Hiring: Grower’s Assistant – The Food Project

What We Seek
The Food Project is seeking a full-time Grower’s Assistant to work on our Lynn farm for the 2024 season. The Grower’s Assistant will partner with the Lynn Farm Manager, youth, and community members in all aspects of production at our Lynn sites, which includes a 1-acre urban farm at the Ingalls school, a 1,200 square foot greenhouse, and supporting community garden plots. At the Ingalls school we practice no-till market gardening, which includes farming mostly by hand and with human power. The farm is intensively managed to produce 20,000 pounds of produce each year, and the Grower’s Assistant will support distribution through our SNAP-accessible farmers’ market, mobile markets, wholesale accounts, and donations to hunger relief organizations. This position is a mix of production, distribution, community and youth engagement.

Responsibilities
Farm and Greenhouse Operations
● Support Lynn Farm Manager to accomplish and or delegate farm tasks, with quality and efficiency,
including composting, bed preparation, mulching, planting, cultivation, and harvest.
● Collaborate with the Lynn Farm Manager to implement and troubleshoot new farm systems that
include no-till, lean farming, and permaculture.
● Assist in all aspects of greenhouse production and distribution related to our spring seedling sale.
Cover weekend greenhouse watering, on a schedule TBD with the Lynn Farm Manager (one
weekend per month.)
● Access crops in the field to forecast labor needs and harvest yields.
Volunteer & Youth Engagement
● Lead small groups of dedicated Work-for-Share volunteers in farm tasks for one to two mornings per
week throughout the spring and fall.
● Partner with youth development staff to lead farm work with youth in The Food Project’s Seed Crewan
intensive six-week summer job for teenagers.
○ Root Crew (Summer): During July and August, partner with youth development staff and
with Root Crew, our more experienced youth, to run market harvest, washup, and complete
more advanced farm tasks.
○ Dirt Crew (Academic): During the spring and fall, support Dirt Crew in managing farms on
Saturdays with volunteers.
○ Root Crew (Academic): During the spring and fall, support Dirt Crew in managing farms on
Saturdays with volunteers.
Market & Distribution
● Work with the Lynn Community Programs Manager and Lynn Farm Manager to take leadership on
running The Food Projects’ stand at the Lynn Central Square market.
● The Lynn Grower’s Assistant should feel comfortable going to market, and may be called to serve as
lead farmer at the market stand ● Support weekly harvest and deliveries to our wholesale accounts.
● Support and run Mobile Markets as needed.
Organizational Health
● Participate in Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Trainings, affinity group space, dialogue space, etc.
● Feedback Participation: Real Talk, circle process, etc.
● Active Organizational Team Member: Department/team intersectional collaboration in respective
work/communication as needed and requested
● All Staff Meetings: Team building, trainings, activities as determined
● Support Recruitment, Onboarding, Orientation, Training: Tap into various networks, participate in
screenings, interviews, etc. for all organizational positions.

Qualifications
This position is ideal for an individual who is interested in both sustainable agriculture and community
engagement. It is well-suited for someone with at least one full season working on a vegetable farm, who is ready to take on a leadership role as part of an urban agriculture team. Candidates who have a passion for market gardening, no-till farming, food justice, and youth development will be an asset to the team. Our farms are run in partnership with youth and community members, therefore a candidate must have a passion for teaching and leading others, particularly young people.

Our youth and neighbors reflect the tremendous cultural, racial, and socio-economic diversity of the city  of Lynn and surrounding neighborhoods. Candidates with experience working in diverse settings are strongly preferred.
● At least one full-time season of experience on a production farm or educational farm
● Excellent interpersonal communication skills and energy for engaging with other people
● Dependable, responsible, flexible and open to learning
● Ability to work a flexible 40-hour schedule: Tuesday-Saturday in the spring and fall, Monday-Friday in the Summer.
● 21+ years of age with a valid driver’s license and clean driving record (required for use of TFP vehicles)
● Ability to work both independently as well as in a team environment
● Consistent work ethic and pace throughout the farming season
● Enthusiasm for working with teenagers; prior experience teaching or leading youth in outdoor settings
preferred.
● Experience leading groups safely and productively
● Experience working in multicultural community settings
● Team-oriented with a good sense of humor; able to work independently.
● Knowledge of the Lynn community is a plus. Bilingual in Spanish, Russian, or another language is also a plus.
● CPR and First Aid certified or willingness to be trained
● Able to pass a CORI/SORI background check

Location & Schedule
This is a full-time 40/hr a week, seasonal position from April 1st– November 22nd, 2024, with a seasonally fluctuating Tuesday through Saturday/ Monday through Friday work week.
● The Lynn Grower’s Assistant will accrue 5 personal days (one per month for the first 5 months), which can be taken on the day of a holiday, or amassed in order to take a weeklong vacation over the course of the season. Unpaid time off can be taken in coordination with the Farm Manager and farm needs.
● Daily schedule will be 7:30am-4:15pm with a forty-five-minute unpaid lunch/rest break.
○ There is the possibility of starting at 6:30am and ending earlier during peak summer heat waves.

Hourly Wage:
$20.00 – $21.00
Seasonal Employee Benefits

Recruitment Process
Please send resume and cover letter via email to: jobs@thefoodproject.org. In the subject line, write your name and the position for which you are applying with the region, eg: “Jordan Smith – Lynn Grower’s Assistant.” We will review all submissions, identify viable candidates, and contact ONLY those individuals selected to continue in the application process (phone screening, interview with staff, interview with youth). Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and decisions will be made by Feb 15th, 2024.

The Food Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to creating an inclusive organization. We actively seek a diverse pool of candidates for this position.