Crew Leader, The Food Project, North Shore

CREW LEADER, SEED CREW – NORTH SHORE
Who We Are
Since our founding in 1991, The Food Project has grown into an internationally recognized non-profit organization that works at the intersection of Youth, Food, and Community. For over 26 years, youth and adults from diverse backgrounds have come together to produce healthy food for residents of the city and suburbs and build local, sustainable food systems. Each year, our youth crews work with our staff to farm on 70 acres in eastern Massachusetts in the suburban towns of Beverly, Lincoln, and Wenham and partner with our neighbors in Lynn and Boston's Dudley neighborhood to create the food system they imagine. We believe that food is a unique vehicle for creating personal and social change. Nothing else ties us so intimately to each other and to the planet we share, affecting our health, the climate, and culture. Moving into the future, our goal is to transform the food system into a more just, community-engaged model, that supports food-security for all.

What We Seek
We seek individuals with a strong desire for and full investment in maintaining excellence in all aspects of our summer Seed Crew. We hold high expectations for our youth, and in order to foster their potential we require our Crew Leaders to be strong role models. Ideal candidates possess enthusiasm for working with youth, a commitment to The Food Project’s mission, a strong work ethic, and a good sense of humor. While our organization is deeply committed to building a sustainable food system, we do not require Crew Leader candidates to be well-versed in agriculture or food production systems. We seek candidates who are open to learning and engaging with The Food Project’s mission. There are many applicants for this position, and The Food Project strives to create and support culturally diverse leader teams. Candidates from all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Primary Responsibilities
Each Crew Leader heads a diverse group of urban and suburban teenagers who work together throughout the summer. Crew Leaders work with their crew on suburban (in Beverly and Wenham) and urban farms (in Lynn), at hunger relief organizations, and in workshops throughout the summer. Our workshops are unique to our youth crews and cover a diverse range of subjects, such as food systems, agriculture, and social justice issues including racism, classism, and sexism. Crew Leaders support the Crew Supervisor in facilitating these workshops, and are occasionally called upon to help lead them. Crew Leaders also uphold The Food Project’s behavior standards and, using The Food Project’s Straight Talk model, give weekly feedback to their youth based upon focused observations of their behavior and work performance.
During all activities, including group activities and farm work, Crew Leaders are responsible for the safety and well-being of the crew and others in our community. Crew Leaders also receive ongoing feedback from the Crew Supervisor as well as informal guidance from other Crew Leaders and Growers. The Food Project staff trains Crew Leaders for a week and a half prior to the beginning of Seed Crew. Crew Leaders are expected to participate in one weekly evening meeting that adjourns around 7:30 p.m.

Qualifications
• High school diploma
• 20 years of age by June 15, 2018
• Prior experience working with a diverse population of teenagers
• Ability to perform rigorous and demanding physical labor in summer conditions
(sun and rain) on a farm
• Interest in social justice, food systems and building community across difference
• Ability to motivate a group of young people while fostering growth of the crew
and individual youth
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback to and from youth crew
workers & staff
• Openness to one’s own personal growth
• Ability to uphold high standards of behavior set by the community
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• CPR and First Aid certified or willingness to be trained
• Be dependable, organized, flexible, and have a sense of humor

Commitment
This is a job you will never forget and requires a substantial commitment of time and energy. Crew Leaders must be available from June 20, 2018 through August 17, 2018, including one Saturday and Tuesday evenings.

Compensation
The rate of pay is $13.88 per hour. The locations sites are accessible by public transportation, the cost of which is paid by The Food Project.

Application Process
Potential candidates for the Crew Leader position can choose to apply to work in ONE of the following regions:
• Greater Boston (based in Boston and Lincoln)
• North Shore (based in Lynn, Beverly, and Wenham)

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until February 2, 2018. Because this is a highly competitive position, we will review all submissions, identify viable candidates, and contact only those selected individuals to continue in the search process. Desired candidates will be called for an initial phone interview. If you are selected for an in- person interview, you must be able to attend an in-person interview on a Saturday in February. Decisions will be made by mid-March 2018.
Please send resume, cover letter, and contact information for at least two references to seedcrew@thefoodproject.org, and note that you are applying for the position in our North Shore region.

The Food Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to building a multicultural organization. We actively seek a diverse pool of candidates for this position.


North Shore