North Minneapolis Program Manager

Organization & Position Overview

Start date: Anticipated start date is between May 1st & May 15th, 2023

Position type & hours: Full-time, 40 hour/week, non-exempt position

Starting salary: $45,000

Benefits: Medical/Dental/SLTD/Life Insurance benefits package; Family Medical/Dental package; Generous paid vacation, sick time and holidays; Parental Leave; BYOD technology support; Professional development allowance; Flexible working schedule and hours.

Organization Summary: At Youth Farm, our mission is simple: we farm to grow food, community, and, most importantly, young leaders. Each year, we work with youth ages 9-24 to plant, grow, harvest, cook, eat, and distribute nutritious, locally grown food in their own neighborhoods in North Minneapolis and across St. Paul. Through our programs, young people strengthen local food systems and increase food access in their own communities, all while building confidence and resiliency within themselves in safe and supported environments.

As a youth development organization, we know when young people have the support of their community, they thrive. We focus on building relationships and connections within neighborhoods to strengthen community-based support systems for youth as they grow and lead. At Youth Farm, food is a catalyst for community building, youth leadership development, and social change – food is our tool to change the world.

Organizational Values: We hold 3 guiding organizational values – racial equity, quality youth development, and community health. These values, which were determined by our staff and the youth we serve, are dynamic and alive in our work. We are committed to consistently reflecting on how to further align our work with these values, create systems of accountability to live into these values, and use them as a foundation for the future direction of our work. Please visit this link to learn more.

Role overview: The North Minneapolis Program Manager is responsible for the management and delivery of Youth Farm’s year-round, seed-to-plate youth development programming. The program manager will work alongside Youth Farm staff, community partners, and youth to design and facilitate programs. These programs include cooking and gardening classes, community work days, and classes in partnership with schools. While a majority of the program manager’s work will focus on leading classes (sample weekly schedule below), they will also be responsible for planning programming alongside the rest of the Northside team, coordinating spaces and supplies, and evaluating programs alongside the Youth Farm teams in both Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Workplace culture: All staff at Youth Farm are expected to work with and communicate with everyone, regardless of organizational role or age, and to be fluid in that communication while collaborating. This means connecting frequently to support the organization’s goals while being guided by our values.

Reports to: North Minneapolis Program Director

This position will be a part of the Northside team (North Minneapolis Program Director, youth staff team) and will participate in check-ins with the team on a regular basis. The program manager will also engage with other members of the Youth Farm staff team during planning and/or all staff meetings. 

Timing, locations, travel: The majority of the North Minneapolis Program Manager’s work will take place in growing and partner spaces (schools, community centers, etc.) throughout North Minneapolis, with occasional meetings/program opportunities in St. Paul. Our programs take place at multiple locations and travel between sites is often required. Youth Farm has office space in both North Minneapolis and on the West Side of St. Paul. 

This position requires both evening and weekend work availability, and will work year round. Typically, we facilitate classes and programs from February through October. November, December, and January are typically spent evaluating and planning.

Sample school year (August – May) weekly schedule: 

Monday – virtual all staff meeting + check in with Northside team + planning time for upcoming week’s classes 

Tuesday – facilitate after-school cooking class at community space (e.g. church, rec center) in North Minneapolis 

Wednesday – facilitate in-school seeding activity for 4th and 5th graders at partner school

Thursday – partner meeting +  facilitate farm work day for high school staff (Project LEAD) + check in with program team

Friday – independent weekly reflection + space management (organize supplies) + administrative work (turning in receipts) 

Sample summer (June – September) weekly schedule: 

Monday – virtual all staff meeting + in-person meeting with Northside team + planning time for upcoming week’s classes 

Tuesday – facilitate farm work with Project LEAD and community members at community garden

Wednesday – facilitate farm work with Project LEAD, younger youth, and community members at pollinator garden

Thursday –  facilitate community cooking class with youth and community members

Friday – ½ day –  independent weekly reflection + space management (organize supplies) + administrative work (turning in receipts)

Saturday – ½ day – attend community event

Qualifications

Required:

• 2-3 years youth development and program delivery experience;
• Demonstrated commitment to food systems change, racial/health equity, and social justice;
• Knowledge of youth development and ability to engage youth ages 9-18 including:
  • Provide opportunities for youth to be involved in decision making, develop leadership skills, develop new knowledge and practice new skills;
  • Develop positive, supportive relationships with youth;
  • Create a safe environment for youth both emotionally and physically;
  • Establish and maintain clear, developmentally appropriate boundaries with youth, partners and fellow staff;
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team;
• Ability to identify personal areas for growth and learning while also being open and excited to learn from our leadership team.
• Computer literacy (Mac or PC);
• Project management skills and experience (time management, critical thinking and problem solving, accountable to deadlines);
• Ability to do physical work that may require crouching, bending, and standing. This position also works outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and requires moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
• Vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19;
• Drivers license and transportation to move between Youth Farm sites.

Preferred:

• Community outreach and partnership development experience;
• Farming skills;
• Cooking skills.

Position Responsibilities

Program Facilitation (70%) 

• Work with Northside team to recruit youth for Youth Farm programs in line with Youth Farm organization values;
• Plan and facilitate seed-to-plate classes and programs for groups of 12-15 youth;
• Work alongside youth to fulfill the mission and goals of the organization;
• Utilize a youth development approach and strategies when engaging with youth including: 
  • provide opportunities for youth to be involved in decision making, develop leadership skills, develop new knowledge and practice new skills, 
  • Develop positive, supportive relationships with youth
  • Create a safe environment for youth both emotionally and physically
  • Establish and maintain clear, developmentally appropriate boundaries and guidance
  • Engage family, school, and community as partners with youth;
• Plan and maintain garden spaces alongside Youth Farm staff (including our teen & young adult youth staff), teachers, students, community members, or other stakeholders at a specific site

Program management and administration (30%) 

• Work with Youth Farm staff to design program offerings that achieve mission and goals; 
• Meet community partners on a regular basis to cocreate program offerings where applicable;
• Coordinate with community partners and Northside team members to secure space for Youth Farm programming in kitchens or garden spaces

• Resource Management including: 
  • Working with leadership team to manage financial resources for programs;
  • Work collaboratively with all program staff to provide budget recommendations to Director team on areas managed; 
  • Coordinate program supplies and logistics in a team setting;
• Maintain organized records and reports including: receipts, program attendance
• Program evaluation:
  • work with Youth Farm staff team to develop evaluation goals and strategies that help us tell our story and inform program and organizational development;
  • collect data (both qualitative and quantitative) and work with a team to use data to inform program development and design. 
• Contribute to organization visioning and values work.

Compensation/Benefits

• Full-time, 40 hour/week, non-exempt position
• Medical/Dental/SLTD/Life Insurance benefits package
• Family Medical/Dental package
• Generous paid vacation, sick time and holidays
• Parental Leave 
• BYOD technology support
• Professional development allowance
• Flexible working schedule and hours
• Starting salary $45,000

To Apply

Please email the following materials to jobs@youthfarmmn.org addressed to Amanda Stoelb, Interim Executive Director and Marcus Kar, Director of North Minneapolis Programs:

• Resume
• 2 References
• Cover letter

Please submit application materials before April 21st, 2023. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Anticipated start date is between May 1st & May 15th, 2023.

To learn more about Youth Farm and our team, please visit www.youthfarmmn.org 

Youth Farm is committed to building a diverse and inclusive staff team, and strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals.