New Roots Education and Outreach Specialist

Job Overview/Summary:

A program of the IRC, New Roots is a multicultural community growing food together to support health, connections and power. Through the New Roots program, the IRC engages refugees and immigrants in urban agriculture, providing resources and training to build and maintain food security, build economic empowerment, health and wellness, and social integration. The Education and Outreach Specialist will contribute to all New Roots education and capacity-building activities through assistance with developing and delivering curriculum materials, conduct outreach to refugee and immigrant populations participating in the New Roots activities, and assist with the management of community garden sites and programs, including outreach among partners and stakeholders.

This is a full time (37.5 hours per week, year-round) position located in the Charlottesville, VA office, with frequent travel to community gardens, IRC’s farms, and community partner sites.

Major Responsibilities:

Education and Capacity Building

• Contribute to curriculum development spanning gardener and farmer training, individual and collective leadership skills, climate resilience, environment, and health.
• Lead graphic design for visually- and plain language-based educational materials for use among English Language learner audiences
• Deliver education among adult and youth refugees and immigrants participating in New Roots and other IRC programs.

New Roots Program Outreach

• Develop communications and media content for program promotion, newsletter updates, and outreach to new clients & partner organizations.
• Assist with outreach to immigrant and refugee communities on topics including food security, nutrition, food safety, markets, gardening, and general well-being and enroll new eligible participants in New Roots programming.
• Support the Program Manager and New Roots team to build and maintain relationships with various university, government, and community partners.
• Engage local networks and service providers working in agriculture and food justice.
• Support New Roots participants with civic engagement around food justice, urban agriculture, and land access.

Community Garden Programming

• Design and facilitate community-based strategies for building self-governance to aid in garden program sustainability.
• Contribute to development of new gardens and expansion of existing gardens, including coordinating with stakeholders, planning buildouts, and supporting ongoing garden activities.
• Collaborate with gardeners and volunteers to provide ongoing support for farm and garden site operations.
• Collaborate with New Roots participants to coordinate and facilitate training and events held at garden sites.

OTHER DUTIES

• Collect and analyze program data, including case notes for key services, share insights into trends, assets, and unmet needs among IRC clients to inform IRC program development and partnerships.
• Participate in staff development, meetings, and fully engage as a member of the New Roots team and the IRC Charlottesville office.
• Other duties as assigned.
  • 2+ years of related experience (may include work, undergraduate education, or trades experience)

Job Requirements:

• Demonstrated experience developing and/or delivering education and training materials for programming such as community development, agriculture, climate, health, or other related topics.
• Demonstrated success communicating in a multi-cultural environment, including with English language learners
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to get along with a team and supervise volunteers; ability to teach, train, and engage wide audiences; Public speaking experience.
• Experience with sustainable and organic farming and/or gardening. Dedication to racial equity and food justice.
• Strong organizational skills, motivation, flexibility, and ability to work independently.
• Proficient in Microsoft office programs (Word Outlook, Excel), data entry and analysis, digital communications and social media platforms
• Ability to safely lift to 50 lbs and physically demonstrate use of gardening/farming techniques and tools.
• Valid driver’s license. Access to reliable personal vehicles with current insurance, and the ability to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area is strongly preferred.

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent.

Language Skills: Excellent communication skills with fluency in written and spoken English required. Bilingual ability in a language spoken by a local refugee population is preferred.

Working Environment***:***

• This position is based in the Charlottesville, VA office and will include a combination of standard office environment and outdoor work in all weather conditions.
• Will require occasional weekend and/or evening work.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Position requires ability to use farm and garden equipment, machines, and tools.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.