This position is a grade 117 on the salary schedule.

As a condition of employment all new hires must obtain and maintain a valid Level One IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).

A centerpiece program in Phoenix #1 and a key component to our commitment to equity and access is providing an opportunity for organic schoolyard gardens. Garden features can include fruit trees desert gardens greenhouses and animal habitats. School garden innovations can provide an essential service to the entire school community. The District Garden Manager plays a critical role by overseeing planting and harvests for appropriate yields for classes community events and cafeteria integration district wide. The Manager guides instructional and maintenance staff in development and maintenance of a productive and educational garden.

Informs district staff of garden activities and tasks creates or locates lessons curriculum garden planning and assists in locating/applying for garden related grants. The Garden Manager maintains PreK through 8th grade gardens district wide.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Additional Duties May Be Assigned)

• Actively engages teachers to integrate the garden into seasonal curricular planning by training and encouraging student engagement outdoors.
• Maintain garden budget and budget management while supervising garden staff to ensure ingredients are available for classroom lessons and to ensure the procurement of additional ingredients for kitchen classes.
• Shares and acts as a liaison for site garden staff assisting sites through all aspects of lessons to ensure skills and values development understanding of seasonality and connections to curricular studies.
• Facilitate monthly meetings with district staff to coordinate lessons aligned to curriculum and standards and review the needs of each district garden plot with relation to needs.
• Promote curriculum connections to menu items in cafeteria and coordinate with teachers and Child Nutrition staff to integrate these connections into classroom lessons.
• Serve as liaison to the cafeteria staff about menu items featuring garden
• Organize the development planning and implementation of food
• Oversee maintenance of garden facilities and equipment including the tool shed chicken coops greenhouses irrigation systems lawn mowers weed whackers Rototillers and all hand tools as well as creating the mechanism for sharing resources across sites.
• Assists each site with the management of the garden at a level of production that ensures ample produce for the kitchen and cafeteria programming as well as community produce
• Assist sties with the design and facilitation of community and special events as well as assist with volunteers and groups.
• Identify and assist sites with the facilitation of professional development
• Perform other related duties as

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Heat transfer food history and origins local produce native ecosystems Farm to Table seasonality and plant anatomy. Knowledge of district resources and procurement

Skilled in:

• Working effectively with children and
• Microsoft Word Excel PowerPoint Publisher and other digital
• First Aid and CPR Certified
• CPI Certified

Ability to:

Represent a variety of garden programs to the wider community e.g. public speaking engagements and attendance at meetings and conferences if necessary. Ability to maintaining multiple garden sites using the unique resources at each site. Work with a variety of administrators including district level administration to promote and foster an environment where gardens thrive.

This position requires valid Level One IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.

Required Experience:

Manager