97 Central St. Unit #302
Lowell, MA 01852
www.millcitygrows.org
Assistant Urban Farm Manager
Full-Time, benefitted
Organization Description
Mill City Grows is growing a healthier community in Lowell, MA by creating new opportunities for residents to access
healthy, fresh, affordable foods. Our mission is to foster food justice in Lowell by improving physical health, economic
independence and environmental sustainability through increased access to land, locally grown food and education. We
are a young organization with passionate staff and dedicated volunteers and seek a motivated and well-organized
individual committed to the values of our work to fill the Assistant Urban Farm Manager position.
Position Description
The Assistant Farm Manager will help manage all vegetable production for the organization, which includes over 3.5
acres across two urban sites, growing food in all four seasons. As a crucial member of the leadership team, the Assistant
Farm Manager will work in close coordination with the organization’s co-directors as well as the Market Coordinator and
Education Coordinator to bring produce to market and ensure that the production sites are tools for the education of the
larger community. We use organic and sustainable growing practices, and combine hand-work and mechanized systems
depending on site scale. We hope that this position will sufficiently train and give confidence to a young farmer who
would like to become a farm manager in an urban or rural sustainable agriculture operation. The position is an intensive
educational and management opportunity, and we hope it will provide the right candidate with the tools they need to
successfully manage Mill City Grows Urban Farm operation as the lead Farmer in the future.
Assistant Farm Manager responsibilities:
• Recruit, hire and supervise all farm workers, including two full-time apprentices and weed and harvest crews
• Oversee and provide instruction to all volunteer and educational groups working on urban sites
• Work in partnership with Co-director to manage all farm production, including disease, weed and irrigation
management in the greenhouse, low tunnels and fields
• Work with Mobile Market Manager to organize the week’s harvests and wash-up for markets and restaurant sales.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with community organizations, volunteers, and educational groups that visit
the farm
Qualifications:
• Required 2-3 years experience working on a vegetable production farm
• Preferred experience supervising staff and volunteers
• High levels of organization, time management, work ethic and leadership skills
• Be eager to work hard and get dirty in all kinds of weather (cold, heat, rain, snow, wind)
• An aptitude for physically demanding, fast-paced work
• Eager to learn and able to solve problems independently and as part of a team
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Ability to safely lift and carry 50 pounds repeatedly
Safe driving record, valid license, proof of car insurance and registration
Knowledge of Lowell neighborhoods and communities a plus
Mill City Grows is under the fiscal agency of the YWCA of Lowell. The Assistant Urban Farm Manager will be an
employee of the YWCA of Lowell, an equal opportunity employer.
Please send your resume, cover letter, and three references to [email protected]