Third Sector New England
Youth Program Associate

US-MA-Springfield

Job ID: 2026-2640
# of Openings: 2
Category: Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition
Gardening The Community

Overview

Gardening the Community (gardeningthecommunity.org) is a BIPOC-led urban agriculture project engaged in youth development and advancing racial justice to build healthy and equitable communities. We work with youth to grow food on reclaimed abandoned lots in the Mason Square community of Springfield. We partner with the Springfield Food Policy Council on advocacy campaigns for increased access to healthy food and greater food security for historically marginalized residents. The impact of our work is far beyond growing vegetables. GTC contributes to the local and statewide food and racial justice movements that seek to change the root causes of the poor health and unjust food systems facing communities (especially low- income communities and communities of color across the State. We are creating locally controlled food resources that support our young people, build community and offer sustainable alternatives to Springfield families.

Gardening the Community (gardeningthecommunity.org), a fiscal project of Third Sector New England, Inc (TSNE) (tsne.org).

Responsibilities

The Youth Program Associate under the direction of the Executive Director and Youth Program Manager supports young people engaged with GTC in becoming strong, confident leaders who think critically about the world around them, understand the importance of access to healthy and locally grown food for all families, and advocate for food and racial justice.

Essential Functions

• Support the process of youth enrolling into GTC’s program, including application
• materials, meeting with youth and their parents/guardians, and seasonal orientations;
• Supervise the daily on-site participation of youth involved in GTC, including all aspects of farming, Farm Store and market sales;
• Support GTC’s Farm Share program including supervising the bike delivery team, and
• helping to develop community engagement activities;
• Support the farm skill and leadership development of youth within GTC through coaching and mentoring and creating positive experiences that challenge youth to learn and grow;
• Implementation of a year-round youth learning and leadership development curriculum;
  
• Support monthly youth timesheet reporting, invoicing and distribution of youth stipend checks;
• Assist the Asst. Director of Youth Leadership in ensuring that parents and guardians are well informed about their child’s participation in GTC and are knowledgeable about the program and youth activities;
• Assist with other organizational activities including fundraising, events, and office management as appropriate;
• Leads and accompanies GTC’s youth community engagement team with efforts ranging from social media posts to neighborhood flyering, door knocking, tabling and representing at community events (following COVID safety protocols);
• Represent GTC with attending outreach events around the city and strengthening neighborhood connections;
• Staff the GTC Farm Store for at least one shift/week;
• Drive GTC refrigerated truck and passenger van, as needed;
• Work with the youth on the Farm Sites as determined by the farm manager and directed by the Asst. Director of Youth Leadership (hours vary depending on growing season).

Reporting and Supervision

This position reports to the Youth Program Manager and supervises 8-10 youth participants and sometimes volunteer crew.

Qualifications

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Experience growing food;
• Experience supervising paid or volunteer staff and working with diverse communities;
• Demonstrated experience in project or program coordination;
• Demonstrated experience in community outreach or engagement work;
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and to the mission of GTC;
• Ability to relate easily to middle and high school aged youth and to support their growth and development as leaders;
• Interest and familiarity with issues relating to local food, food justice, and sustainable agriculture;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort with public speaking;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Knowledge of the Springfield community;
• Ability to build and sustain individual and community relationships;
• Successful background check;
• Valid Driver’s License and Successful Driver’s License Check, preferred
• Should the incumbent not have a driver’s license or license check is not successful they will be required to use other method of transportation (Uber/Lift/public transportation, etc) to travel and perform required duties.
  
• Bilingual (Spanish/English), preferred;
• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel or design related software, preferred;
• 2+ years experience supervising youth (aged 12-19) in youth organizing or youth development context, preferred.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Work on a farm site;
• Work in a retail environment;
• Work in a retail farm store environment and in close proximity to other workers;
• Travel between farm sites;
• Exposure to inclement weather on occasion;
• Handle, objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit or stand (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed at Gardening the Community, Springfield, MA. Work is not eligible for remote work.

Schedule: Seasonal: 18 hours per week (Fall, Winter), and will increase in the Spring and Summer. This role requires the ability to work occasional mornings, nights and weekends.

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $18-$20/hr.

Benefits: Benefit eligibility will fluctuate seasonally based on standard weekly hours. This position will likely be benefits eligible in the Spring / Summer if standard weekly hours increase to benefits eligible amount for 3 months or more.

TSNE/GTC strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/GTC prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/GTC celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/GTC's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.