Community Gardens of Tucson - Garden Operations Irrigation Specialist

Reports to: Garden Operations Manager

Employment Status: Independent Contractor

Rate of Pay: $17/hour

Hours per week: 10 - 15 hours per week

To Apply: Email cover letter and resume to admin@communitygardensoftucson.org

About Community Gardens of Tucson

The Community Gardens of Tucson’s (CGT) mission is to build community gardens where Tucsonans grow food, work, and learn together, and nurture well-being in our community. Established in 1990, CGT currently operates in partnership with 20 locations across Tucson.

The Position

The Garden Operations Specialist is a key position for the overall success of CGT’s garden programs and mission. Their primary responsibility is working in collaboration with the Garden Operations Manager to facilitate the overall care and maintenance of all of the community gardens. This position works independently to troubleshoot and fix irrigation issues, as well as conduct regular irrigation and garden operations tasks at CGT’s 20 community gardens.

Key Responsibilities

Garden Operations (85%)

• Garden irrigation maintenance and repair.
• Purchase and inventory of tools and supplies.
• Recommend and, when necessary, implement infrastructure improvements.
• Support and collaborate with the community garden site coordinators with garden consultation and requests.
• Coordinate and deliver materials to the gardens via truck and trailer
• Participate in monthly Garden Operations Committee meetings.

Project Facilitation (10%)

• Coordinate and plan garden infrastructure and maintenance projects.
• Supervise volunteer groups to implement garden infrastructure and maintenance projects.
• Participate and/or help facilitate educational training and events that provide value to the gardens, as needed (e.g. Smartscape, rainwater catchment systems, fruit tree care, local gardening and farming workshops, community networking events).
• Participate in meetings with other staff, contractors or board members, as needed.

Other Duties, as assigned (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in garden irrigation installation, maintenance, and repair.
• Experience driving a truck with a trailer.
• Experience in sustainable gardening practices, including growing, mulching, and composting. Experience teaching non-gardeners/novice gardeners in sustainable gardening education is a plus.
• Ability to work well with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to to perform physical labor such as carrying (40lbs), lifting, kneeling, bending, digging etc.
• Must have a reliable communication i.e. reliable phone number and or email
• Must have a clean driver record for the last 3 years for minor citations and last 5 for major citations.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Experience with hand and power tools
• Comfortable working in all weather and seasons, including high heat in summer.
• Flexible availability / morning availability preferred
• Must have a reliable source of transportation

Job Type: Contract

Pay: From $17.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 – 15 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Schedule:

• 4 hour shift
• Morning shift

Ability to Relocate:

• Tucson, AZ: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person