JOB POSTING: Program Manager - School Gardening Education

[Hilary Booker]

The SNAC (School Nutrition Agri-Culture) Garden Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming schoolyards into vibrant outdoor classrooms where students of all backgrounds can engage in hands-on environmental STEM education, health education, and ecological stewardship.

Join us in beautiful coastal Delaware as our Program Manager—a hands-on role perfect for someone who wants to grow their skills in environmental education while maintaining direct connection to students and gardens. You'll implement programs across our school sites while developing your leadership abilities in a supportive, mission-driven environment.

We are looking for a person with a passion for gardening and the desire to inspire young minds to take on the role of “plant and people keeper” for our programs! The program manager will oversee the day-to-day operations that keep our programs growing strong.

Spanish Language skills are strongly desired, but not required.

Main Responsibilities:

• Garden management and delegation: Oversee garden maintenance across all SNAC locations and coordinate gardening tasks with garden educators and volunteers

• Team leadership: Manage and support the garden educator team, providing guidance and coordination across all sites

  • Coordinate seasonal scheduling with school administrators across 4+ school sites
  • Manage communications between garden educators and school partners
  • Support curriculum implementation and ensure educators have materials and resources needed
  • Help troubleshoot challenges during the programming season
• Curriculum delivery: Teach spring, summer, and fall programming to students across multiple school and community sites. Lead summer programming at Weathered Eye Farm and Howard T. Ennis from June-August.

• Relationship cultivation: Serve as a primary point of contact with teachers, students, community members, volunteers, and donors through programming, events, and daily interactions.

  • Plan and support outreach events including garden build days, harvest celebrations, and family nights. 
  • Coordinate volunteers for planting, maintenance, and harvest activities
  • Assist in managing volunteer mailing lists and community communications
  • Attend key outreach events, especially during programming season (some Saturdays required)

• Winter Program Development: During the off-season, focus on strategic development working closely with the Executive Director. Remote work to accomplish these tasks is available depending on program needs from February.

  • Curriculum development: Refine existing lessons and create new programming for upcoming seasons
  • Relationship building with donors and volunteers: Nurture connections through regular updates, appreciation efforts, and meaningful engagement
  • Seasonal planning: Develop planting timelines, program calendars, and coordinate scheduling across all school sites
  • Basic grant writing: Write small grant proposals to secure funding for garden supplies and educational materials
  • Community outreach: Engage through events, presentations, and communications to deepen partnerships and increase program visibility

Requirements:

• 2-3 years in an educational, nonprofit, community organizing, team management/leadership, or an outdoor education setting
• Bachelor's degree in education, environmental studies, agriculture, horticulture, or related field preferred. Equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered.
• Passion for nature-based education and working with youth. Deep plant knowledge isn't required, but we're looking for someone who genuinely enjoys being outdoors, finds fulfillment in working with plants, and is eager to learn and teach. Comfort working outside in varying weather conditions throughout the growing season is essential.
• Responsibility, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills: You will manage relationships with multiple partners, care for dynamic garden spaces, and facilitate programming across various classrooms, student groups, and school sites. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong organizational skills, reliable follow-through, and the ability to navigate multiple priorities while working effectively with diverse groups. This role requires someone who is naturally outgoing, comfortable initiating conversations, and energized by building relationships with students, teachers, and community partners.
• Experience working with youth is valued but not required. We prioritize candidates who can engage authentically and have enthusiasm for sharing knowledge. While formal teaching experience isn't essential, we're looking for someone with strong communication skills, genuine curiosity, and the confidence to facilitate learning experiences.
• Comfort with technology and digital tools: Basic proficiency with Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Drive) and Microsoft Office, along with the ability to use communication platforms for coordinating with team members, partners, and stakeholders. Experience with email management, digital calendars, and online collaboration tools is important for program coordination and documentation.
• Transportation: You must have personal access to a car and be able to travel reliably to and transport garden materials across different sites in Sussex County.

Spanish Language skills are strongly desired, but not required.

To apply for this position, please email a statement of interest and a recent resume/CV to sha...@snacgardens.org

To learn more about SNAC, visit our website: snacgardens.org