Garden Infrastructure Manager

Garden Infrastructure Manager

Denver Urban Gardens

Denver Metro

Organization type: Nonprofit

Type of role: Full-time

Hourly: $28.93 - $37.12

Role Overview And Goals

Ensure all gardens have an acceptable and equitable level of physical infrastructure to produce their own food.

Maintain DUG's ability to build new gardens and maintain existing gardens through its workshop, storage yard, vehicles, and physical tools.

Through communication and problem-solving, ensure that DUG gardens meet the needs of garden leaders, gardeners, and the greater community.

Essential Job Duties

This position reports to the Senior Director of Gardens and Food Forests and supervises a seasonal DUG Corps Service Member

Building and Maintaining Gardens

• Establish and execute an annual work plan for garden maintenance, new garden builds, and improvement projects.
• Plan and implement a garden workday schedule to complete projects in partnership with the Development team
• Prep for and lead corporate and community volunteer group workdays. Create a fun team-building atmosphere and instruct volunteers to work safely.
• Respond to garden emergencies, maintenance requests, and general inquiries in a timely manner. Prioritize doing repairs in-house, and use contractors only when necessary.
• Adhere to all guidelines and restrictions laid out in DUG's land use agreements, grants, and local, state, and federal laws. Complete proposals and application processes to ensure all necessary approvals are in hand before work begins.
• Manage external vendors and materials for garden projects.
• Find and manage contractors hired for jobs.
• Work in partnership with the Field Operations team to engage the community in the design and installation of new gardens. Actively contribute to the new garden design process using insights gained from field experience and research.
• Provide budget recommendations for improved efficiency and aligned with strategic priorities
• Irrigation
• Oversee and manage water systems across the DUG network. This includes repairing breaks in underground irrigation pipes, fixing leaks, and repairing/replacing spigots.
• Replacing and maintaining backflows, turn water systems on in the spring and blow them out/turn them off in the fall.
• Communicating with garden leaders about water availability and aligning with landowners about expectations and needs when DUG does not control the water access directly.
• Organization and Collaboration
• Oversee the DUG workshop and storage yard, including waste materials management, tool maintenance, and supply stocking
• Work with DUG staff to understand the ways physical infrastructure can support other DUG programs, and help them understand the needs, limitations, and opportunities of physical garden spaces. Integrate with and add to DUG initiatives and team goals.
• Training / Garden Self-Sufficiency
• Work to increase the autonomy of Garden Leaders and Tree Keepers in making their own repairs and improvements
• Create and update static resources for the DUG website, including blog posts, videos, spec sheets, and preferred vendor lists.
• Facilitate workshops and trainings
• Administrative
• Timely responsiveness to communications from staff and community members
• Bi-weekly time tracking and monthly spending report submission
• Budget tracking and reporting in conjunction with manager
• Performs additional related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the organization

Benefits

Compensation for this position level is an hourly wage of $28.93 - $37.12 based on experience and skill set. This is a full-time, non-exempt, fully benefited position. Benefits include a flexible work schedule, RTD EcoPass, mileage reimbursement, paid holidays, a 'trusted time off' policy, as well as a generous employer-sponsored health/dental insurance plan and retirement plan matching. This position is a union-represented position with DUG Workers United.

How To Apply

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter with 'Garden Infrastructure Manager' in the subject line to View email address on click.appcast.io.