Common Ground is Seeking a P/T Compost Program Coordinator

Job Title: Common Ground (CG) Compost Program Coordinator (Temporary; P/T)

Organization Overview

Common Ground (CG) is a center for environmental learning in New Haven, Connecticut. Farm meets forest meets city on CG’s 20 acre campus at the base of West Rock Ridge. The site abuts the 1800 acre West Rock State Park, sharing hiking trails, wildlife, and diverse natural habitats with the surrounding forests. CGs urban farm produces sustainably grown food for programs and our community, and is home to our friendly farm animals. CG’s Charter High School uses the site as an organizing principle of its curriculum which is guided by an ecological framework highlighting the connection and interdependence of all living and non-living things. Each year, more than 10,000 community members participate in festivals, field trips, after-school programs, and other educational opportunities on site. For more information visit www.commongroundct.org.

Program Overview

In 2019, Common Ground built a model Small/Midscale Static Aerated Pile composting system to take in organic waste from our Charter High School Cafeteria, our ¾ acre farm, the community- through Drop Offs and a partnership with Peels On Wheels. Our goal was to improve the quality and production of our system in a way that increased both intake and production for our farm and potentially community members and initiatives (like our Schoolyards Program). In 2021/22 we are hoping to increase our intake, improve the quality of our compost, and our facility and create systems to support education around the issue of waste management through a social justice and leadership development lens at our HS and in the community. We are able to jumpstart this effort through a partnership with the City of New Haven Food System Policy Division and the Community Compost Collaborative. 

Job Description

Overview: The Compost Program Coordinator is a 5-7 hour a week position that involves both very physical work, office work and education. It is a temporary, part time position that is grant- funded through June 2022. At the end of the grant period the position will be evaluated based on funding, performance and assessment of continuing need. This position is perfect for someone who is willing to work outdoors in all kinds of weather and put thought into growing our Composting work at CG and citywide. 

Responsibilities:

Management of Common Ground Static Aerated Pile System (4-5 hours a week):

• Process compostable materials 1-2 times a week in our Static Aerated Pile System (approximately 1000+ pounds/week) 
• Coordinate staffing support for processing with the CG Farm Director
• Evaluate and modify recipe depending on raw materials to ensure a high quality product
• Conduct precise data collection on inputs
• Coordinate with Peels on Wheels and other materials providers
• Maintain a neat and organized production area that is accessible both to system management and as an educational space.
• Manage a very small community drop off area
• Assess final product 

Education (1-3 hours a week):

• Spend at least 1 hr a week orienting CGHS students to the Cafeteria composting system so we can more effectively take in uncontaminated waste from the school.
• Coordinate with the HS Sustainability Club (newly forming), Food Justice Education Coordinator or other relevant staff to help support other education, student support or leadership opportunities that might emerge.
• Other potential opportunities for educating the public and CG staff, students and participants based on capacity
• Train supporting staff (Farm Interns, Students Interns and HS Green Jobs Program Participants) on the technical and social justice aspects of the CG Compost System and our Compost System.
• Record quantitative and qualitative data about educational activities.

USDA CFRW Community Composting Grant Responsibilities (2-3 hrs a month):

• Submit quarterly reports to the City of New Haven Food Systems Policy Division (including quantitative and qualitative data)

• Attend Monthly USDA Community Composting grant check ins (or communicate updates to the Farm Director)

Desired Qualities:

• Familiarity with google docs and sheets
• Ability to lift 60+lbs 
• Be comfortable working in all kinds of weather (compost must be processed year round!)
• Willingness to work independently and as part of a small team
• Committed to equity and social justice within the framework of supporting compost as an environmental justice issue in the New Haven Community
• Experience working with HS aged youth

Details: 

• Part time 5-7 hours a week 
• November 2021-June 2022
• $20/hr

To apply:

Please email a “cover letter” or note explaining your interest and background, and resume to deborah.greig@nhep.com by Nov 9th.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Common Ground is particularly eager for candidates who can help us to fulfill our commitment to building a racially and culturally diverse faculty and staff. Common Ground has a commitment to examining the intersection of social, environmental, and food justice issues; how systems of oppression, including white privilege, impact the organization’s work; and how resistance to those systems can offer windows into a more sustainable society.

Common Ground is committed to the recruitment and retention of staff that is reflective of the communities we work with. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, people whose native language is something other than English, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.

It has been the policy and will continue to be the strong commitment of the Common Ground and all contractors and subcontractors who do business with Common Ground to provide equal opportunities in employment to all qualified persons solely on the basis of job-related skills, ability and merit. Common Ground will continue to take Affirmative Action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, mental disorder (present or past history thereof) age, physical disability (but not limited to blindness), marital status, intellectual disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and criminal record. Such action includes, but is not limited to, employment, promotion, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training, professional development, attendance at conferences or other opportunities for advancement. Common Ground, its contractors and subcontractors will continue to make good faith efforts to comply with all federal and state laws and policies which speak to equal employment opportunity. The principles of Affirmative Action are addressed in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments of the United States Constitution, Civil Rights Act of 1866, 1870, 1871, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VI and VII of the 1964 United States Civil Rights Act, Presidential Executive Order 11246, amended by 11375, (Non-discrimination under federal contracts)

Discrimination against Criminal Offenders (46a-80), definition of Blind (46a-51(1)), definition of Physically Disabled (46a-51(15)), definition of Intellectual Disability (46a51(13)), cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (46a-77), Sexual Harassment (46a-60(a)-8), Connecticut Credit Discrimination Law (360436 through 439), Title I of the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972. This Affirmative Action Policy Statement re-affirms Common Ground’s commitment to equity in the workplace and the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity