Employment
Master Gardener
Department:
Farm
Reports To:
Farm and Fish Hatchery Manager
FLSA Status:
Exempt (Seasonal)
General Function:
The Master Gardener will create and maintain demonstration gardens, conduct school gardening programs, and give talks to donors and volunteers interested in horticulture and nutrition education programs. The Master Gardener plans, plants and maintains the educational garden at the Hunger Task Force farm in Franklin, Wisconsin. This regular full time position works in the greenhouse, garden, farm fields and orchards. The Master Gardener operates trucks, tractors, sprayers, tillers, mowers and other heavy equipment to cultivate and plant fields and orchards; irrigate crops, control weeds and harvest produce. The Master Gardener leads and directs work crews of volunteers and job trainees working at the Farm. This is a seasonal position (March 1 thru October 15th) and work patterns are influenced and highly dependent on the weather.
Principle Duties and Responsibilities:
- Work closely with Nutrition Educator to develop programs and activities consistent with the Eating From the Garden program.
- Plan, design and maintain school garden, predict labor and equipment needs.
- Open greenhouse; propagate, plant and transplant school garden crops according to plan.
- Lead and direct work crews in greenhouse and garden.
- Maintain apiary and ongoing planning for continued growth of bee colonies.
- Lead groups of children and adults in gardening and educational activities
- Assist farmer during peak periods of planting and harvesting.
- Operate all heavy equipment at the farm including trucks, tractors, orchard sprayers, seeder, tiller, mower, transplanter, picker and cultivator.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Directly supervises children, trainees and volunteers at the Farm. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with agency policies and applicable laws. Ensure consistently good performance, quality in service and strong mission support by all team members. Responsibilities include training; planning, assigning and directing work; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; or five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Language Skills
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of volunteers or employees of organization.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of internet software, spreadsheet software and word processing software.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
- Master Gardener Certification
- Valid Wisconsin Driver's License
- Wisconsin Pesticide Certification preferred.
Other Skills and Abilities
- Beekeeping skills and experience
- Arboricultural skills and experience
- Organic vegetable gardening skills and experience
- 1 year supervisory experience
Other Qualifications
- Strong orientation to detail, highly organized.
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations and knowledge of EEO policy.
- Knowledge of OSHA occupational and safety standards.
- Knowledge of ADA and Civil Right Compliance issues.
- Subject to Criminal Background Verification.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to walk; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; sit; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work schedules and patterns are seasonally influenced and work activities are highly dependent on weather.
To apply:
Send your resume and letter of interest to resumes @ hungertaskforce.org
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