Bybee Lakes Hope Center Victory Garden
Portland, OR – November 27, 2024
Position: Victory Garden Manager
Employment Status: Part-time; 20 hours per week Pay Rate: $30/hour + select benefits
Reports to: Executive Director
To apply: Send resumes to Tracey Mason | tracey@besthq.net
Are you an outdoor enthusiast? Do you have a green thumb? Are you looking for a position that gives back and offers positive results to the community? VetREST has an opportunity for you.
VetREST is looking to hire a Victory Garden Manager for our various Victory Gardens throughout the Portland Metro area. Our Victory Garden Manager will have a base of operations of ongoing horticulture and agriculture efforts at the Bybee Lakes Victory Garden in North Portland at Bybee Lakes Hope Center (a three-acre facility).
Additionally, activities may include work at other gardens and in community, including the Metro Central Victory Garden at St. Johns Village and our Bomber Victory Garden. The Victory Garden Manager will work with the Executive Director and staff to develop and plan best practices, systems and organizational improvements in a highly purposeful and rewarding environment – see Our Work.
Our Victory Garden Manager will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the gardens, including planning, planting, maintaining, and harvesting, while managing a team of staff or volunteers, ensuring the garden is aesthetically pleasing, healthy, and productive, often incorporating sustainable practices, and may also involve community engagement and educational initiatives related to gardening. The manager shall expand community engagement to allow the best and highest use of the space while enhancing sustainable best practices and sharing with community.
Duties:
- Attend and report-out at periodic VetREST team meetings as well as regular Board meetings.
- Garden planning and implementation: Organize garden plantings, select appropriate plant varieties based on climate and desired aesthetics, identify new garden beds or features.
- Plant care and maintenance: Oversee and implement regular garden tasks like pruning, watering, pest management, fertilizing, weeding, and disease control.
- Staff management: Identify / hire, train, and supervise garden staff or volunteers, assign tasks, and monitor performance.
- Budget management: Track garden expenses, manage inventory of plants and supplies, stay within budget constraints and report accordingly.
- Harvesting and distribution: Coordinate harvest schedules, manage production distribution to Bybee Lakes Hope Center, community markets, or other outlets.
- Sustainability practices: Implement environmentally friendly gardening techniques like composting, water conservation, and organic pest control.
- Community engagement: Organize gardening workshops, educational programs, and outreach activities to promote gardening knowledge.
- Record keeping: Maintain accurate records of plant inventory, planting dates, maintenance activities, and harvest yields.
- Tools and equipment maintenance and control: Ensure proper management, care and upkeep of garden tools and equipment.
Qualifications:
- Three (3) years experience in social work, education, and/or agriculture/horticulture/sustainability preferred.
- Prior military experience preferred.
- Self-starter with software skills, strong organizational acumen, ability to meet deadlines, ability to accomplish manual labor in the garden, and professional demeanor.
- Horticultural knowledge: Deep understanding of plant biology, growth habits, and best practices for various plant types.
- Leadership skills: Ability to manage a team, delegate tasks, and motivate participants, and staff or volunteers.
- Communication skills: Effective communication with staff, volunteers, participants, and stakeholders regarding garden operations and updates.
- Physical ability: Capability to perform physically demanding tasks like lifting, bending, and working outdoors in various weather conditions.
- Organizational skills: Ability to prioritize tasks, manage schedules, and maintain accurate records.
About VetREST: VetREST exists to help our nation’s Veterans “find peace from the hidden battle.” By addressing what is recognized as often a contributing issue—Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS)- and the suffering it brings into the lives of so many Veterans, VetREST seeks to offer mentoring, coaching, and places of refuge and tranquility to combat PTS. The mission is to mentor Veterans while providing farming opportunities in safe and supportive environments where they can achieve wellness themselves and produce healthy food for our nation. The Victory Garden Manager will play a pivotal role in continuing this important mission work.
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