Youth Education Coordinator at Solid Ground

Fields: food justice, youth, health, agriculture, education

Location: Seattle, Washington

About the Organization: Solid Ground envisions a community beyond poverty and oppression where all people have equitable opportunity to thrive. We are committed to working with compassion, integrity, accountability, respect, collaboration and an anti-oppressions approach to end homelessness, hunger, inequality and other barriers to social justice.

We value collaboration and leadership from the communities we serve. As our workforce evolves to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, our agency and workplace will be enriched and strengthened and as such we will:

• Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency and an understanding of oppression and its impact;
• Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency.

About the Position: The Youth Education Coordinator will coordinate and teach nutrition and gardening education classes for Seattle Public School students and families. The Youth Education Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of coordinating and facilitating classes as well as collaboration with community partners. This position will work within elementary schools and Solid Ground’s farms to provide a series of hands-on and interactive nutrition, gardening and cooking education lessons. Both the classroom-based and garden-based lessons include an experiential cooking component.

The Youth Education Coordinator will also work closely with school staff and Solid Ground program staff during the academic year to develop, implement, and evaluate a school-wide healthy eating program, including family nights, after school programs, assemblies, cafeteria-based promotions, and an annual end-of-year event celebrating nutrition and multiculturalism. Following the academic year, the Youth Education Coordinator will deliver garden and/or community-based education to children and families.

This position works indoors in an office or school based setting 50% and 50% in the field. Indoor time is split between standing for presentations and cleaning and sitting for computer and phone work. Requires the ability to stand for at least 60 minutes to make presentations to groups. Work in the field is split between teaching, conducting outreach at various venues and meetings.

Position requires employee to lift/carry 15-30 pounds occasionally, 35- 50 pounds rarely, and the ability to bend, reach, kneel and or squat frequently as well as work outdoors in all weather. Push/pull requires 15-25 pounds frequent (cart /wheelbarrow equipment). Position has the ability to sit/stand as needed. Stairs and walking on uneven terrain and in all weather is required. Ability to push and pull a cart in order to purchase groceries and transport supplies to and from presentation sites.

Special Requirements/Qualifications:

Requires one of the following (a, b, or c):

• a) 2 years of experience presenting or facilitating workshops or trainings or teaching in a classroom or community setting, ideally working with low-income populations in an environment related to nutrition or outdoor education OR
• b) Registered Dietitian credentials, or a Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, public health, or other related field AND 1 year of experience presenting or facilitating workshops or trainings or teaching in a classroom or community setting, ideally working with populations living on low incomes in an environment related to nutrition or outdoor education OR
• c) Any combination of education, experience and measurable performance which demonstrates the capability to perform the duties of this position.

Other:

• 1 year experience leading a team; 1 year experience training and supervising volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to teach or present in a classroom or community setting. Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills, including the ability to make public presentations and lead large groups of children.
• Ability to effectively market a program and pursue outreach opportunities.
• Willingness and ability to work with and communicate successfully with people from a variety of racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, with various lifestyles, sexual orientations, and of all ages.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in hot, cold or rainy weather. Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for the purposes of conducting classes and attending community meetings for outreach purposes.
• Ability to shop for and transport groceries on a weekly basis.
• Ability to assess needs. Implement and evaluate the program and adapt nutrition education lessons for culturally and economically diverse audiences.
• Ability to obtain valid Food Handlers Permit by time of hire.
• Ability to travel to multiple sites in a timely manner.

Preferable Qualifications:

• Demonstrated classroom management skills, either in a classroom or outdoor setting.
• Demonstrated successful experience teaching or working with children, both individually and in groups.
• Prior gardening experience
• Valid driver’s license, and ability and willingness to drive own vehicle with mileage reimbursement or program vehicle with volunteer passengers to class sites throughout King County.
• Speaks another language relevant to communities we work with including but not limited to Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Cantonese, or Tagalog

Estimated Salary: $20.53/hour + benefits (medical, dental, short-term and long-term disability insurance, basic life insurance, 401(k) savings plan including agency contribution and match, holiday pay, generous paid personal leave package and tax-sheltered health care and dependent care accounts)

Deadline: September 15, 2018 5:00 PM

Apply Here:
Solid Ground