Job Tag: Conservation

About the Organization

We bring education to life! Garden School Foundation provides in-depth garden-based education at eight Title I elementary schools across Los Angeles, working at the intersection of food justice, environmental stewardship, and community wellness. By using the full transformative potential of school gardens as teaching sites, we nurture a healthy and mindful generation of children that care for their bodies, their communities, and the earth. We currently serve eight schools, from Altadena to South L.A., reaching on average 3,000 TK-5th Grade students and their families each year.

Position Summary

We are searching for an Executive Director to oversee all aspects of the organization. The duties for this position include: training and supervision of staff; fundraising; financial oversight; program design; budgeting, accounting, and HR; legal compliance; partnerships; strategic planning; and day-to-day operations. The Executive Director works closely with the Board of Directors to plan the direction of the organization and ensure adequate resources.

Reports to: Board of Directors

Primary Roles and Responsibilities

Programs:

• Work closely with Garden Educators and school staff to ensure the success of the core Seed to Table teaching program at each school site. 

• Ensure that GSF’s proprietary Seed to Table curriculum is in compliance with all relevant standards and instructional norms. 

• Gather, organize, and maintain Seed to Table program statistics/data (including the bi-annual completion of the Seed to Table program surveys by students, teachers, and parents), and analyze and report on results.

• Continue to develop and oversee GSF’s other primary school-based programs, including Cafeteria to Compost and Farmers Markets, and new programs as feasible/needed.

• Liaise with similar or partner organizations and professional groups across our sector; ensure GSF representation at relevant meetings/groups; maintain content knowledge and keep apprised of issues across our sector.

• Conduct tours of school garden(s) to a diverse array of visitors, as needed.

Financial Oversight & Accounting:

• Develop the Annual Operating Budget for Board approval.

• Review Monthly Financials from Accounting Firm to track spending against approved budget.

• Prepare spending and liquidity projections for the Board quarterly.

• Perform cost analysis and annual budget projections by program/site.

• Track and acknowledge donations and income (analog, PayPal or web) with Accounting Firm.

Fundraising:

• Identify foundation, corporate, individual, and government prospects.

• Write foundation, corporate, and government grant applications and required reports.

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with corporate funders.

• Conduct the Annual Appeal for individual donors.

Management:

• Maintain open communications and conduct regular check-ins with staff.

• Approve payroll and expenditures.

• Lead GSF staff meetings.

• Maintain an unfailingly positive attitude, fostering a cooperative, supportive, and enriching work environment for staff.

HR:

• Recruit, hire, and help train and oversee new staff and interns.

• Maintain the Employee Handbook with annual required updates.

• Work with Accounting/HR Firm to comply with all relevant State and Federal employment laws.

• Renew Annual Work Agreements with all staff.

• Conduct interviews with prospective staff and exit interviews as needed.

• Conduct both mid-year and year-end performance evaluations of all staff.

• Facilitate staff Professional Development opportunities.

Operations:

• Maintain the GSF shared Google drive and shared Google calendar in accordance with norms and standards.

• Create and execute school Program Plans, Contracts, Grant Agreements, Service Agreements, and other contracts.

• Oversee the submission of all relevant LAUSD applications for garden builds or workday events, as needed.

• Ensure the maintenance of organizational files and records, per GFS’s Records Retention Policy.

Position Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• 7-10 years of nonprofit experience, with at least three years experience in a managerial role, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Bachelor’s degree from four-year College or University (Masters degree or beyond a plus).

• Fundraising experience and proven track record.

• A passion for elementary age kids, food justice, environmental education, and/or community wellness!

• Experience working with high-needs communities, or students and families from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds.

• Excellent written and oral presentation/communications skills.

• Strong collaborative skills.

• Superior analytical and organizational skills.

• Highly motivated and proactive.

• Capable of working independently.

• Capable of working from a home office and housing active organizational files.

• Capable of travelling locally to schools, partners, and other programmatic sites.

• Willingness to get dirty! Capacity to embrace the hands-on ethos of GSF, which includes occasional work (and lots of fun!) in school gardens with families and volunteers.

• Willingness to wear many hats, and to do a wide array of tasks, within an intentionally cooperative, less hierarchical organizational culture.

Desired Qualifications:

• Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.

• Experience with outdoor, garden, or environmental education. 

• Experience working with LAUSD or other public school system.

Terms and Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position. Background checks and TB testing are required for employment, as is regular Covid-19 testing. Candidates must have the capacity to stoop, bend, lift, reach, stand, squat, kneel, speak and listen, as well as lift at least 50 lbs.  

The compensation range for this position is $65,000-$75,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Benefits include paid sick and vacation time, medical insurance, and retirement plan options.

Application Information

To apply, please send a brief cover letter, resume, and three references to Timothy Unger, Ti*****@*********ll.com. Please indicate “Executive Director” in the subject heading of your email.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.