Urban Agriculture Initiative - Urban Farm Manager/Mentor (Temporary)

Working Title: Urban Agriculture Initiative - Urban Farm Manager/Mentor

Classification: Extension Program Associate 2 (Job Code 8316A2), Civil Service

Appointment: Temporary (April 1-November 2025), Part-time (.75 FTE; 30 hours/week)

Pay Rate: $24-$26.00 an hour with University of Minnesota Benefits

Locations: Urban Research Outreach and Engagement Center, W. Broadway Garden, and Sunflower Garden

Apply By: February 15, 2025

About the Program

The Hennepin-University Urban Agriculture Initiative (UAI), a partnership between Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota's Hennepin County Extension Office, transformed 2 vacant lots into gardens where community, food, health, and well-being come together to create neighborhood gathering and growing spaces.

We are working to design and build two garden spaces in north Minneapolis with neighbors, youth, and community partners to provide a welcoming space for community building, healing, and intergenerational learning. The overall goals of this program are to contribute to community resilience with accessible small-scale community gardens to learn together and focus on community health and wellness.

Young people (high school, college-age) will be employed June - August to care for the gardens; this role will supervise and mentor these youth employees.

About the Position

We are looking for an engaging team member to serve as the Urban Farm Manager/Community Mentor with the Hennepin-University Urban Agriculture Initiative. Ideally, this person loves connecting with others around growing food in the community and is invested in the North Minneapolis urban farming movement. This position has two main focus areas: garden development/maintenance and supervision/mentoring summer youth employees.

The garden development/maintenance focus includes responsibility for developing, planting, watering and caring for two urban gardens that grow vegetables and offer community gathering spaces.

The supervision/mentor focus includes serving as the lead community mentor for the summer garden program that employs 10 young people in 10 weeks (June - August) of hands-on work development experiences in the area of urban agriculture and environmental sciences. This position will supervise the day-to-day work of those young people. During these 10 weeks, onsite work is critical; minimal time off can be granted during this crucial time.

You will work alongside another UAI community mentor, community members, UMN Extension staff, and partners to build two gardens, grow fresh produce, and engage with the north Minneapolis community.

Responsibilities:

Garden Development Leadership and Maintenance (45%)

• Lead implementation of garden design plans, including building/maintaining raised beds, garden paths, garden trellis structures, and community gathering spaces
• Lead all daily garden operation tasks for 2 garden sites, including planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, mowing, trash pickup, and general maintenance. Coordinate with colleagues, volunteers, and community members with a goal to schedule for a second person to be on site during garden operation tasks.
• Develop and implement the crop plan for both garden sites, which includes annual vegetables, fruits, flowers, and perennials based on community input
• Harvest and distribute produce to program partners and food shelves
• Work with UMN Extension team to develop a weekly purchase list of materials and supplies for garden operations
• Work with UMN Extension team to develop and maintain relationships with local vendors for contracted garden services

Youth Mentorship / Education (35%)

• Work with UMN Extension team to recruit and onboard youth employees
• Supervise and support short term youth employees in UMN employment-related functions (i.e. timekeeping)
• Develop work plans for youth employees in daily garden maintenance
• Mentor youth working and learning in the garden to gain on-the-job skills in the garden
• Lead youth employees in daily garden maintenance June - August, including building raised beds and gathering structures, planting vegetables and fruits, weeding, watering, harvesting, and composting (construction/tool training will be provided).
• Mentor youth in growing fruits and vegetables and care for the garden
• Support UMN Extension team members by assisting them with workshops related to the community garden and its participants.
• Operate fleet vehicles to transport youth and supplies
• Daily coordination of program supplies and garden materials. Includes transporting drinking water, snacks, and picking up materials from offsite storage
• Assist youth employees in completing required trainings
• Apply risk management procedures to youth employee program

Community Engagement (10%)

• Support community outreach efforts that foster connections to neighbors, community members, and organizations that encourage collaboration and greater use of the gardens and related programs
• Build connections with key North Minneapolis partner organizations in regards to shared goals around health and wellness, growing vegetables and connecting to local food systems, and youth development opportunities.
• In collaboration with the UMN Extension team, engage the community at garden events and community offerings (distributing flyers, emails, multi-media strategies, seek input and reflections)

Training and Communication (10%)

• Attend regular meetings with larger UMN Extension - Hennepin County UAI team April-November
• Co-lead UAI planning meetings, including coordination and agenda-setting
• Work with UMN Extension communication team to implement a social media strategy, including maintaining a customer relationship management system (regular Smore newsletter)
• Plan and host volunteer support days for Hennepin County Master Gardener Volunteers; communicate to Youth Education & Community Programs Volunteer Coordinator to confirm schedule.
• Collect and ensure entry of data for program reporting
• Attend required trainings
• Follow and implement University of Minnesota Extension policies and practices

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS with two years of experience, OR a combination of education and experience to equal six (6) years. This experience is to include managing an urban garden and/or experience in urban agriculture, horticulture, agriculture, or closely related field.
• Successful experience working with people from various cultural backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity.
• Documented experience growing vegetable gardens and local food advocacy
• Ability to work outside doing physical work to build and care for the 2 gardens in North Minneapolis, including working independently
• Must have demonstrated experience and knowledge of working effectively with the north Minneapolis community, including individuals, organizations, and/or communities representing new, culturally and economically diverse, and underserved audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to understand, affirm, and engage the North Minneapolis or similar BIPOC community.
• Ability to work as a team member and complete tasks as identified

Additional Requirements:

• Valid driver's license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance in order to travel to/from multiple locations, often in a single workday; will need to transport supplies and/or equipment to those locations, a possibility of transporting people. Mileage reimbursement is provided for the use of own vehicle during work for travel that is done outside of normal commute to garden locations.
• When not in the assigned office location, employees must be reachable with a mobile or alternate number at the employee's own expense.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including evening and weekend work.
• Must be able to work lift/push/pull 20 pounds frequently and 40 pounds occasionally
• Must be able to lift, bend, reach, pull, carry and all other physical actions associated with tending a garden; includes planting seeds and small plants, tilling and transporting soil, carrying and transporting lumber and other building supplies, building garden perimeter or enclosed gardening area, cleaning up area and equipment, utilizing a wheelbarrow to load/unload move supplies (dirt, rocks, etc), shoveling and digging actions; all while outside in cold/hot, wet/dry weather conditions.
• This position does not qualify for an employer sponsored Visa; must be authorized to work in the US upon application to position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in partnership collaboration
• Experience with co-creating educational program experiences
• Working knowledge of with google suite including Gmail, calendar, docs, sheets, photos, and slides.
• Volunteer recruitment, coordination, and training experience
• Experience working with or mentoring high school students and incorporating them into hands-on learning experiences.

Physical Demands

This is a garden setting in North Minneapolis. Staff must be able to work on foot all day in all weather conditions performing manual labor. There will be times when you are working independently in the gardens. There will be frequent lifting, standing, walking, bending, tool usage, machinery operation as well as speaking to the public, staff and program participants. Staff is required to lift, push, and pull items up to 30 lbs. Staff are expected to work in multiple locations in a week and at times in one day.

ABOUT EXTENSION

University of Minnesota Extension is a major outreach arm of the University of Minnesota with a mission to serve the public through applied research and education. Our mission is to make a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota. Extension strives to attract and retain high-quality, passionate employees, and weave diversity, equity and inclusion into all aspects of Extension's programming and employee engagement. Find further information at https://extension.umn.edu/

Pay Range: $24.00 - $26.00; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 75% Appointment, Temporary (April 1-November 2025)

Position Type: Civil-Service

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Please note: This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click on the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position. Please attach the following required application materials:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume - Your resume must include all your education and experience as it relates to the required qualifications. The initial HR screening process focuses primarily on the resume.

Names and contact information for three professional references will be required during the interview process.

Additional documents may be attached after the application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section. See full application instructions.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).

For questions about this position contact:

Amie Mondl, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, rober199@umn.edu.

The University of Minnesota and Extension recognize and value the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

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