RuckusRoots Seeks Program Coordinator for South Bay Area Urban Arts, Gardening & Nature Programming

RuckusRoots seeks a professional, dynamic and detail-oriented person with experience in both the arts and urban gardening in multigenerational community settings. This part-time hourly position requires someone who is able to work independently and be self-directed on administrative tasks but also thrives as a “people person” when out “in the field” assisting with our in-person art and gardening programs centered in and around South Bay area communities. 

Role: This position will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all programs in South Bay and South Los Angeles, ensuring smooth implementation and alignment with organizational and programmatic goals. Coordinator will interface with artists, activists, teachers, culture bearers, students, community groups and other folks who are leaders in their communities. The South Bay Area Program Coordinator will be an integral part of our small but impactful 3-person team. They will enhance our outreach and impact in South Bay and South L.A communities, fostering strong engagement, participation and achieving key program outcomes. 

Our ideal candidate will be from and currently living in the Los Angeles South Bay community, friendly, a fast-learner, a direct communicator, an independent problem-solver and have work experience (or at least documented knowledge of) both community gardening and arts programming. They will be community-oriented, hardworking, energetic and both environmentally and creatively passionate. This person will be willing to jump in on anything and everything when needed in order to keep our programs running smoothly and effectively and is not afraid to get their hands dirty (whether that be watering raised vegetable beds or washing paint brushes after a workshop)! 🙂 If you’re excited and enthusiastic about the idea of working closely within a small, mission-driven team to deliver a unique blend of art programming in, for and about nature in urban spaces, we can’t wait to read your resume and cover letter! 

REQUIREMENTS (What you’ll bring to the job):

• A passion for teaching and working with youth in creative and/or outdoor settings
• Personal or professional experience with gardening/horticulture (ex: you’ve worked in a community garden or are an avid home gardener)
• Personal or professional experience with arts education or arts and crafts programming (ex: you’ve taught art to kids, were a summer camp counselor or have volunteered with youth before)
• Punctuality and dependability
• Familiarity with and ability to drive to and from the South / South Bay region of LA County
• The ability to perform physical work on a regular basis that includes but is not limited to loading plants and tools on trucks, using planting tools and lifting up to 15 pounds as needed
• Bilingual in Spanish and English strongly preferred
• Strong interpersonal and clear communication skills (must be a “people person,” as this job requires you to work and communicate with groups of all ages, abilities and backgrounds in a variety of settings)
• Strong organizational skills, an eye for detail and a strong work ethic
• The ability to multitask and be proactive while working independently and on a team
• Knowledge of environmental, equity and arts education issues, especially green space, urban gardening and arts entrepreneurship
• Self-motivation and the willingness to learn while doing your best
• General digital dexterity and particular familiarity with Google Suite, Dropbox, Word, Canva and/or Adobe Suite, iCal & Airtable (photography and video editing a big plus!)
• Reliable access to a smartphone, car, hi-speed internet access*
• Valid CA Driver’s License, proof of insurance and reliable transportation are a MUST
• Willingness to take a Live Scan and TB test (and other requirements as needed per LAUSD and Los Angeles County  public programming requirements)
• The ability to maintain highest ethical standards for complying with all contractual and legal obligations, both as an individual and as a manager on our team, to uphold RuckusRoots’ integrity and community commitment
• Flexibility to visit program sites across the Los Angeles area on a regular basis
• The ability to remain flexible and adaptable to multiple processes prone to change — because it happens! 🙂 

*Due to the nature of this work, which includes travel to/from various program sites and involves a lot of digital communication, these are non-negotiables. If any of these requirements present as barriers to potential employment, we are happy to discuss.*

RESPONSIBILITIES (What you’ll be responsible for):

Program Coordination:

• Attend and note-take at all in-person and online planning events as the point of contact between RuckusRoots program sites, RuckusRoots Program Facilitators and RuckusRoots Program Manager (AKA you will act as our eyes, ears, voice and hands on site!)
• Initiate follow-ups after events and meetings as well as regular check-ins between RuckusRoots program sites, our Program Manager and our Program Facilitator(s), gathering and giving feedback to improve programs and building relationships for future programs
• Jump in as needed as hands-on program assistant to RuckusRoots Program Facilitator(s)
• Notice and anticipate needs of the program facilitator and program itself and work to address those needs proactively through clear and prompt communication to leadership and direct action on site
• Assist in the planning and running of special events (occasionally)
• Bring supplies to all assigned program sites, assist with set-up and clean-up and inventorying supplies upon program conclusion for future programs
• Disseminate and collect pre/post evaluations, surveys and testimonials for all assigned RuckusRoots programs
• Assist in development and implementation of community workshops and community-based arts ecology education events

Program Documentation:

• Take and track attendance for all assigned RuckusRoots programs
• Assist in administering evaluation instruments (surveys, filming participant testimonials, etc) and collecting assessment data
• Track and report on projects and program data on a daily, weekly and monthly basis (in Airtable, Google Drive and similar) with timely and accurate input and to the standards outlined by RuckusRoots leadership and our funders
• Document programs with images and video to the standards outlined by RuckusRoots leadership and our funders
• Organize documentation in Drive with correct file type and size
• Tracking receipts and any supply-related spending for of our programs

Communications:

• Recruit, engage and garner community support for our work at various program sites
• Organize, schedule, attend and sometimes facilitate meetings/trainings pertaining to RuckusRoots programs
• Liaise between RuckusRoots staff, our RuckusRoots program facilitators, on-site staff and others to ensure everyone is informed and the program is running smoothly day-to-day
• Manage email, call/text correspondence with RuckusRoots leadership and our program site staff promptly and effectively

Job Title: South Bay Area Programs Coordinator

Job type: part-time, hourly, non exempt, at will

Schedule: TBD (estimated 15-20 hrs/week, subject to change) 

Salary: $30/hr

Work Location: Hybrid (in person and remote), work computer will be provided

Benefits: To acknowledge and compensate for the labor of driving in Los Angeles, your hourly rate will be applied to drive time to and from program sites. Further benefits are available if the candidate is promoted to full time after the probationary period. 

Training / Supervision: The South Bay Programs Coordinator will receive our RuckusRoots Training Manual, which outlines all policies and procedures for the position, and will also receive 4 weeks of orientation / training (some of this will be online and some will be on-the-job/in-person) upon signing offer letter and completion of the onboarding process. We also attend quarterly professional development workshops (usually as a team) for JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) trainings and/or on topics relevant to our field (grant writing, team-building, capacity-building, etc.)

Additional trainings are available as needed, as this position has growth potential with the right fit. Questions and communications are highly encouraged. The South Bay Area Programs Coordinator is supervised by both Executive Director & Operations and Programs Manager and will work closely with other Programs Coordinator on staff.

Evaluation / Growth Potential: An informal, verbal evaluation will occur after the first 6 weeks of work. Check-ins with the Executive Director and Programs Manager on program successes, job performance, general strengths and challenges, personally and professionally, will occur every 6-8 months thereafter. For the right person, this role has a high potential to grow into a full-time position after an initial 3-4 months probationary period. 

​​TO APPLY: Please email a cover letter, resume and three professional references to info@ruckusroots.org by August 20th. (For your references, please include in what capacity you worked together – at least one reference from a direct supervisor strongly preferred – as well as phone and email addresses.) Please also include an attachment or link to your portfolio, website or social media profile with current work that speaks to your ability to use the skills and perform the duties listed above. Please include all attachments as PDFs. Applicants who do not submit these materials will not be considered. No A.I-generated cover letters, please — we are real people reading your application materials and we want to get to know you and your voice authentically! 

In your cover letter, please answer the following questions: 

1. What experience do you have working in both the urban gardening space and in the creative arts? 

2. What experience do you have working with youth, with systems-impacted folks and in community settings? 

3. What training and/or certifications do you have that relates to the above questions?

4. What community did you grow up in and what are some of your favorite things about it?

5. Why does this role, working at the intersection of art and environmentalism, appeal to you?

APPLICATION/INTERVIEW PROCESS: Application period is June 20 – August 20th, 2024. Eligible applicants can expect to hear from our team regarding an interview in late August. Our first round of interviews (held over Zoom) will take place in early September, with a second round of in-person interviews to be held mid-September. Hiring and onboarding of our chosen candidate will begin in October 2024.