Education & Engagement Coordinator

About The Farm

Burkett Farm supports resilient communities across North Carolina by modeling small-scale, sustainable community farming and renewable energy solutions. Through experimentation, education, and meaningful partnerships, we support community organizations with the knowledge, infrastructure, and resources to address the inequities that shape who has access to healthy food and reliable energy.

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic Education Coordinator to lead our educational programming initiatives. This role combines curriculum development, event coordination, and hands-on education delivery in an agricultural/sustainability-focused environment. The ideal candidate is a strategic and creative teacher with a gift for inspiring diverse audiences to become aware of their role in sustainable food systems and the environment.

This role is an hourly, non-exempt position with a schedule of 40 hours per week from March to December, and 32 hours a week in January and February. Ongoing, to begin in mid-June.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Coordination & Implementation (55%)
• Coordinate and lead seasonal field trips for diverse groups, displaying professional behavior with students, families, and school personnel as a primary liaison with school and community partners
• Schedule appropriate staff or volunteer coverage for educational programs
• Coordinate corporate and first-time volunteer groups, ensuring meaningful engagement experiences
• Manage outreach, scheduling, and evaluation processes for school and educational partners
• Curriculum Development & Education (15%)
• Write and refresh educational lessons and curriculum materials as needed, with focus on environmental science, food systems, and nutrition education
• Maintain educational supplies and activity equipment in optimal condition
• Adapt programming to meet the needs of different age groups, group sizes, and learning objectives
• Ensure all educational content aligns with best practices in experiential learning
• Oversee program tracking and evaluation systems such as participant surveys to measure program impact, collect data, and share stories with stakeholders
• Food Preparation Support (5%)
• Assist with light food prep tasks in support of educational programming, such as preparing simple recipe demonstrations, snack components, or ingredients used in farm-to-table lessons
• Follow safe food handling practices and maintain a clean, organized food preparation area
• Support cooking or tasting activities that connect students to seasonal harvests and nutrition concepts
• Facility Support (10%)
• Oversee facility maintenance including restocking supplies and cleaning coordination
• Maintain energy conservation practices
• Ensure the educational space remains safe, welcoming, and conducive to learning
• Partnership & Community Engagement (15%)
• Build and maintain relationships with schools, educational institutions, and community partners
• Conduct program evaluations and gather feedback to continuously improve offerings
• Develop new partnerships to expand educational reach and impact
  

Required Experience

• 2 years of experience teaching diverse audiences and developing curriculum, preferably in agricultural, garden, or outdoor education settings
• Experience in community-focused organizations dedicated to farming, agriculture, food systems, or nutrition
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Successful track record working with teams
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Agriculture, Environmental Science, or related field
• Experience working with diverse age groups and learning styles
• Knowledge of sustainable agriculture and food systems
• Volunteer management experience
• Event coordination and program management experience
  
  

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent communication, presentation, and public speaking abilities
• Strong interpersonal skills for working with students, teachers, volunteers, and corporate groups
• Strong writing skills and attention to detail for professional correspondence and educational materials
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously with input from supervisors
• Physical ability to work in outdoor agricultural settings and extreme weather conditions (essential job function)
• Basic culinary skills including food preparation techniques, knife safety, and an understanding of seasonal ingredients and simple cooking methods
• Familiarity with safe food handling practices and kitchen hygiene standards
• Ability to work under pressure and in unconventional scenarios
• Strong multi-tasking abilities and capacity to quickly adapt on the job
• Reliable, punctual, and enthusiastic personality with a positive, can-do attitude
• Foundational understanding of sustainable food systems, food access, and food equity issues
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check
  
  

Compensation: $22-25/hr

Application Instructions: To apply, email your resume and a cover letter to jobs@burkett.farm by May 18th.