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New York City Community Garden Coalition Hiring Community Organizer

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Since 1996, the New York City Community Garden Coalition has promoted the preservation, creation, and empowerment of community gardens through education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing. NYCCGC is the only organization in New York City by and for community gardeners, who often live in low-income communities of color that face disproportionate environmental justice and health challenges.

Program Background

The NYCCGC is the recipient of Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funding from the New York State Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR) to undertake a feasibility study for stormwater capture best practices within the community gardens of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The Study will combine community participation with engineering expertise to develop green infrastructure to increase the permeability and stormwater capture within forty-seven (47) community gardens located in the Study Area.

The NYCCGC is seeking a qualified individual to fill the position of “Community Organizer.” This individual will work with community members and seek their participation in the public engagement component of the Study. Additionally, the individual will be responsible for assisting community leaders in soliciting participation by the residents of the Study Area to better facilitate the creation and sustenance of positive change in their neighborhoods.

The ideal candidate will be a team player who can interact well with wide-range of individuals from a variety of social, ethnic, and organizational backgrounds; is detail oriented; and, possesses a personal knowledge of the Lower East Side community.

The “Community Organizer” will report directly to the Executive Director of the NYCCGC.

Job Duties

  • Coordinate logistics and planning of large scale community engagement meetings.
  • Create and build a network of community members to encourage and support residents’ participation in activities and events associated with the completion of the Study.
  • Identify and collaborate with grassroots leadership to build and develop strategies to advocate for Lower East Side community gardens.
  • Bridge and foster partnerships with the community, relevant organizations and elected officials in attaining support of community goals.
  • Facilitate effective communication between NYCCGC and the community-at-large.
  • Assist in development of strategic and tactical advocacy plans.
  • Maintain database of community gardens and personnel, volunteers and related resources.
  • Plan cultural, educational and other social networking activities required in the completion of the Study.
  • Assist and facilitate the creation of the Steering Committee responsible for the administrative oversight of the activities to be undertaken in the completion of the Study.
  • Prepare required reports relevant to NYCCGC’s organizing and civic engagement work.
  • Work with project team to meet deliverable goals.
  • Seek out opportunities to promote NYCCGC’s mission and present.
  • Perform other duties, as assigned.

Skills and Knowledge Requirements

  • At least 10 years of experience in community organizing and/or advocacy; event planning and coordination.
  • Must have experience working in diverse, multicultural communities.
  • A commitment to the mission and programs of NYCCGC.
  • Experience advising and training community leaders.
  • Excellent, written, verbal and organizational skills.
  • Strong public speaking, writing, and analytical skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Outlook
  • Must have a flexible schedule, including working evenings and occasional weekends
  • Spanish fluency (highly preferred).
  • Must be a team player and have the ability to take the initiative.
  • Knowledge of the Lower East Side communities and Community Gardens (highly preferred).

    Salary:

  • FT/Hourly position (approximately 35 hours a week)

    Responses Due:

  • November 6, 2015

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    NYCCGC is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. NYCCGC provide equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination against all employees and applicants based upon race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, national origin and ethnic origin, age citizenship, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

    Persons requiring reasonable accommodation to participate in this hiring effort are requested to contact Mr. Aziz Dehkan at (917) 444-2191 or by email at aziz@nyccgc.org

    NYCCGC strongly encourages Section 3 residents to participate in this hiring effort. Information to determine if you are a Section 3 resident can be obtained by contacting Mr. Dehkan at the telephone number or email address provided above.