Senior Agriculture Manager

Trellis for Tomorrow

(Non-Profit)

Phoenixville, PA

Based in Phoenixville, PA, Trellis for Tomorrow is Trellis for Tomorrow is a nonprofit that delivers experiential programs in organic gardening, environmental education, and food security that provide practical and behavioral life skills for youth and adults. Serving the greater Philadelphia area, our aim is to foster compassion and resilience in people and inspire them to build sustainable communities.

Trellis for Tomorrow is the primary steward of numerous community-focused agricultural spaces including youth-led neighborhood gardens and our Agricultural Learning Center at Lundale Farm with a focus on a distributive training and equipping for community members.

Trellis also offers programs that engage more than 20 local organizations and their constituents in impactful volunteer initiatives, and through the guided stewardship of organic gardens where food is grown and donated to neighbors in need. Our youth development programs provide a variety of learning and work experiences, entrepreneurial training, and structured leadership opportunities for teens and young adults. For more information and detail on our mission, values, and programs, please visit www.trellis4tomorrow.org.  

The following job description is for a position within our Programs Team and will contribute substantively and collaboratively to the aims detailed above.

Job Description:

The Senior Agriculture Manager position is a full-time, salaried position that reports directly to the Director of Programs and manages the agricultural team at Trellis. We are seeking qualified candidates with experience in – and a passion for – sustainable/organic agriculture and community building. The ideal candidate has demonstrated skills and knowledge in gardening/farming, is a confident communicator capable of leading youth and adults to new understandings and skills, has strong organizational and managerial skills, and is able and willing to lead individual and group efforts in a range of circumstances, environments, and conditions. 

The Senior Agricultural Manager will work to supervise members of the agricultural team at Trellis, developing and implementing strategies to achieve organizational goals and outcomes related to the stewardship of agricultural and garden spaces, the increase of accessibility of nutrient dense foods to communities in need of greater food security, and the fostering of new skills and knowledge around sustainability in our food system. This position will take the lead in the management of a number of Trellis agricultural spaces, and in the development of agricultural support for Trellis staff, volunteers, and participants throughout our network.

This role is a strong blend of hands-on field work, as well as in-office administrative and planning work. Field work takes place outdoors from early spring to late fall in garden and farm locations including our greenhouse and Agricultural Learning Center and this position will include work in inclement weather conditions.  Administrative and planning work will take place at Trellis offices. Limited opportunities for remote, especially in the warmer months. Some weekend hours should be expected.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBLITIES

• Supervise development and delivery of annual agricultural plans in support of Trellis garden-based programs; with staff and stakeholder input, determine agriculturally related outcomes, activities, measures, and plan logistics for implementation and achievement.
• Management of agricultural team, including supervision of individual and group efforts for planning and implementation of agriculture plans and related programming and activities.
• Management of Trellis agricultural spaces, including the Agricultural Learning Center at Lundale, SEED community gardens, and select Food for All garden spaces.
• Development and/or delivery of SOPs and support materials for staff, volunteers, and program participants, including best practices and training on irrigation, harvesting, pest control, plant and soil health, and garden management.
• Lead garden builds, plantings, projects, and site visits for Trellis partners and participants; provide expert agricultural guidance, instruction, and troubleshooting.
• Procurement, delivery, and handling of materials and machinery, including machine rentals transport and operation, for project-based work and advancement.
• Lead the development and/or curation of materials, online content, and other intellectual property in support of Trellis agricultural programs, educational resources, and activities.
• Develop and deliver educational and/or program sessions, including in-person, virtual, and classroom settings.
• Participate in program assessments and continuous quality improvement; assist in the preparation and assessment of measures for stakeholder feedback to determine impact and improvements.

Salary: $60,000

The Trellis for Tomorrow offices are located in Phoenixville and Pottstown, PA and its agricultural spaces are centered around Southern Montgomery and Northern Chester Counties. Travel between sites and offices is frequent and requires a personal vehicle. Two professional references are required; all employees are subject to FBI & State Criminal Background checks & Child Abuse History clearances.

 To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@trellis4tomorrow.org with the subject “Sr. Agricultural Manager”.

Trellis for Tomorrow is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. For a full copy of Trellis's anti-harassment and discrimination policy, including grievance procedures,  please click here .  Should you require a translation of this document into another language or an audio version, please call 610-886-4901.

At this time, Trellis for Tomorrow cannot hire from outside of the US or pay for relocation.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• Undergraduate degree in a related or relevant field or commensurate level of experience 
• Minimum of 5 years’ demonstrated experience in farming/agriculture; some organic agriculture or gardening experience required
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in management and effective team leadership
• Demonstrated ability to perform a physically demanding job, including being outside for extended periods in hot weather
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook; facile with cloud-based systems with a willingness and aptitude to learn new applications
• Alignment with Trellis’ Core Values, including a commitment to equity and inclusion.

CORE COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

• Charismatic Leadership – Capacity to engage, coach, and inspire change in others. 
• Achievement Motivation– Drive and commitment to succeed, goal oriented. 
• Organization/Time Management - Effective prioritization during unsupervised work.  
• Accountability/Locus of Control - Responsibility for one’s own success or failure. 
• Communication (oral and written) - Ability to articulate well and be easily understood.  
• Connector - Ability to build genuine connections with youth and adults from diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and gender backgrounds. 
• Emotional Stability/Adaptability – Functions effectively even when faced with uncertainty or stressful situations. Able to adjust quickly and smoothly as new information surfaces.  
• Emotional Intelligence – Ability to empathize and understand the emotions and motivations that underlie human behavior, i.e., ‘reading people’ well, including a willingness to push beyond what is on the surface to get to root causes. 

Our Benefits include:

Medical and Dental benefits, a retirement plan (after 1 full year), generous PTO, equal maternal and paternal leave, and a sabbatical policy.