Community Food & Land Access Coordinator

Position: Community Food & Land Access Coordinator
Terms: Full-time, Exempt, Hourly, $18.50/hour, Tuesday-Saturday
Reports to: Director of Farm Programs

Organization:
Crabtree Farms, a nonprofit urban farm located in the Clifton Hills neighborhood of Chattanooga, has been a leader in sustainable farming and community engagement since 1998. Our mission is to expand access to locally grown food, provide farm-based educational opportunities, and cultivate community. We achieve this through:
• Growing Food: Using sustainable practices to grow produce for the greater Chattanooga area while maintaining responsible land stewardship.
• Supporting Local Producers: Promoting and selling products from local farmers, artisans, and producers to strengthen the local economy.
• Community Engagement: Hosting free events, educational activities, and community gatherings that attract over 3,500 participants annually.
• Education: Offering farm-based learning opportunities for thousands of youth and adults, as well as experiential programs for volunteers, workshares, and interns.
• Food & Land Access Initiatives: Providing land access, educational resources and improving food access through programs like the Crabtree Community Garden and the Mary Navarre Moore Emerging Farmer Mentorship Program.

Position Overview:
The Community Food and Land Access Coordinator is a key role within the Farm Programs Team, responsible for managing the on-site community garden program, the Emerging Farmer Mentorship Program, and overseeing the farm stand. This position involves direct community engagement, coordination of educational & social programming, and supporting the growth of local food systems. This role also supports the development, implementation, and maintenance of program-specific policies and procedures to ensure safe, equitable, and consistent access across all Community Food and Land Access initiatives. The coordinator will work closely with participants, volunteers, vendors, and community partners to support program success.

Key Responsibilities:
• Community Garden Program:
o Coordinate the on-site community garden program, including recruitment, enrollment, orientation, providing support services for participants and tracking data for grant reports.
o Collaborate with Education and Volunteer Coordinator, community garden participants, advisory committee members, and volunteers to expand and maintain garden beds and shared growing spaces.
o Offer basic gardening education to participants and facilitate additional learning opportunities in collaboration with other team members and external resources.
o Act as the liaison for community garden participants, promoting other Crabtree Farms events and programs.
o Collaborate with the Nursery team to plant and maintain seedlings grown for community garden use.
• Emerging Farmer Program:
o Partner with Crabtree staff to coordinate on-farm use of land, equipment, tools and coordinate access to regional farmer networks, conferences and other educational opportunities for emerging farmers.
o Support the formation and ongoing stewardship of the Emerging Farmer Program Advisory Committee, including coordinating meetings, preparing agendas, facilitating discussion, and supporting follow-up actions in collaboration with Farm Programs leadership.
o Assist with data collection and evaluation to assess program success and identify areas for improvement.
• Farm Stand/Markets:
o Oversee the Crabtree Farms Farm Stand, which will be set up in communities of need throughout the year.
o Maintain partnerships with local farmers, producers and artisans for consignment relationships to create a well rounded market space.
o Support Emerging Farmer Program participants in accessing additional markets, both local and online, for selling their produce and products if they so choose.
• Programs Events, Policies and Procedures
• Support the development, documentation, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of policies and procedures for all Community Food and Land Access programs.
• Ensure programs operate in alignment with organizational values, safety standards, accessibility goals, and funder or compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with Directors and leadership to update protocols as programs evolve.
• Coordinate Community Events (example potlucks) requiring purchasing and food preparation.

Qualifications:
• Proven project management experience, especially with multifaceted projects and diverse groups of people.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Basic experience in farming or gardening, with a basic knowledge of organic practices, integrated pest management, and regenerative farming techniques is preferred.
• Professional demeanor with good judgment, able to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Proficiency in Google Suite programs and data management systems, with the ability to learn new software tools.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred.

Work Environment:
• Occasional evenings, Sunday/Monday or holidays may be required to support community programs or events.
• Ability to work indoors at a desk, in confined spaces (e.g., greenhouses), and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Must attend weekly team meetings and participate in the farm’s annual community programs or events.

Benefits:
• Health Insurance: Optional medical, dental, and vision coverage at 50% cost match
• Retirement Plan: Optional participation in the Fidelity SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with an employer match
• Paid Time Off: Nine company-paid holidays and earned paid time off of up to 10 days annually
• Life Insurance: Optional employer-paid life insurance coverage
• Professional Development: Access to professional development funds to support learning and growth.
• Work Equipment: Crabtree Farms will provide a computer and any necessary technology required to perform the duties of this role.
• Additional Benefits: Access to fresh, seasonal produce from the farm.

Crabtree Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees, applicants, volunteers, and program participants. Crabtree Farms complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.

Health Insurance: Optional medical, dental, and vision coverage at 50% cost match
Retirement Plan: Optional participation in the Fidelity SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with an employer match
Paid Time Off: Nine company-paid holidays and earned paid time off of up to 10 days annually
Life Insurance: Optional employer-paid life insurance coverage
Professional Development: Access to professional development funds to support learning and growth.
Work Equipment: Crabtree Farms will provide a computer and any necessary technology required to perform the duties of this role.
Additional Benefits: Access to fresh, seasonal produce from the farm.

Crabtree Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees, applicants, volunteers, and program participants. Crabtree Farms complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.