Background: Family Harvest Farm, a program of John Muir Land Trust, employs and supports Transition-Age Foster Youth in a local food system that encourages healthy living, nurtures the environment, and feeds the community in Pittsburg, California. Family Harvest Farm helps John Muir Land Trust attain our vision of ensuring that the beauty, diversity, and fullness of our natural areas continue to enrich and sustain all generations of life.

Job Description: The Workforce Development Manager develops, promotes, and leads employment programming that supports the professional and personal development of youth through supportive employment at a working produce farm that offers much needed resources for the community. Youth are referred and supported by local youth serving organizations.

• Position: Workforce Development Manager, Family Harvest Farm
• Employer: John Muir Land Trust
• Program: Family Harvest Farm
• Status: Full-time in person / Exempt / Salaried employee
• Start Date: January 2, 2025
• Location: 1300 Power Ave, Pittsburg, CA, and remote
• Hours: Monday through Friday / some evenings & weekends when
• Benefits: Competitive base salary ($75,000-80,000. Full benefits + 5 weeks of PTO)
• Reports to: Associate Director, Family Harvest Farm

What Success Looks Like:

• Passionately serves as an advocate and supports growth and success of young people in reaching their career and life goals.
• Establishes Family Harvest Farm (FHF) as a leading Employment Social Enterprise within the local youth workforce communities.
• Oversees that FHF’s operations are youth centered, safe, strengths-based, and mission aligned in collaboration with others.
• Grows the capacity for and leads FHF towards successfully placing more youth in paid work opportunities as well as increasing the production of FHF as an Employment Social Enterprise.
• Works well with external partners, is nimble, and has a strong personal alignment with FHF’s mission.
• Builds strong relationships across cross-functional teams at both the leadership and individual contributor levels.
• Inspires others around you to do their best work and help create a supportive environment that enables growth.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Program Administration and Evaluation (25%)
  • Evaluate current practices and outcomes to develop innovative solution-oriented strategies that support programmatic outcomes towards youths’ economic mobility and farm production collaboratively.
  • Support a data-driven and learning culture; develop reporting and outcome measurement systems.
  • Support resource development, grant proposal development, and related activities.Maintain accurate documentation and monitor apprentice goal attainment with Associate Director.
  • Participate in weekly FHF planning meetings and JMLT staff
  • Serve as an expert on career-development and management for youth and young adults.
• Community Engagement and Participant Recruitment (25%)
  • Plan, coordinate, and host foster youth recruitment and community building events collaboratively.
  • Coordinate educators to support apprentices’ employment, education, and wellness goals.
  • Elevate the visibility of the FHF apprenticeship employment opportunity.
  • Cultivate relationships with key stakeholders throughout Contra Costa County.
  • Represent JMLT at speaking engagements, conference panels and training.
• Workforce Development Management (50%)
  • Manage youth onsite to increase farm productivity and offer supportive employment in collaboration with Farm Manager.
  • Record, report, and track time worked, and activities associated with apprentices.
  • Coach apprentices for next employment and education opportunities through check-ins, goal setting, resume, and interview preparation in collaboration with partnering agencies.
  • Advise and collaborate with the FHF Farm Manager in apprentice management, behavior management strategies, and performance evaluations.
  • Following JMLT HR policies conduct intakes, assessments, enrollments, and supportive service activities with youth in collaboration with partners.
  • Design and lead career development training and workshops.
  • Participate in farming activities to support FHF youth and staff.

Ideal Qualifications & Skills:

•  The equivalent of, or a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a related area to social services
• 4 years of leadership experience in employment and education programs for Transition-Age Youth.
• Deep knowledge / experience / familiarity with the communities to which FHF delivers programming.
• Inspirational leader who has exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building abilities.
• An organized and strategic thinker who is comfortable with oversight and project management and holds a high attention to detail.
• Experience working with Transition-Aged Youth, or youth facing barriers to employment and education (case management experience preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to manage, inspire, and instruct young adults (ages 16-24)
• Demonstrable knowledge in conflict resolution and restorative practices.
• A self-starter with strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to use appropriate computer and reporting systems including Windows operating system, Microsoft Office Suite, and Outlook (Salesforce knowledge a plus).
• Able to work outdoors on uneven surfaces, be on your feet all day & lift as much as 30 lbs.
• Interest in farming, culinary arts, landscaping/gardening, and/or environmental science.
• Must be fingerprinted with a background check.

Organizational Benefits: John Muir Land Trust challenges staff professionally and provides ample professional development opportunities and on-the-job growth. John Muir Land Trust culture is stimulating and motivating, populated with dedicated, intelligent staff and a strong, established leadership team.

 JMLT’s Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: John Muir Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates of every race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age, religion, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, military status, marital status, registered domestic partner status, medical condition, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), genetic information, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, and any other basis as upheld by federal, state or local law.

How to Apply: Please send your resume and a thoughtful cover letter letting us know why you think you’d be a great addition to our team. Please include Workforce Development Manager in the subject line and email the resume and cover letter to: Alex@nulljmlt.org **submissions without a cover letter will not be considered, application deadline November 1, 2024. **