Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Description

The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery County Parks, Horticultural, Forestry, Environmental and Education Division is seeking a Grown@Pope Food Production and Donation Coordinator. The position is located at 7100 Airpark Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20879.

The Grown@Pope Coordinator will be responsible for managing the food donation project in collaboration with the Montgomery County Parks Community Garden Program and Pope Farm Nursery. The focus of this project is to combat food insecurity in Montgomery County. The ideal candidate for this position will value community partnerships and uplifting the food system in Montgomery County. This position is a 60/40 split between physical and administrative work: an estimated 60% of time will be spent on farm and actively producing crops, and 40% of the time working on data collection and/or record keeping over the season. The successful candidate will be responsible for working with partners and volunteers to plant and maintain an area of .2 acres; harvest, and weigh produce; identify partners or food assistance providers that will receive food donations.

Examples of Important Duties

• Develops the food donation project for Montgomery Parks
• Implement and update the 5 year crop rotation plan developed by University of Maryland: Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (UMD PALS) students for food donation efforts in Montgomery County.
• Plants, harvests, and weighs various food crops during the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons.
• Create strategies to increase food donation efforts within the Parks.
• Monitors the progress of the Grown@Pope Food Donation project; tracking planting/maturity/harvest schedules, incorporating an IPM plan to mitigate disease and pests, weighing produce to track yields; weighing produce and reaching yearly donation goal of 3000 pounds per year.
• Recruits, trains, and oversee volunteer groups to maintain the area and harvest produce.
• Provides guidance on best ways to harvest a variety of seasonal crops.

Minimum Qualifications

Important Skills and Characteristics

• Ability to effectively operate or learn to operate farm equipment such as: drip irrigation system, tractor, tiller, hand tools, etc.
• Knowledge of local, State and Federal laws and policies relating to urban and rural agriculture, food systems, food handling, Good Agricultural Practices, Food Policy Councils, etc.
• Proficiency in pest management and scouting for pests and/or diseases of vegetable crops.
• Proven track record with data collection focused on weighing fresh produce; tracking labor inputs; hours and maintenance.
• Demonstrate ability to manage complex problems and troubleshoot on farm, insect, and plant disease problems.
• Proven ability to manage project(s) and provide updates on a monthly timeline.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work on a small team and contribute ideas to improve collaboration within Parks.
• Superb written, verbal, organizational and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to communicate in another language a plus.
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience including local food production, managing volunteers, working in the regional food system.
• Experience working with a Parks Department or other large and complex government organization preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office, enterprise software and specialized software for planning, scheduling, communicating, word processing, collecting and reporting data, preparing presentations, researching, document control and performing other computer functions for data management and retrieval.
• Must possess a valid Driver’s License and qualify to drive Commission vehicles to locations within Montgomery County.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associates Degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, or related fields
• One (1) year of progressively responsible experience gardening or experience with food production
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total three (3) years.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions

Primarily works 40% administrative and 60% working outdoors; ability to lift 50 lbs.

• Candidate must complete full background check before hire.
• This position does not include benefits.

May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of applications at or 301-454-1411 (Maryland Relay 7-1-1)

M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.

THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

2025 BENEFIT SUMMARY FOR SEASONAL INTERMITTENT EMPLOYEES

The following information is a summary of benefits extended to all Seasonal employees of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). This is for informational purposes only and is subject to change.

Limited Benefits for Seasonal Employees

Health Insurance Plans

You are eligible for specific health insurance benefits if you worked, on average, 30 hours per week during your first 12 months of employment or from October 3rd to October 2nd each subsequent period following your first 12 months of employment. This equates to 1,560 hours over a 12-month period.

If and when you are eligible for benefits, you will receive notification directly from the Health & Benefits Office.

Eligible Employees Pay 35% of the health insurance plan premium and The Commission Pays 65%.

• Medical
  • Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) with Prescription Plan
  • UnitedHealthcare Select Plan (EPO)
• Prescription: CVS Caremark Prescription Plan

Other Benefits

• Credit Union
• Sick Leave Benefits

This summary is intended to highlight some of the benefits offered by the M-NCPPC. It is not an all-inclusive agreement and is subject to change. For a more detailed description of benefits, please see the appropriate benefits brochure, service agreement or manual. For more information, contact The Health and Benefits Office at benefits@mncppc.org or 301-454-1694.