Incredible Edible Assistant Job Posting

LOCATION: Irvine, CA REPORTS TO: Volunteerism Manager STATUS: Entry Level, Full-time (Tuesday-Saturday 7:30am-4:00pm); Non-Exempt ($12/Hour)

HOW THIS ROLE IS TIED TO OUR MISSION: The Incredible Edible Farm (IEF) is a public-private partnership between the City of Irvine, the OC Great Park, Solutions for Urban , and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County designed to help address our county’s hunger problem. With 336,000 people in our community at risk of hunger, it is vital to increase the availability of nutrient-rich food to those in need. The 4.5 acre IEF assists in doing this.

The produce grown at the IEF is taken to Second Harvest’s food distribution center where it is then distributed to one of 180 partner organizations at 300 distribution sites throughout the Orange County area including shelters, schools, mobile pantries and church distribution centers. Individuals who are hungry are able to receive food assistance from these organizations. In 2016, over 229,000 pounds of produce were harvested from the IEF providing over 190,000 meals to the hungry.

Much of the IEF is maintained by volunteers who and harvest the produce and help with farm maintenance under the guidance of Second Harvest staff members. By engaging volunteers in the operations of the IEF, public awareness of hunger is expanded and community members are able to directly contribute to hunger alleviation. In 2016, more than 6,000 volunteers donated more than 15,000 hours of service at the IEF.

The IEF Assistant will help the IEF reach its maximum potential, and will facilitate a positive environment and experience for our volunteers.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The role of the IEF Assistant is to support the mission and vision of the IEF by providing: (1) the best volunteer experience for all IEF volunteers; and (2) the most nutrient-rich produce for the people who need it the most.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:  Physical farm work  Assist in all IEF duties to maintain Second Harvest’s operation at the IEF  Assist with leading groups of volunteers in IEF projects (shifts usually consist of up to 30 volunteers, ranging in ages from 7-years-old and up) including: o Greet and welcome volunteers o Get volunteers signed in properly o Facilitate “Meet and Greet” – give introduction to volunteers, explaining Second Harvest’s mission, outlining guidelines for volunteers to follow, and thanking them for their efforts. Wrap up the shift by summarizing the volunteer impact.  Assist with planting, harvesting, and maintenance projects with volunteers  Ensure that shifts run smoothly/efficiently and that volunteers have a safe and positive experience  Follow Second Harvest’s safety policies and ensure volunteer adherence to Second Harvest’s best practices  Load and unload crates of harvested produce (weighing up to 50 pounds) onto pallets and into and out of a Second Harvest truck  Weed regularly to help prevent establishment and seeding of weeds  Pull plastic and irrigation tubing when fields are being plowed  Inspect acreage daily to identify areas that require attention and work alongside other IEF staff members to prioritize workload in proportion to identified needs  This position requires specific coverage on Saturdays for the implementation of the IEF  Other responsibilities as needed and requested

OTHER DUTIES INCLUDE:  Drive the IEF truck  Assist in teaching volunteers how to plant and harvest produce  Plant seeds and seedlings at proper depth and with proper spacing between  Fertilize and amend soil as needed  Provide physical labor to assist in the installation, adjustment, maintenance, and repair of irrigation systems to insure proper drainage of the fields  Install stakes and ties for any plants requiring support  Organize shed and maintain tools  Additional tasks as needed

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  Ability to lift 50 pounds repetitively throughout the shift  Ability to bend and squat  Ability to push and pull an electric and manual pallet jack  Ability to climb in and out of a truck  Regularly required to stand and walk throughout the IEF and food distribution center

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:  ~95% of the time spent in an outdoor environment  Must be able to work in temperatures up to 100ºF  Some indoor warehouse environment, subject to change of temperatures  Moderate to loud noise environment

QUALIFICATIONS:  High school diploma or 12 months related experience  Experience working in a farm environment, including knowledge, scheduling, maintenance, irrigation, and field work  Experience working with volunteers at a nonprofit organization

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

 Excellent communication, people, and customer service skills  Enjoy working in an outdoor, farming environment, with varying temperatures  Comfortable speaking in front of a group  Comfortable and enjoy being around and engaging with large groups of people  Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite  Maintain Class C driver’s license  Bilingual Spanish strongly preferred

PERSONAL QUALITIES:  Commitment to living out Second Harvest’s core values of compassion, integrity, stewardship, service excellence and diversity  Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision  Adaptability and consistency  Strong follow-through to complete tasks daily  Hardworking and goal-oriented  Ability to take and follow direction well  Willingness to be mentored  Ability to manage time effectively  Works quickly, accurately and efficiently within safety guidelines

HOW TO APPLY:  Sorry no phone inquiries please  Please email completed application, cover letter and resume to: [email protected]  Employment application can be located HERE.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer