Company description
The Randall’s Island Park Alliance, Inc. (RIPA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works with the City of New York and local communities to provide an innovative and exciting destination through a wide range of sports venues, cultural events and environmental exploration. As the dedicated steward of Randall’s Island Park, the Alliance sustains, maintains, develops and programs the Park to support the wellbeing of all New Yorkers.
Job description
Randall’s Island Park Alliance, Inc.
Posting Dates: 02/29/2024 – Until Filled
Title: Community Food Educator (1)
Job Type: Part-Time; Temporary; 20 hrs./week; 3-4 days/week; In-person Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and one day of remote work, with occasional exceptions; Non-Exempt
Department: Urban Farm
Pay Rate: $30 per hour
Duration: June 3 - August 24, 2024
Work Location: Randall’s Island Park, New York, NY 10035
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Since 2020, the Randall’s Island Park Alliance (RIPA) Urban Farm has partnered with the Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service’s (LSA) Food Pantry in East Harlem, donating 3,000 lbs. of produce annually at weekly distributions from May through October. The Urban Farm provides seasonal, locally grown, fresh greens and vegetables that are otherwise rarely offered in food pantries and emergency food service settings, supplementing clients’ diets with hard-to-find culturally important produce.
RIPA's Urban Farm now seeks a Community Food Educator to lead and implement programming at LSA. The Community Food Educator will be responsible for leading and implementing cooking demos and conducting comprehensive outreach during LSA Food Distribution and Urban Farm Open Hours. For four weeks, they will also facilitate K-5 cooking workshops at LSA’s summer camp. Sampling easy-to-make recipes that feature the farm’s seasonal produce, they will act as a liaison between the farm and community, providing holistic community education on nutrition, healthy eating, and cooking. Occasionally, the Community Food Educator will work directly with the Urban Farm Team to harvest, wash, and pack produce for the food pantry. A minimum of four hours of planning, preparation, and remote work are built into the Community Food Educator’s week. The Community Food Educator will report to the Urban Farm Manager.
This position is funded with an award from the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program made available through the U.S. Botanic Garden and the American Public Gardens Association.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
LSA Summer Camp Cooking Workshops
- Facilitate and lead weekly cooking workshops at the LSA Health Services’ summer camp (4 weeks)
- Prepare recipes and age-appropriate lesson plans for workshops aimed at students in grades K-5
- Prepare, clean up, and breakdown the classroom space for workshops
Cooking Demos
- Conduct biweekly tabling and cooking demos outside the LSA food pantry during Wednesday distribution hours (6 distinct dates), as well as weekly cooking demos on the Urban Farm during Saturday open hours (12 distinct dates)
- Independently set-up and breakdown pop-up tent, folding table, and other materials for tabling and recipe sampling
- Maintain food safety, including cleaning and sanitation of all cooking equipment used in culinary demos
General Tasks
- Build and maintain relationships with the LSA community of clients, campers, volunteers, and staff
- Represent and promote RIPA programming and facilities
- Prepare and submit weekly purchase lists by deadlines
- Implement strategies for collecting meaningful feedback and data
- Assist farmers with harvesting, washing, and packing produce, and with other farm tasks as needed
- Support the RIPA Communications department by providing content for social media posts, when needed
- Complete other related assignments as necessary
This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Relevant degree or degree in process and/or related work experience
- Excellent ability to work with and interact with the public with a friendly demeanor
- Confident kitchen and cooking skills, including experience with menu planning
- Knowledge of, and willingness to teach a variety of cuisines representing diverse, multi-cultural populations
- Interest or familiarity with sustainable farm practices, food systems, and other social and environmental issues
- Comfort with outreach and record keeping
- Self-motivated and detail-oriented with strong time management skills and ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks
- Ability to collaborate and maintain positive working relationships
- Willing to work outdoors in all types of weather and ability to perform physical labor
- Experience with children's programming, teaching, and/or working with youth
- Able to work well independently and as part of a team
- Flexibility and creativity, ability “to think on your feet” and find appropriate solutions to unique challenges
- Proficiency with computer applications, including Microsoft Office applications and Canva
PREFERRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS
- Certification in nutrition or studying for a master's in nutrition, food studies or public health
- Experience teaching cooking, healthy eating, food and/or nutrition classes
- Fluent or functional in Spanish and/or Mandarin
- First Aid and CPR Certified
- Food Protection Certificate/Food Handler's License
The Randall’s Island Park Alliance, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and believes in a diverse and an inclusive workspace and environment.
RIPA maintains confidentiality of all applications and therefore will never contact a present employer without prior consent from the applicant.
Compensation
this position is: hourly, $20/hr +
Application instructions
This job expired on May 05, 2024
Deadline
no deadline