Health & Wellness Seasonal Program Assistant

Job Title

The Raleigh Parks Health & Wellness Program Area is seeking a self-motivated, reliable, adaptable, and community-oriented individual to provide hands-on and administrative support for community gardens and other health and wellness programs, activities, events, and initiatives.

Job Description

This position will support the Community Gardens Coordinator and Health & Wellness Program staff with garden maintenance, volunteer coordination, community programming, program preparation, participant engagement, data collection, event implementation, and other day-to-day program needs. The selected candidate will work collaboratively with community center staff, instructors, volunteers, gardeners, interns, community partners, program participants, and other Raleigh Parks staff. This position provides an opportunity to gain practical experience in:

• Community gardening and horticulture
• Health and wellness programming
• Volunteer and participant engagement
• Community-based food production and food access
• Program and event implementation
• Environmental and wellness education
• Data collection and program evaluation
• Parks and recreation services

The position will include a combination of outdoor, hands-on garden work; community-based program and event support; and limited administrative responsibilities. Duties may vary based on seasonal priorities and program needs. Regular travel between Raleigh Parks facilities, garden sites, and community events will be required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Community Garden Support

• Provide hands-on maintenance and general upkeep at Raleigh Parks community garden sites, including planting, watering, weeding, mulching, bed preparation, harvesting, and general garden care.
• Assist with planning, preparing, and implementing seasonal garden activities and special projects.
• Support the development and maintenance of City-owned demonstration and production beds, including crop selection, planting, routine care, harvesting, and seasonal transitions.
• Assist with the community garden rental program by preparing beds, supporting gardener onboarding, monitoring shared garden areas, and helping gardeners understand program expectations.
• Provide basic horticultural guidance and respond to routine questions from gardeners, volunteers, and community members.
• Help plan, coordinate, and facilitate garden workdays, volunteer events, educational workshops, harvest activities, and other garden-related programs.
• Assist with weekly harvest activities, including harvesting, weighing or documenting produce, preparing produce for donation, and maintaining harvest records.
• Identify and report irrigation, pest, plant health, infrastructure, maintenance, accessibility, and safety concerns.
• Maintain an organized inventory of garden tools, equipment, supplies, and materials and communicate supply needs to the Community Gardens Coordinator.

Health and Wellness Program Support

• Assist with the planning, preparation, setup, implementation, and breakdown of health and wellness programs, classes, workshops, special events, outreach activities, and community initiatives.
• Prepare, organize, transport, and distribute program materials, equipment, supplies, educational resources, participant packets, and promotional items.
• Welcome participants, assist with registration or check-in, provide general program information, and help create a positive participant experience.
• Support health promotion, nutrition education, physical activity, chronic disease prevention, mental well-being, food access, and other community wellness initiatives.
• Assist instructors, facilitators, interns, volunteers, community partners, and staff during programs and events.
• Conduct routine outreach and help share information about available programs, services, volunteer opportunities, and community resources.
• Assist with monitoring program spaces, equipment, and supplies and report maintenance, operational, accessibility, or safety concerns.
• Provide logistical support for meetings, trainings, community engagement activities, and special projects.
• Help ensure programs and activities are welcoming, organized, accessible, and prepared for participants of varying ages, abilities, backgrounds, and experience levels.

Volunteer and Community Engagement

• Assist with volunteer recruitment, communication, orientation, coordination, and engagement for garden projects, wellness programs, and community events.
• Provide volunteers with clear directions, appropriate assignments, materials, and support.
• Work collaboratively with community organizations, schools, nonprofits, health organizations, food access partners, instructors, and other community groups.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with gardeners, volunteers, participants, instructors, community center staff, Parks staff, and community partners.
• Promote a welcoming, inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment for all participants.

Program Documentation and Administrative Support

• Track and document volunteer participation, volunteer hours, program attendance, garden activities, harvest quantities, participant engagement, and other required program information.
• Maintain accurate records of personal work hours, program activities, supply use, and assigned responsibilities.
• Assist with collecting participant feedback, observations, photographs, testimonials, and other information used to document and evaluate programs.
• Enter, organize, and review basic program data using spreadsheets, forms, databases, or other approved systems.
• Assist with preparing program materials, sign-in sheets, evaluation forms, resource packets, inventories, schedules, and routine communications.
• Help organize shared program files, supplies, storage areas, equipment, and educational resources.
• Follow City policies and procedures related to participant information, photography, safety, and recordkeeping.
• Provide routine status updates and communicate program needs, concerns, or incomplete assignments to the appropriate supervisor.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Community Gardens Coordinator, Health & Wellness Program Director, or appropriate Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources supervisor.

Minimum Requirements

• At least one year of experience in gardening, horticulture, landscaping, parks and recreation, community health, fitness, nutrition, environmental education, volunteer coordination, event support, community programming, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability and willingness to perform physical outdoor work, including bending, kneeling, digging, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, and moving garden materials and program equipment.
• Ability to assist with the setup, breakdown, and movement of tables, chairs, equipment, supplies, and program materials.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with staff, volunteers, gardeners, instructors, participants, and community partners.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and customer-service skills.
• Demonstrated reliability, initiative, adaptability, good judgment, and follow-through.
• Ability to organize tasks, manage time, and respond appropriately to changing program priorities.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and complete basic data collection and reporting.
• Ability to use email, online forms, spreadsheets, and other basic workplace technology.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends based on scheduled programs, garden activities, and community events.
• Ability to travel between Raleigh Parks sites and program locations.
• Commitment to safety, inclusion, environmental stewardship, health promotion, and positive community engagement.

Preferred Experience

Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:

• Community gardening or urban agriculture
• Horticulture, agriculture, landscaping, or seasonal crop production
• Vegetable, herb, flower, pollinator, or native plant gardening
• Sustainable or ecological gardening practices
• Health, wellness, nutrition, fitness, or recreation programming
• Community outreach and participant engagement
• Volunteer recruitment, coordination, or supervision
• Youth, adult, older adult, or intergenerational programming
• Educational workshops, classes, or special events
• Food access, produce donation, or community food systems
• Chronic disease prevention or community health promotion
• Parks, recreation, public gardens, nonprofit, or municipal programming
• Irrigation systems and basic garden infrastructure
• Garden tools, program equipment, and supply inventory
• Data collection, recordkeeping, or program evaluation
• Working with diverse communities and individuals of varying ages and abilities

Examples of Work Activities

Depending on seasonal and program