Manager - Grow Tech Gardens

Manager - Grow Tech Gardens Job Description

Wage: Salaried, exempt. DOE

Shift: Full time. Flexible schedule. Must be willing to work weekends.

Benefits: Free Thanksgiving Point Membership for you and immediate family; medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurances; paid time off & holidays; 401(k); Employee Assistance Program; Financial Assistance Program; Thanksgiving Point venue discounts; and more!

Description: Thanksgiving Point is seeking an experienced Grow Tech Gardens Manager to serve as an integral part of our leadership team at Curiosity Farms. The manager will steward and direct our large urban hydroponic farm, our fodder growing operation, and our outdoor Learning Garden. The Grow Tech Gardens Manager will oversee growing operations, lead the training of the junior gardeners and educate guests on urban farm techniques and technology.

Inside the Grow Tech Gardens building, our urban farm consists of three grow pods utilizing the latest in indoor farming technology and a grass fodder operation to grow feed for our farm animals. The grow pods grow produce for Thanksgiving Point restaurants and may one day be used to grow crops for farmers markets. Outdoors, we have our Learning Garden and indigenous Spiral Garden. The manager will provide leadership and coordinate with volunteers, facilities, grounds, kitchen, and other staff across the organization in the development and operations of garden and crop production on the farm.

Responsibilities:

• Grow a variety of vegetables to be distributed through the organization, community, and partner programs - maximizing production using sustainable growing techniques.
• Manage our hydroponic grow pods including maintenance and upkeep of container farms, crop planning, seed ordering and create harvest plan documents.
• Lead the Plant Lab program, which is a daily program that occurs at the Grow Tech Gardens twice daily.
• Develop and implement a crop plan that reflects the needs of our organization and our community using current assets and budget.
• Have knowledge of, do research on, and apply current sustainable growing techniques and technologies.
• Work with the management team to identify the amounts, timing, and types of produce that can be grown for nutrition service, community partners, and other feeding programs.
• Distribute produce to the Thanksgiving Point kitchen.
• Determine potential for expanded production and distribution to markets beyond current partners.
• Supervise and educate staff and volunteers who are working at the farms.
• Build positive relationships with neighbors, partner organizations, staff, and guests.
• Track outputs and outcomes needed to report to organization.
• Participate in annual planning and development and management of budget.
• Exemplify and uphold Thanksgiving Point’s Mission, Values and Policies.
• Other duties as assigned by manager/supervisor.
• Report to the Senior Director of Curiosity Farms and be a member of the Curiosity Farms Guest Experience Leadership Team.

Requirements:

• At least 2 years of experience and/or education in a combination of: managing, operating a vegetable farm, hydroponic or controlled environment agriculture, leading and/or teaching people in various settings, and interest in teaching about sustainable agriculture.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong capacity to work both independently and in teams, with ability to explain processes clearly and support co-workers’ successful participation in them.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Excel.
• Willingness to work on Saturdays.
• Dependable, responsible, and open to learning.
• Team-oriented individual with a good sense of humor and social skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.
• Pass a background check.
• Be at least 18 years old.