Company description
At The Food Project, we believe that everyone has the right to fresh, healthy, affordable food. Our goal is to transform the food system into a more just, community-engaged model that supports food security for all while connecting diverse communities to each other and to the land.
Since our founding in 1991, The Food Project has grown into a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that works at the intersection of youth, food, and community. Young people are the driving force of The Food Project and work on our farms and with community members to realize the right to food that nourishes our communities and the planet we share.
Each year, we employ 140 teenagers in this vital work on 70 acres of urban and suburban farmland across eastern Massachusetts where they grow 200,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and use this food to enact innovative food system initiatives that increase access to fresh, healthy food for all.
We focus this work in the two communities we are most deeply connected to: Boston’s Dudley neighborhood and the City of Lynn.
Our Mission
The Food Project’s mission is to create a thoughtful and productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system. Our community produces healthy food for residents of the city and suburbs, provides youth leadership opportunities, and inspires and supports others to create change in their own communities.
Our Vision
We envision a world where youth are active leaders, diverse communities feel connected to the land and each other, and everyone has access to fresh, local, healthy, affordable food.
Job description
What We Seek
The Food Project is seeking a full-time Assistant Grower to work on our Lynn and Wenham farms for the 2025 season. In the Spring and Fall the Assistant Grower will work primarily at our urban farm in Lynn, supporting the Lynn farm team in the Lynn farm work as well as building raised bed gardens for community members and organizations throughout Lynn. During the summer months, the Assistant Grower will work at our suburban farm in Wenham, alongside the Wenham Agricultural Worker, and with the support of the Director of Farms and Food, to steward 1.5 acres of storage crops, .5 acre newly planted orchard, a .3 acre u-pick area for the youth programs and maintenance of a publicly accessed farm trail. This position is ideal for someone who has experience of at least 2-3 seasons on a production farm and is looking to expand into a leadership role on a farm. The Assistant Grower works with the Director of Farms and Food to determine weekly work and will work closely with youth development staff, TFP program youth, volunteers and partner growers on site in carrying out field work. This position is a mix of production, community, and youth engagement.
Responsibilities
Farm Work
Lead and delegate all areas of production, with quality and efficiency, including mulching, planting, hand weeding, cultivation, irrigation, harvest and site maintenance, including mowing.
Support the Food Access and Education Manager in installing raised garden beds throughout Lynn, during the Spring and Fall.
Work with The Director of Farms and Food and community partners on the land to prioritize weekly summer work in Wenham.
Train youth development staff and youth into daily field work when youth programs are in session.
Volunteer and Youth Engagement
Lead volunteer groups in field work in the Spring and Fall.
Partner with youth development staff to lead farm work for youth in the Summer.
Agricultural Education
Facilitate a weekly educational workshop for youth during the summer months. Create a learning environment for the youth by providing end of row conversations to teach about farming practices.
Organizational Health
Participate in our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
Prepare and participate in structured, regular feedback sessions.
Participate in all-staff meetings, team meetings, and provide cross-department support.
Participate in annual planning, budgeting, and performance review processes.
Perform other duties as needed, within capacity.
Qualifications
This position is ideal for an individual who is interested in both sustainable agriculture and community engagement. It is well-suited for someone with at least two-three full seasons of experience working on a production farm, who is ready to take on a leadership role, as one of the primary growers during the summer months. Our farms are run in partnership with youth and community members, therefore a candidate must have a passion for teaching and leading others, particularly young people.
Our youth reflect the cultural, racial, and socio-economic diversity of the North Shore, including Lynn MA. Candidates with experience working in diverse settings are strongly preferred.
At least two full-time seasons of field experience on a production farm.
Tractor experience is required.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills and energy for engaging with other people.
Dependable, responsible, flexible and open to learning.
Ability to work a flexible 40-hour schedule: Tuesday-Saturday in the spring and fall, Monday-Friday in July and August.
21+ years of age with a valid driver’s license and clean driving record (required for use of TFP vehicles).
Enthusiasm for working with teenagers; prior experience teaching or leading youth in outdoor settings (preferred).
Experience leading groups safely and productively.
Experience working in multicultural community settings.
Strong communication skills, and enthusiasm and ability to coordinate/collaborate with staff and community partners.
Team-oriented with a good sense of humor; able to work independently.
Knowledge of the Wenham community is a plus.
CPR and First Aid certified or willingness to be trained.
Able to pass a CORI/SORI background check.
Location & Schedule
This is a full-time, 40 hour/week seasonal position from April 1st– November 1, 2025, with a Tuesday through Saturday (spring & fall)/ Monday through Friday (summer) work week. Location is primarily in Lynn for the Spring and Fall and in Wenham in the Summer (June-August). Occasional trainings/meetings at other TFP sites in Lynn, Boston and Lincoln.
Compensation
this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $20.00 - $25.00
Application instructions
If you are not registered, you'll be prompted to do so. Don't worry, it's free!
Deadline
March 28, 2025
