Garden Manager
The Summit Community Gardens - EATS (SCG-EATS) Garden Manager is a key part of our team, responsible for overall management and oversight of our vibrant 1.5-acre Garden space: growing food donated to community partners with a team of garden assistants and volunteers; building a community of plot renters; and creating a space where volunteers, families, and casual visitors to the garden feel welcome.
Who We Are
Summit Community Gardens - EATS (SCG-EATS) is a non-profit organization located in Park City, UT with a mission to gather, learn, and grow in our Garden, schools and community. We believe that everyone should have access to healthy food, and that children who cook and garden are connected to where food comes from and are more likely to have lifelong healthy eating habits. We are working towards an inclusive community focused on learning, connection, wellness, and stewardship.
What We Do
We build community through food in various ways. We operate Summit County’s only public community garden and engage in school and community-based, seed-to-soil education programs. Our Garden consists of 134 community plots and a large demonstration garden where we grow food for community members experiencing food insecurity. The garden also hosts perennial beds of native plants, a small orchard, bee hives, and a compost area. We work with volunteers to tend and maintain the space. Our Garden is also the site of summer camp, after school programs, and dinners with local chefs.
What You Will Do
Garden Maintenance & Operations
Oversee daily garden operations throughout the space, creating the conditions for a successful harvest in the demonstration garden, education growing spaces, and plot renter areas.
Implement and adjust a crop plan (as needed) that integrates appropriate plants for our climate, as well as crop rotation, cover crop, and soil health management.
Coordinate weekly harvests with Garden staff and volunteers, ensuring harvestable crops are clean, presentable and packaged appropriately for community recipients.
Manage composting and other waste management practices, promoting zero waste.
Maintain accurate records of crop notes, harvest quantity, and season.
Maintain and implement season extension resources for demonstration, education, and partner growing areas.
Watch for various pest issues and implement Integrated Pest Management strategies when needed, especially with rodents.
Manage key contractors including irrigation management; ensure soil amendment deliveries; work with compost and recycling haulers; schedule pathway weed mitigation and mowing where needed; oversee bee consultants.
Evaluate seasonal Garden staff candidates. Work with ED to hire, onboard and train staff. Manage Garden team throughout the season and conduct necessary offboarding.
Oversee the purchase,storage, maintenance and distribution of gardening supplies and tools.
Ensure the garden meets safety regulations and guidelines.
Community Engagement
Build a sense of community of plot renters: providing resources & information, fostering connection & collaboration, addressing questions and issues. Ensure timely communication of key information (frosts, etc.).
Communicate plot renter expectations around volunteerism and plot maintenance. Host welcome orientations and help create/update Garden handbook. Work with plot renters to address weed mitigation and manage any reassigned plots.
Develop and teach classes for the community, such as High Altitude Gardening and Seed Starting in the spring, and potentially other classes to address what is going on in the garden in a given month.
Collaborate with the Director of Youth Education on growing food and flowers within the education growing spaces and ways for youth to learn about how food grows.
Work closely with the Executive Director and Artes de Mexico en Utah on La Milpa programming; provide seeds, starts, and advice for the La Milpa plantings, while maintaining cultural awareness and respecting different approaches and world-views of gardening.
Work closely with the Operations Manager to identify small and large group projects for volunteers. Lead trainings as needed. Collaborate on Volunteer Appreciation events.
Collaborate with ED and Operations Manager on regular plot renter newsletters and other communications.
Community Partners
Ensure that the Garden is in compliance with County conservation easement and collaborate with Basin Recreation and Summit Lands Conservancy.
Collaborate on the Food Farmacy with The People’s Health Clinic and the Christian Center.
Develop and nurture strategic partnerships within the community, including both nonprofit and business partners.
Administrative Duties
Collaborate with the Executive Director to identify, plan, secure funding, and implement capital improvements for the garden space.
Work closely with the Executive Director to manage the budget for the garden.
Track and report on garden metrics.
Participate in team and partner meetings.
Other Duties as Assigned
To Be Successful, You Are
Able to build strong, collaborative relationships with members of our team and have a proven track record of working independently. You can connect with individuals and help lead teams. You know how to find points of connection with diverse groups of people. And you have a positive attitude and asset-based mindset.
A seasoned farmer or gardener with strong knowledge of regenerative agriculture, organic methods, crop harvesting, processing and distributing on a larger scale, soil health, as well as passion for the work.
Able to interact with members of the public with clarity and diplomacy.
A person with strong written and verbal communication skills.
Aware of the ways that race and other identities impact the communities we serve and can identify when there is a decision, policy, or practice that may have disparate impacts.
Willing to work outdoors in all kinds of weather.
Extremely organized and conscientious.
A team player, able to recognize when things need doing and willing to dig in!
A Big Plus If You
Speak Spanish
Have experience with non-profits and/or volunteers and/or youth
If You Were Here Right Now, You Would Be
Collaborating with our Garden Advisor on crop planning
Collaborating with the Operations Manager on a plan to train and involve garden volunteers
Working with Executive Director to update handbook for plot renters
Ordering season extension materials
What Else You Should Know
SCG - EATS is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a team that represents a diversity of thought, experience, and personal background. We believe in the advancement of equity, diversity, and inclusion, making Park City a place where all people can fully realize their aspirations. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions.
This position is mostly on-site in the Garden, with some ability to work occasional remote hours. A car and driver’s license are required, as is the ability to lift 40 pounds. The Garden Manager is a salaried, exempt, seasonal position, working 40 hours a week from April to October, with the potential to extend into the winter with 15-20 hours/week for the right candidate. Salary range $45-50K, depending on experience.
How to Apply
Send cover letter and resume to team@summitcommunitygardens.org.
Studies show that some individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, may hesitate to apply for a role unless they meet every qualification. At SCG-EATS, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly align with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
