Hiring: Youth Program Manager- Groundwork Somerville

Who We Are
Groundwork Somerville is a community-based, action-oriented non-profit. Our mission is to cultivate the
next generation of environmental activists to grow a greener and more equitable Somerville. Groundwork Somerville, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has been “changing places and changing lives” in Somerville, Massachusetts since 2000. Through youth empowerment, urban farming, equitable food access, and community engagement, Groundwork sows the seeds of a healthy community. Our work is grounded in the understanding that environmental conditions are inextricably linked to economic, social, and racial injustice. We recognize that it is impossible to sustain a healthy community without holistically addressing these issues. As a result, we make an explicit effort to employ and empower youth of color and youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Our educational programming specifically highlights the nuances of racism, sexism, and environmental injustice, and arms youth with tools to address these inequities. In addition, Groundwork strives to provide equitable access to food and land for all Somerville residents. We grow crops that have cultural significance to Somerville’s diverse community, and provide equitable access to fresh produce through the Somerville Mobile Market. We strive to hold space where all Somervillians can gather as a community and celebrate the land and each other.

What We Seek
The Youth Program Manager plays an integral role in the implementation of Groundwork Somerville’s
youth engagement. They take the lead in overseeing the preparation, administration, and implementation of our high-school youth engagement programs including the Green Team (GT), youth internships, field trips, and service-learning classes. They provide primary leadership during the academic year and summer for the GT program. The Youth Program Manager also contributes significantly to youth development and evaluation in the organization.

The Green Team is our primary means of engaging youth. It is our teen employment program in which
youth are paid to help manage our urban farm and school garden sites. Through this work, they develop
leadership, job, and relationship-building skills through urban agriculture, environmental justice, and civic engagement projects. The Green Team are primarily high-school aged, low-income, recent immigrants, and youth of color from Somerville and surrounding cities. The Green Team works in the summer (8 weeks, 20 hours/week), along with fall and spring (approx. 10 weeks each season, 2-5 hours/week). The summer GT program also offers 3-4 Green Team Leader (GTL) roles for post-high school young adults.

Essential Functions:
Youth Engagement – 75%
Green Team Recruitment and Set up (year round):
● Coordinate outreach and recruitment for Green Team members and leaders
● Manage application, interviewing, hiring, paperwork, and onboarding process for GT members
and leaders
● Train GTLs to manage their crews and projects for the summer GT program and supervise their
leadership development throughout the season
● Plan GT schedule, projects, curriculum, and field trips for summer, fall, and spring seasons
Green Team Summer Employment Program (June-Aug):
● Run and/or oversee GT summer program daily, June through August
● Facilitate and support GTLs to lead interactive workshops on issues of food and environmental
justice, health equity, bike safety, public speaking, job skills, etc. for the GT Manage GT standards system and Real Talk feedback process, support GTLs in utilizing these
systems
● In partnership with Big City Mountaineers, coordinate logistics for small groups of GT members to
participate in three short-term hiking/backpacking trips over the course of the summer
● In partnership with Groundwork USA, coordinate travel logistics and co-lead the annual
Groundwork Yellowstone National Park trip
Academic Year Youth Programs (Sept-May)
● Coordinate and lead spring & fall Green Team after school clubs/internships at Somerville High
School (SHS). This involves weekly programming at the high school to maintain the garden,
prepare and try food in the kitchen (alongside the culinary arts students), and lead GT workshops.
This also includes off-site work opportunities for youth at the Mobile Market and farm events on
Saturdays.
● Coordinate and facilitate field trips for SHS students to the farm
● In collaboration with the International School of Boston, lead weekly service-learning workdays &
workshops at South St. Farm for a group of 10 ninth graders for 10 weeks in the fall
● Provide and oversee additional internship and work opportunities for high-school aged youth
through community partnerships
Management – 15%
● Manage Green Team bike fleet with support from Bikes Not Bombs and volunteers
● Mentor Green Team members and alumni in their educational, personal, and career development
goals; by sending regular GT updates, job opportunities, and hosting GT alumni events
● Support promotion of the Green Team program on Groundwork Somerville social media and at
community events
● Support management of Green Team-specific funding opportunities and reporting
● Lead weekly meetings with GT leaders & School Gardens Manager during program season
● Budget: Update & management of department budget
● Develop and carry out youth program evaluation systems
Community Engagement – 10%
● Manage partnerships with Municipal Government departments, Universities, Foundations, and
other funding sources to support GT member and leader salaries with support from the Executive
Director
● Manage partnerships with local schools and community organizations to support youth
programming and determine youth projects
● Attend monthly Youth Workers Network meetings and District Wellness meetings

Qualifications:
● 1-3 years experience working directly with high school youth in teaching, organizing, mentoring,
and/or facilitative capacity.
● Strong communication, interpersonal, public speaking, and group facilitation skills, especially on
topics including diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
● Supervision and/or management experience; ability to balance competing priorities and deadlines
● Demonstrated skills in youth development, including responding effectively to the non-programmatic
issues youth bring up in the course of their work.
● Capacity to uphold high standards set by the community, and ability to motivate a group of young
people while fostering their potential.
● Experience, knowledge of, or strong interest in farming, gardening, agriculture, landscaping,
and/or other outdoor work Detail-oriented; strong organizational & time management skills and ability to keep track of
logistics, materials, and information
● Commitment to Groundwork Somerville’s mission, youth empowerment, and addressing the
impact of racism and other oppressions on health equity and local food, environmental, and social
issues.
● Multi-lingualand/or has cultural background(s) reflecting those common to Somerville’s youth and
immigrant communities will be prioritized. Specific language abilities desired include Haitian
Creole, Spanish, and Portuguese.
● Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive large (15 passenger, cargo van, and/or truck)
vehicles in the city (preferred).
● Familiarity with City of Somerville (preferred).

Salary: This is a full-time position with a salary commensurate with experience and skills. This position
is eligible for health insurance benefits, 3 weeks paid vacation, transportation benefits, and other benefits, including fresh produce. Salary range is $45,000 to $50,000 per year. Location & Schedule
This position will be based in Somerville, MA, with a regular Monday through Friday schedule, and
occasional weekend and evening hours. This person will be expected to work outside in all kinds of
weather during the growing season (April – November). This position has some remote-work flexibility for
administrative and planning duties.

How to Apply
To apply, send a resume and cover letter as a PDF document to emily@groundworksomerville.org by
February 24th. In the subject line, write your name and the position for which you are applying, eg: “Jaden Santos – Youth Program Manager”. We will review submissions on a rolling basis, identify viable
candidates and contact ONLY those elected to continue in the process. Must pass a background check
prior to onboarding.

Groundwork Somerville is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an environment
that welcomes and embraces diversity. Groundwork Somerville does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual
orientation, or any other legally protected status. People of Color and those with other marginalized
identities are strongly encouraged to apply.