Agroecology Program Manager

​About the Community Ecology Institute: Founded in 2016, the Community Ecology Institute (CEI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to cultivate communities where people and nature thrive together. We achieve our mission by providing equitable, intergenerational experiential education that leads to intersecting health and environmental benefits. CEI’s work focuses on tangible, community-level changes at the intersections of environment, education, equity, and health. From our two properties, Freetown Farm and the Green Farmacy Garden, we showcase and teach evidence-based best practices in these areas that are specifically responsive to Howard County’s natural and social ecosystems. CEI is an organization deeply rooted in and committed to guiding principles of inclusive belonging, restorative reciprocity, health and wellness, and integrity and accountability. CEI is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. Job Description: The Agroecology Manager will provide management and oversight of the activities of CEI’s Agroecology in Action program, whose mission is to empower people to improve the health of their community—its people and ecosystems—by growing and sharing food and knowledge. The main program goals are to: 1. Grow food and plants for community members, prioritizing those experiencing food insecurity 2. Provide experiential education in our gardens to teach environmental stewardship and regenerative food growing skills. 3. Demonstrate innovative ecological stewardship addressing issues like stormwater management, habitat creation, and soil regeneration. Job Responsibilities & Duties: – Provide strategic direction for the Agroecology in Action program’s activities, funding, and partnerships. – Oversee agricultural production in Freetown Farm’s growing spaces, including the greenhouses and gardens, which entails leading and/or training other farm staff on crop planning, seeding, planting, garden maintenance, harvesting, and processing of fresh produce. – Provide strategic guidance to agroecology projects at CEI’s Green Farmacy Garden property. – Coordinate regular (1-2x weekly) distributions of fresh produce to food assistance programs throughout the growing season (April – December), including managing relationships with food assistance partners. – Develop and implement integrated pest management and regenerative nutrient management plans for Freetown Farm’s growing spaces – Manage seasonal farm stand sales of plants and produce at Freetown Farm, which includes logistics planning and staff/volunteer training – Collaborate on the generation of marketing and communications materials for program activities, such as advertisements for farm stand sales, volunteer opportunities, and workshops. – Manage the program budget, including oversight of budget planning, purchasing decisions, and expense tracking to ensure proper use of available funds. – Secure additional program funding by preparing grant submissions and contributing to fundraising activities in collaboration with CEI leadership, board, and staff to ensure program sustainability. – Contribute to the development of educational curriculum, lesson content, and publicly available materials around topics like agroecology, food growing, healthy eating, food use, and reducing food waste. – Collaborate with other CEI programs to ensure strategic alignment and mutual benefit. – Maintain regular data collection, including annual garden yields, crop successions, product sales, and participant feedback. – Capture and update standard operating procedures in the Farm Operations Manual to detail processes of agricultural production and property care. Freetown Farm Property Care – Oversee infrastructure improvements to Freetown Farm greenhouses and gardens. – Oversee Freetown Farm staff leads in completing their daily tasks. – Ensure proper use, maintenance, and storage of garden tools. – Coordinate with facilities staff on maintaining Freetown Farm infrastructure and equipment outside of gardens. Staff Supervision – Serve as a supervisor for select farm staff, including onboarding, weekly/biweekly supervision, and collaboration with CEI leaders to plan for yearly staffing needs. – Serve as a primary mentor for our Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps and/or Maryland Climate Corps member(s), which includes leading the host site application and matching process, onboarding, completing progress reports, and providing mentorship. – Serve as the supervisor for summer farm interns. – Conduct yearly evaluations of supervisees during CEI’s performance evaluation process. – Participate in supervisors’ meetings to coordinate amongst CEI staff supervisors. Organizational Duties – Facilitate regular staff meetings, which includes organizing the agenda and structuring discussion. – Support CEI’s annual Harvest Gala fundraiser – Contribute to yearly updates of CEI’s annual report – Represent CEI and its work in the broader community; this includes tabling at community events, presentations at conferences, and/or participation in working groups (e.g. LHIC food security committee, CBF urban ag working group) – Serve as a project lead for scout projects, as available Qualifications & Requirements:​ ​- Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent work/training experience. – Minimum two years of work experience on a small-scale, regenerative farm and/or at a mission-related organization. – Minimum of two years experience leading and evaluating projects and programs; prior experience supervising staff preferred – Self-motivated and able to learn quickly and work independently. – Demonstrated ability to work on multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, utilizing strong prioritization skills. – Excellent written and oral communication. – Passion for the environment, education, equity, and health. – Ability to work year round outdoors in a range of weather conditions and frequently lift materials over 40 lbs. – Valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and reliable transportation. Salary Range: – $45,750 – $50,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits: – Time off: Full-time employees accrue more than four weeks of paid time off in their first year, with increases to accrual rates over time. – Retirement: After three months of employment, full-time employees are able to enroll in our 401k retirement program, which includes a 3% employer match. – Professional development: CEI staff are enrolled in our LinkedIn Learning professional development platform, which provides training and skill development that can enhance your work at CEI as well as your overall professional qualifications. – Health Insurance: After three months of employment, all full time staff are eligible for health insurance coverage through CEI and the ability to buy into dental and vision coverage. – Fresh, seasonal produce available from our gardens. Work Schedule: This is a full-time, onsite position with standard hours of Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30PM based primarily at Freetown Farm. During the growing season (March – November), the Agroecology Manager will work two Saturdays a month with the following Monday off, and will have the option of working up to one day a week virtually (usually Mondays). During the winter season (December – February), they will be given the option of working up to two days a week virtually. Application & Interview Process: Our process requires filling out an online application including uploading a cover letter and current resume by April 30th. If you meet our qualifications, we will respond to you to schedule an interview. Interviews are planned for late April into early May as needed and we seek to have this position begin by the last week of May or first week of June.