Company description

Established in 1962, Esalen is a leading center for exploring and realizing human potential through experience, education, and research. We work toward the realization of a more just, creative, and sustainable world, seeking answers to questions unlikely to be explored by traditional universities and religions. We sponsor pioneering initiatives and offer personal, spiritual, and social transformation programs for residents, interns, and workshop participants.

To learn more about our history, browse our program and workshop offerings, or download the current catalog, please visit our web site at www.esalen.org.

Job description

Job Summary

Esalen Institute, the pioneering educational organization dedicated to personal and social transformation, is now hiring for the position of Farm & Garden Manager and Educator who will be fully responsible for all aspects of the Farm & Garden. This is a full time position and reports to the Director of Operations.

 

Experience, Qualifications and Skills

• Creative leader with a passion for educating people about organic farming & gardening with special emphasis on social justice and promoting cultures of connection/inclusiveness
• Experience in teaching organic farming, developing curriculum, training apprentices, and delivering workshops and classes
• Knowledge of the dynamic synergy between food systems, farming, natural world, society and individuals
• 5+ years experience working in a production garden/farm or equivalent training
• Leadership experience in a farm or garden
• Knowledge of maintaining soil health, irrigation systems, composting techniques, pest control, weed control etc.
• Strong interpersonal skills to include: communication skills, time management, prioritizing and delegating
• A thorough understanding of sustainable farming and gardening principles and practices
• Working knowledge of plant families and varieties in commercial organic cultivation and optimal growing conditions, including vegetables, flowers, herbs, native and perennial crops
• Experience working within the culture and organization of Esalen, or similar like- minded organization is preferred
• Experience crafting and managing programmatic budgets, and a willingness to do so collaboratively with the broader Esalen Institute and in response to the needs of the Farm and Garden team

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison between the Farm & Garden department and Esalen administration
• Co-Create curriculum and facilitate education sessions and hands on demonstrations to teach natural farming and gardening techniques to F&G apprentices, volunteers, and workshop participants
• Lead and collaborate with F&G team to develop effective strategies to facilitate advancement of F&G program, meet financial goals, and learning objectives
• Update educational curriculum and activities to keep F&G program current with best practices in organic gardening and farming
• Collect data and documentation to track performance measures
• Plan and support the F&G team to implement state-of-the-art systems that maximize production of annual vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and other products for the community
• Responsible for F&G budget and financials
• Oversee the design and maintenance of irrigation systems and manage other equipment and infrastructure upkeep
• Train and supervise the Farm and Garden team to include Farm Supervisor, Garden Supervisor, and Education Coordinator
• Collaborate with Human Resources Department to recruit and retain quality team members to support this work

 

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to maneuver on uneven ground, drive trucks, tractors, and back hoe, often carry and lift up to 60 pounds, handle and use tools and machinery, and ability to do physical garden/farm work including harvesting, hoeing, stake pounding/pulling, digging. Many of the activities require bending over, kneeling, and sitting on uneven ground during cold and hot weather conditions. There is some exposure to dust, fumes, gas and chemicals.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, varies DOE, $40,000.00 - $52,000.00

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline