Position: GROW North Texas Giving Grove Program Manager
Description: The Giving Grove, a program of GROW North Texas, has an opening for a Program Manager. The Giving Grove program “Inspires and empowers communities to grow their own fruit, strengthening the sense of community while providing a portion of the harvest to benefit those in need.” By training local residents to plant and nurture holistically-grown urban orchards, Giving Grove’s model has a significant impact on the health and well-being of partner communities.
Position Background and Responsibilities: We are looking to hire a dynamic, creative and hands-on leader to manage and expand our network of community orchards in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. This is a newly launched program that includes significant opportunities to promote the growing, sharing and distribution of Giving Grove produce.
Salary: This is a full-time, salaried position with a pay range of $50,000-$60,000 depending on experience.
Responsibilities: Functionally, the key areas managed include:
• Plan for ongoing/long-term operations, staffing and outreach/communications.
• Manage overall logistics and operations, which includes scheduling planting events, ordering trees and supplies, leading planting events and facilitating produce distribution channels.
• Relationship management with local partners, supporters, vendors and National Giving Grove staff and affiliates.
• Outreach with potential partner sites, other non-profit organizations who can make site referrals and the general public to build both recognition and support.
• Local social media posts, newsletters and other communications
Activities include:
• Build community support for orchard-related maintenance events (pruning, fruit thinning, harvest, food distribution) conducted to educate stewards and general public.
• Manage partner introductions, site visits, application process, site planning and preparation for planting.
• Teach various steward classes on Community Engagement, Preparing for Harvest and New Steward Training and arrange for local or remote experts to teach pruning, fertilizing, orchard maintenance and pest/disease management.
• Provide neighborhood stewards with advice and tips on orchard maintenance and approaches for neighborhood engagement through regular communication.
• Contribute content for GROW North Texas website updates and post on social media.
• Attend community meetings to deepen relationships with various community stakeholders.
• Work with development and finance staff to track expenses and maintain grant outcomes.
• Lead new orchard installations and coordinate with GROW North Texas team to facilitate
new planting projects with community volunteers.
• Support GROW North Texas Giving Grove demonstration orchard maintenance.
• Plan annual event to acknowledge community stewards, partners and supporters.
Preferred areas of expertise:
• Program and project management skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• A passion for and experience in assisting communities of concern.
• Experience gardening, farming or orcharding.
• Demonstration of experience managing a team.
• Media and social networking skills.
• Presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Basic office management software skills, including Outlook/email, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Preferred qualifications/experience:
• A minimum of four years of experience working with community gardens, horticulture, community engagement or education and outreach
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Proven record in program management, leadership and team building
Additional Information and Requirements:
• This position is a full-time salaried position.
• Available to work weekends during the planting seasons: October-March
• Available to periodically meet or present at community events in the evenings or weekends.
• Must be physically able/willing to assist with digging tree holes, moving wheelbarrow loads of soil, and lift potted trees (approximately 50 pounds).
• Candidates must own or have unrestricted access to reliable automobile transportation, provide proof of a valid Texas driver’s license.
To Apply: Email cover letter and resume to Geri Strong at geri.strong@grownorthtexas.org by March 8, 2024.
