Farm Program Associate

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary for this position at the time of its posting. The starting wage rate is $18.44 per hour.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Working under limited supervision, the Greenhouse Associate helps lead the Farm Food Program of Case Western Reserve University's 400-acre property. Farm facilities include indoor/outdoor spaces for teaching, research, agriculture recreation, as well as residential. Beyond growing produce the farm food program associate's blended role includes the business aspects of food production, representing the University Farm at on and off-campus function, creating, documenting and delivering original content for short one-hour up to 12-week co-curricular educational programs on subjects such as the technical aspects of planting different crops, gardening at home versus an institutional settings, integrated pest management, soil preparation, composting, harvesting, preserving, beekeeping 101, and similar. With an entrepreneurial and project management mindset, the associate will utilize the basic principles of sustainable agriculture, and when appropriate, regenerative agriculture to design and execute seasonal planting and harvesting. This individual will continue to develop knowledge and advocate on the potential to test or pilot new farming techniques or projects. They will develop, track, and record relevant data regarding food production. While often working independently, they will also fully participate as a team member and assist other farm staff and student interns and volunteers in the daily operations of the university farm. This individual will always be exploring, identifying and when possible, executing on unique opportunities to collaborate or partner with campus initiatives and community groups so that the food program can be connected and of benefit to the university's Cleveland neighborhoods. Will assist or lead University Farm special events and functions as needed.

Essential Functions

• The food program associate leads one of the following program areas but will perform cross-over work in each area. In addition, all food program staff will record planting and harvest data and work collaboratively with the Farm administration to determine what seeds to order and grow annually. Develop, monitor, record, and analyze relevant data from seed ordering to product sales. Data will include food production, costs, revenue, including but not limited to greenhouse production, mushroom production, high tunnel production, irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, beekeeping, field production, events, volunteers, and farm stand and other sales. Strive to continuously improve procedure and practices. Work will include planting by hand, harvesting crops by hand, sometimes with aid of mechanical implements. sometimes with the aid of volunteers or food program team members: 1) Oversee the Debra Ann November Research Greenhouse of Case Western Reserve University. Maximize growing space in the greenhouse and collaborate with faculty researchers to help care for their research plots, plan and care for food program grow bays, plan and care for designated outdoor growing areas on the upper farm. Work with farm colleagues, division staff, and vendors as needed to ensure effective operation of the greenhouse systems and facility. Lead the production of the program's vegetable plugs, micro green trays, and herbs as well as small outdoor seasonal beds. Take lead on preserving the food program's seeds and digital seed database. Create and manage the greenhouse, outdoor plots, water and irrigation schedule. Maintain related equipment for greenhouse operations. Maintain the greenhouse tables, floors, containers, production office area, and keep the food preservation cool room clean and free of disease and pests. Perform and communicate with stakeholders as needed regarding natural and integrated pest control measures used in the Greenhouse. Additionally train faculty, staff, student researchers on their role in keeping the facility clean and free of pests. 2) Maintain and oversee food production at Valley Ridge Farm, the farm's 2-acre market garden plot: Lead the production of food crops outdoors which includes creating an annual planting and harvest plan that aids the food program's ability to sell produce that is desirable to diverse customers while ensuring crops are well tended and weeded. Open Valley Ridge Farm for the spring plantings and close it down at the end of fall, prepping it for winter. Keep technologies maintained and in repair such as the electric fence, irrigation system, weed control methods and tools and communicate with the farm administration and vendors as needed to keep systems functioning. Use cover crops, farm compost and other amendments to continue to keep Valley Ridge Farm's soil healthy and productive. As the lower farm takes a good deal of labor to manage during the growing and harvest season, proactively schedule volunteer days and recruit other farm staff and temps as needed to maintain the workload and maximize harvest. And 3) Oversee the high tunnels and mushroom production program: Maintain the high tunnel area includes: create annual planting plan, create techniques to control weeds, seeding, transplanting, and harvesting, use integrated pest management and natural methods to control for pest and disease and keep the high tunnels themselves physically maintained. Lead the mushroom program. Plan for and schedule supply orders, propose an annual grow schedule, set production goals, keep the cook room and cellar areas clean and free of disease (including the tables, floors, containers, production office, cellar etc.) and carefully monitor production schedules. Communicate with farm administration and vendors as needed to keep both the high tunnels and mushroom program areas¿ technology, such as irrigation, water baths, fans, heating, etc., working correctly and safely to help control temperatures and humidity. (35%)
• Create, document and deliver original content and workshops for short one-hour, half-day, and up to 12-week co-curricular educational programs. May deliver content upon faculty request for credit classes on subjects such as the technical aspects of planting different crops, gardening at home versus an institutional setting, integrated pest management, soil preparation, composting, harvesting, preserving, Beekeeping 101, and similar. Some of these educational programs will have participant fees and be open to the public and some will be delivered free of charge to university community members. Audiences may include the university, external community individuals or groups, and K-12 educational programs at the farm, in K-12 schools, and other settings. In previous years the food team has provided educational programs for 200-500 participants. Additionally provide food program overview content and related information to assist with the instruction of visiting audiences that come to the Farm for field trips and tours. Will travel to campus and community locations to design and run approximately 20 farm food program stands to sell produce to a wide variety of customers, deliver programming to diverse audiences, do talks, and tabling. Represent the farm at other designated special events on campus or in the community to recruit program volunteers and community partners, and market farm activities as requested and educate on the farm food program mission. Lead or assist with large and small group volunteer event workdays. Develop original content outlines, digital presentations typically in PowerPoint, and related handout materials. (20%)
• Operate several different types of heavy machinery, always with safety in mind, including tractors, mowers, irrigation equipment, compost sifter, snowplows, and other equipment related to food production and general maintenance of farm food program areas. Assist the farm maintenance staff with food program equipment maintenance and repairs. (15%)
• Work in collaboration to assist food program teammates on a weekly basis to maintain the lower farm, hoop houses, compost operation, and other small landscaping food production beds, as well as pollinator areas. Help the whole farm property as needed regarding invasive species, snow plowing, trail management, ecology of property systems, pollinator habitat, research needs, etc. (15%)
• Oversee the hiring, training and supervision of student workers, interns and temps. The farm typically hires 5 to 10 students per year and temps seasonally as needed. (6%)
  
  
  

Nonessential Functions

• Assist with marketing content on farm food program products, educational programs, and volunteer opportunities, on social media, other websites, and sales operations at the farm stand. Write original content as requested by Marketing & Communications regarding local food related topics for publication in print and online media. (5%)
• Assist with other special events and any other duties as assigned. (4%)
  
  
  

CONTACTS

Department: Daily contact with full and part-time Farm staff. Works closely with farm food program coordinator, as well as the farm director and assistant director to maintain workflow.

University: Daily to weekly contact with faculty members, university community members, and volunteers to maintain workflow.

External: Weekly contact farm visitors and greater Cleveland community members to exchange information.

Students: Regular work with student workers, interns and student volunteers to maintain workflow.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Student Interns and volunteers or any temporary farm employees.

QUALIFICAITONS

Experience: 2 to 3 years of experience with plant production, preferably food crops. Greenhouse experience is a plus. Ornamental crop production experience may be substituted if the candidate also has knowledge of food crop cycles. Experience creating and delivering educational content related to gardening and food production.

Education/Licensing: High school education required, Bachelor's degree preferred. Classes in horticulture or agriculture preferred. Valid driver's license.

Required Skills

• Must be familiar with food crop growth cycles and know the difference between cold weather crops and warm weather crops.
• Experience with integrated pest management and organic food production principles.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize and meet deadlines, demonstrate attention to detail, exercise time management skills, have sound judgement and good decision making and ability to follow through on assigned projects.
• Ability to work both effectively independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Must have excellent social skills for interaction between and among faculty, staff, students, and farm visitors. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.
• Able to work with tools and large, power equipment related to food production.
• Proficiency with email communications, Google Suite of products, experience with Microsoft programs such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint as well as social media. Light graphic design experience is a plus.
• Must be willing to work with honeybees, experience preferred.
• Must be willing to work with food waste and the composting operation, experience preferred.
• Experience managing student interns and volunteers in a Farm or related setting preferred.
• Experience safely operating and inspecting a range of Farm vehicles, including 4-wheel drive off-road vehicles, standard transmission vehicles, and tractors with implements including backhoe, tillers, mowers, etc.
• Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.
• Ability to meet consistent attendance.
  
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

This is a full-time, 37.5 hours per week position in Hunting Valley. Each staff member shares a week-at-a-time after hours on-call rotation, has on-call phone responsibilities during that time, and will periodically need to work weekend and evening events. Must be available to work evenings, holidays, and weekends, as required. Daily outdoor work is required and should be expected regardless of weather conditions. The employee will occasionally climb ladders and work at heights. This position is classified as 'essential' meaning in some weather events, emergency or other defined time this staff position may be required to report to work even when the university is closed to other staff mandatory, in-person work during university holiday breaks, weather events, and other designated periods of time is compensated. This position is not eligible for hybrid work. Must be able to lift up-to 40 lbs. Must drive on and off-road vehicles for the job.

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.