational experience in community and volunteer engagement, special events, local food, and a wealth of cultural knowledge and practice.

Position Summary and Candidate Vision

The Events + Engagement Manager develops the agriCULTURE CONNECTS initiative and leads the program team, with the goals of:

• Launching a branded, robust series of offerings that are grounded in the diversity of cultures, global foodways, and approaches to regenerative agriculture and environmental stewardship.
• Building a strong base of diverse partners and constituents, through innovative communications, outreach, and engagement.
• Establishing well-defined paths and strategies for engagement, which results in well-attended, unique events that meet event and revenue generation goals.

Job Responsibilities

Communications + Outreach

• Establish, cultivate, and manage partnerships, residencies, and program collaborations that result in the delivery of curated events that are engaging, generative, and grounded in the histories and cultures of the diverse grower network and the lands on which we operate.
• Lead the initiative’s marketing and communication efforts including social media strategy, content and storytelling, tabling outreach, event promotion and collateral, and booking platforms, in coordination with the organization’s overall branding and communications efforts.

Operations: Content and Logistics

• Lead content development, design, and delivery of a mission-driven events portfolio, at our farm and garden venues, that are aligned with the mission of agriCULTURE CONNECTS, including:
  • Work, tour, and learning events for youth of all ages, community members, organizations, and companies.
  • Cultural, culinary, agricultural, and storytelling events and workshops.
  • Curated offerings/venue rentals for others to host gatherings, events, and workshops.
• Develop the technical, operational, and organizational systems to manage event inquiries, bookings, staffing of events, volunteers, venue sites, site readiness, and event logistics.
• Coordinate with the Development team and contract event planners for signature events including an annual fundraiser.

Strategy + Team Leadership

• Work with relevant staff and key stakeholders to align the agriCULTURE CONNECTS initiative with the organization’s values, operations, programs, strategy, and revenue goals.
• Manage the staff team responsible for ensuring that engagement, learning, and revenue goals are met. This currently includes a part-time Coordinator who supports booking logistics and farm-based events.
• Support recruitment, hiring, and/or training of new team members, contractors, and volunteers.
• Document and report on all activities, impacts, and measures of performance.
• Other responsibilities as needed.

Requirements

• A passion for and broad understanding of local food, agriculture, and agroecology, and their connectivity to cultures, land stewardship, and heritage.
• Three years of experience with events and project management, preferably in the context of agriculture, conservation, community outreach, and culinary cultural traditions. Experience should include:
  • Development, execution, and accountability of engaging programs and experiential learning events for youth, adults and business professionals
  • Demonstrated ability to identify and meet strategic goals, manage budgets, take initiative, and prioritize/delegate multiple ongoing projects and tasks while collaborating across multi-stakeholder initiatives
  • Management of high performing, collaborative teams, with experience in cross cultural and multilingual environments preferred.
• Experience creating and managing effective communications, both in-person and through social media, print, and electronic media.
• Experience in public speaking, partnership cultivation, community engagement, and relationship-building; adapting to a variety of communication styles to fit the needs of a wide range of cultures, people, organizations, and events
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; experience with Airtable and/or with CRM systems is a plus.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for travel between garden, farm and office sites.
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Location and Schedule

This is an exempt position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week, with standard working hours, Tuesday - Saturday, along with occasional pre-scheduled evening and weekend work. This position can be based out of our offices in Decatur or at the Conyers farm, with weekly presence scheduled at both locations. Remote work is possible outside of necessary in-office responsibilities up to 20% of the time.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is $50,000 - $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Benefits include: Healthcare Reimbursement Account ($370/month, begins after 90 days employment), cell phone stipend ($25/month), SIMPLE IRA retirement account (3% match), paid time off (starts at 14 days/year) and paid holidays (7 holidays; 2 floating holidays; 2 week bonus time at year-end), and professional development budget ($1,000/year).

How to Apply

Apply at this link: bit.ly/ggn-hiring. Please include your resume and cover letter in PDF format. The cover letter should explain why you are interested in the position, and address the following:

• Why are you looking for a new position?
• Why do you feel connected to the work and mission of Global Growers Network?
• How will you use your past work, volunteer, academic, and/or other life experiences to meet the specific responsibilities of this position (as detailed above)?

Finalists will be asked to submit professional references who we may contact.

GGN is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.