School Garden Program Director - OAEC

Director of the School Garden Program
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Full-time, non-residential position

The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC) is seeking a new School Garden Program
Director. OAEC is a non-profit educational institute working in ecology, watershed restoration, horticulture, the arts, and social justice activism. OAEC is located on an 80-acre retreat facility and intentional community, 65 miles north of San Francisco in Sonoma County, California.

Job Summary
Direct all aspects of an established, highly successful program that promotes and teaches ecological literacy to K-12 students and school communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, statewide and beyond through school garden projects and related curriculum. Coordinate the expansion of the program to train other regional centers around the U.S. using the OAEC program model.

Responsibilities
1. Direct summer residential School Garden Teacher Trainings (SGTT)
a. Develop and revise SGTT application materials
b. Conduct outreach for SGTT
c. Review applications and select schools to attend SGTT (“participating schools”)
d. Serve as the primary contact for participating schools
e. Prepare all course materials and props, including seed exchange
f. Coordinate and serve as the contact for SGTT guest presenters
g. Coordinate, host and teach some sections of the SGTT
h. Coordinate with Sonoma State University Extended Education to register and process
academic credits for SGTT participants
i. Coordinate with the School Garden Network of Sonoma County for local schools
j. Coordinate with OAEC Kitchen, Maintenance, and Administration for support and
material preparation
k. Update and revise SGTT resource binder
2. Conduct Ongoing Support for School Garden Programs Trained by OAEC
a. With the exception of schools supported by San Francisco Green Schoolyard
Alliance, conduct site visits, and/or phone and email consultation for SGTT
participating schools, as requested by participating schools
b. Organize, host, and teach as appropriate, one-day SGTT Skills Workshops
c. Maintain database of schools, garden projects and relevant agencies
d. Provide periodic newsletters and email updates to SGTT mailing list
e. Provide periodic tours at OAEC for school and school-related groups
f. Maintain OAEC’s school garden library, curriculum and resource lists
g. Collaborate with OAEC garden and nursery staff on our plant donations to schools
3. Continue partnership with San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance (SFGSA)
a. Collaborate on planning, curriculum and workshops as outlined in the scope of work
of each organization
b. Coordinate with SFGSA in outreach efforts for SGTT and other OAEC opportunities
as relevant to participating schools from SF and the Greater Bay Area
4. Outreach and Public Education
a. Present at meetings and conferences throughout California and beyond
b. Develop strategic partnerships with other organizations and agencies involved in
school garden issues, including joining boards and advisory committees (for example,
California School Garden Network Advisory Board)
c. With the support of OAEC staff, coordinate print and web-based media such as press
releases, articles, and photo opportunities
5. Program Development, Evaluation and Expansion
a. Convene OAEC’s School Garden Program Committee (quarterly and as needed)
b. Develop work plan and budget for the SG Program
c. Conduct and tabulate evaluations of SGTT and other SG workshops
d. Along with other OAEC staff, engage in program development, taking the lead where
appropriate
e. Depending on funding, lead a statewide and/or national expansion of the program to
satisfy increased, non-Bay Area demand
6. Develop and Implement a national School Garden Program Centers Project
a. Starting in 2012, work with other OAEC staff to research and design a program to
develop and train other regional centers based on OAEC’s proven School Garden
Program model - including program plan, outreach, training curriculum, support and
implementation
b. Starting in 2013, begin implementation of the School Garden Program Centers project
and “training the trainers.”
7. Investigate and Possibly Initiate a School Garden Policy Project
a. Working with other OAEC staff, investigate expanding the School Garden Program
to include a policy project to address and advocate for policies and funding for school
garden programs.
8. Fundraising
a. Assist OAEC development staff with writing grant proposals, LOI’s and reports
b. Provide supporting materials for grant proposals, including program budgets,
participant evaluations, letters of support, photographs of school gardens, etc.
c. Assess the success of individual OAEC-trained school garden programs, and
summarize information for grants and program development
9. Other responsibilities as an OAEC staff member
a. Attend and participate in weekly OAEC staff meetings
b. Attend and participate in yearly OAEC planning process
c. Be available to support the organization’s overall success

Qualifications
• Several years of program development in a non-profit setting
• Substantial experience in garden-based education and curriculum development
• Excellent organizational, oral and written communication skills
• Undergraduate degree in Biology, Environmental Science, Education or related field, or equivalent related experience
• Excellent public speaking skills
• Willingness to travel
We are looking for someone who is flexible and energetic to participate in the dynamic process of a growing non-profit, and to help lead the expansion of the School Garden Program. We celebrate diversity, use consensus decision-making processes, and are committed to maintaining a supportive, diverse, honest and open working environment.

Compensation
This is a full-time, non-residential position. Salary is up to $40,000 per year, depending on experience. OAEC offers a generous vacation plan and a Cafeteria Plan with health care options, but does not offer paid health insurance. Staff can participate in OAEC courses and events free of charge, use the OAEC facilities (pond, hot tub, sauna, etc.), harvest produce from our gardens, and eat meals at OAEC when working. OAEC is committed to equal employment opportunities. We do not discriminate based on an individual’s race, sex, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or on any other basis prohibited by law.

To Apply
Please refer to www.oaec.org for background on OAEC and the School Garden Program. We are accepting applications until 5:00 pm, Friday, March 30, 2012. Early application is encouraged. Qualified applicants please email a cover letter, resume, and list of current references to Lisa Preschel, lisa@oaec.org. Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. Please do not contact OAEC with questions about the job or the application process. Please refer to the Job Announcement and this Job Description. Applicants will be notified by email if OAEC requests more information or an interview.
Thank you!