" The trainees are not the only ones whose lives are touched by the connection to the seeds and soil. HGP affects the lives of all who pass through it. "
- Rosalie Evans, Former HGP Intern
Available Staff Positions
Overview of the Homeless Garden Project
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, that provides job training, transitional employment and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness, with the goal of securing stable housing and employment for program participants. In recent years, HGP graduates have demonstrated a 90% success rate on average.
HGP is currently going through an exciting period of growth, preparing to move our farm from its temporary 3.5-acre site to a larger permanent site on City of Santa Cruz Pogonip park land. The transition to Pogonip Farm will triple the organization’s capacity to transform lives and build community connections through a public-private partnership.
The Value-Added Social Enterprise employs and trains individuals experiencing homelessness to make a variety of products (bath & body, food & beverage, candles, and wreaths) with organic herbs, flowers, vegetables, and fruits grown on our farm. HGP products are sold through numerous sales channels including two brick-and-mortar stores, an online store (shop.homelessgardenproject.org), and through wholesale partners.
Position
We seek an experienced, passionate, and driven person skilled in retail, production, and business management with a commitment to growing the enterprise, as well as to ending homelessness. Under the general supervision of the Director of Operations, the Social Enterprise Manager oversees all aspects of the business including production, marketing, retail, sales, business planning & analysis, and job training. This position is a key leader in managing HGP’s enterprises and driving the organization’s growth.
Responsibilities
Production Management
- Oversee production of all HGP products, ensuring proper quality control.
- Manage a well-organized workshop space for all HGP production activities.
- Evaluate historical data to set production targets, and monitor progress towards goals.
- Provide job training to program participants in a workshop environment, serving as a support system and positive role model.
- Lead the development of new and seasonal products, evaluating opportunities to expand HGP’s product line – including analysis of historical sales data, market trends, sourcing, farm availability, COGS, pricing, packaging, and branding.
- Ensure that all raw materials required for production are well-stocked.
- Lead all product branding and packaging.
Retail Management
- Manage all aspects of operating brick-and-mortar retail locations, including merchandising (HGP and third party products), seasonal rotation, inventory management, and staffing.
- Manage wholesale relationships, ensuring that orders are fulfilled in a timely fashion.
- Manage online store, ensuring that orders are fulfilled in a timely fashion and the website remains attractive and up-to-date.
- Analyze sales data to develop demand forecasts, conduct labor planning, guide third party merchandising strategy, and set pricing.
- Oversee enterprise technology platforms including online store & in-store POS systems.
- Manage occasional special events held at HGP stores (post-COVID).
Marketing
- Develop marketing, promotion, and outreach strategies for brick-and-mortar, online, and wholesale channels including email marketing, social media, and paid ad campaigns.
- Evaluate opportunities to bolster HGP’s online presence, expanding its reach beyond the Santa Cruz area.
- Evaluate opportunities to expand HGP’s wholesale relationships within and beyond the Santa Cruz area.
Personnel Management
- Supervise a team of three part-time staff – 1 Workshop Assistant & 2 Retail Assistants.
- In partnership with the Training & Education Supervisor, supervise the program participant crew during workshop production hours.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
- At least three years of experience in one or more of the following areas: social enterprise, retail management, light manufacturing/production, entrepreneurship, marketing, e-commerce or business management.
- An entrepreneurial changemaker with a commitment to pursuing and executing an ambitious enterprise growth strategy.
- Proven ability to be flexible, adaptable, and resourceful in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated success in developing new partnerships and relationships.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully work independently & collaboratively with a team.
- A proven leader who inspires others to do their best, meets deadlines, and manages complex responsibilities without losing their sense of humor.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills with diverse audiences through in-person, in writing, by phone, and via social media channels.
- Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others.
- Strong computing skills in Microsoft Excel, Google Suite, and cloud-based applications.
- Demonstrated experience in effectively delegating work.
- Excellent organization and administration skills.
The ideal candidate will also have the following preferred qualifications:
- Experience running and growing a small business.
- Experience with value-added production, product development, and branding.
- Experience managing social media, email marketing, and paid advertising campaigns.
- Experience supervising direct reports and managing a team.
- Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or others facing difficult life challenges.
- Graphic design experience a plus.
- Experience with point of sale and inventory management systems a plus.
Compensation
Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. HGP offers 100% health benefit coverage as well as generous paid time off.
Schedule
This position will be full-time, 40 hours per week, with occasional work required on weekends, holidays, and evenings.
To Apply
Application materials
- Cover Letter
- Resume
Process
Please submit all application materials as one single PDF to Claude Rosen, Director of Operations, at clauder@homelessgardenproject.org with the subject line “SOCIAL ENTERPRISE MANAGER APPLICANT – FIRST NAME LAST NAME”.
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We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is essential to achieving our mission. HGP does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, or parental status. We strongly encourage people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, classes, and religious identities to apply.
Hours: 40 hours/week; including occasional weekend, holiday and evening hours
Benefits: Health benefits, 16 days’ vacation, ~9 days’ sick leave and 9 days paid holiday
Reports to: Transitional Employment and Social Work Program Manager
Job Category: Supervisor
Area of Focus: Homelessness, Job training, Farming and Agriculture, Social Entrepreneurship, community
Description:
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP) is a nonprofit corporation based in Santa Cruz, CA that provides job training and transitional employment to people experiencing homelessness. In addition, HGP operates a vibrant community volunteer and education program. The training, employment, education and volunteer programs take place on an organic farm and in associated enterprises.
Trainees experience the value of therapeutic horticulture, are provided supportive services, and develop positive relationships and job skills. Products produced in the training program are sold through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, our year-round retail store, through our online store, and wholesale to other retailers. Production provides for a real work environment and is also a meaningful source of revenue for the Project.
HGP seeks a dedicated individual, experienced in adult education, training and supervision, to lead farm-based training and education activities and provide supportive supervision to people experiencing homelessness who wish to find a stable productive place in society.
The ideal candidate will also have experience working in counseling or mentoring roles and/or with individuals facing homelessness, and an agricultural or entrepreneurial background. The Training and Education Supervisor will create and maintain a productive workplace conducive to the development and practice of job skills, responsibility, and self-confidence.
The unique goals of our job training and transitional employment program require regular and consistent feedback on work performance and behaviors to trainees. The Training and Education Supervisor will play an important role in modeling, practicing and reinforcing work-readiness lessons to trainees. The Training and Education Supervisor will supervise trainees in executing the weekly and daily work priorities while ensuring the learning environment necessary for trainees to develop workplace behaviors, skills and knowledge; and provides trainees with increasing levels
Responsibilities:
Under the general supervision of the Transitional Employment and Social Work Program Manager, the Supervisor is directly responsible for on-site supervision, job-training and education components of the program.
-Uphold and maintain the robust structure of the job-training and transitional employment program through supportive and goal-directed leadership.
-Supervise an environment of learning where trainees learn, practice and improve general work skills (attendance, punctuality, responsible communication, honesty, integrity, on-task focus, accountability, time-management, process-oriented skills, effective transitions between tasks)
-Support trainee self-esteem growth via building trust and rapport, creating meaningful, supportive relationships with trainees, supporting development of skill-based competencies, supporting increase in feelings of self-worth.
-Lead weekly circle meeting which fosters community-building among staff and trainee team.
-Provide feedback for job readiness skills, manage progressive discipline plan, teach and lead the process of goal-setting, particularly related to job goals.
-Assist trainees in meeting program goals and milestones in order to maintain their position and progress in the program.
-The following involve working collaboratively with farm, retail and value-added manager to meet production goals:
Supervise an environment of learning and productivity where trainees learn, practice and improve technical work skills on farm (compost, bed-prepping, pest control, planting, irrigation harvest/ post-harvest skills, greenhouse skills;) in workshop (dried flower-handling skills, design-production skills, inventory management, organization of stock;) and in retail store (greeting and handling customers, managing cash register, display-making, inventory management.)
-Foster improved interpersonal skills through teaching effective communication, encouraging teamwork and cooperation, creating opportunities for appreciation to be expressed, developing positive work environment, role modeling appreciation for diverse experiences, mediating conflict.
-Develop/enhance trainees’ experience of community support
-Help connect trainees to learn about community resources, job skills, and life skills. In collaboration with Program Manager, create curriculum and lead lecture series that draws from community resources and local experts, ensuring that lecture series is relevant to trainees. Build bridges with community enterprises to accomplish this goal.
Skills:
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong physical labor skills (e.g. sit, stand, bend, lift, walk, carry)
Working knowledge of organic gardening and farming methods - Demonstrated ability to successfully use a counseling or mentoring approach
- Conflict resolution and mediation skills
- Adaptability to a dynamic work environment and strong problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated ability to make assignments and follow up on completion/evaluation
- Demonstrated ability to both follow and give directions, seek assistance, when needed
- Requires ability to work occasional evening hours and weekends; in all weather conditions
- Organization and timeliness; attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to organize, delegate, give direction, monitor others
Qualifications:
- Excellent communication skills
- At least two years of very broad horticultural experience
- Experience with supervision, adult education and training, mentoring or counseling
- An academic degree, equivalent work experience, or a combination of both, in one or more of the following areas: horticulture, horticulture therapy, organic gardening, social science, human services, environmental science, or related field
- Able to effectively work with all populations to include: individuals with mental illness, disadvantaged youth, homeless, students and community members
- Demonstrated ability to work successfully as part of a team and independently
Desirable skills and qualifications:
- Bi-lingual/bi-cultural background
- Familiarity with basic social work principles
- Experience with social justice issues and affected populations
- Effective and positive interpersonal and management skills
- Aptitude for craft workshop production
- Commitment to sustainable agriculture and food systems
Applications:
Email resume, cover letter and contact information for three references to Darrie Ganzhorn, Executive Director, at darrieg@homelessgardenproject.org. Resumes will be accepted until position is filled.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, classes, and religious identities to apply.
Development Associate
Hours: 25 hours/week
Benefits: Pro-rated vacation and sick time; accrual max applies. No medical benefits are provided for part-time positions.
Reports to: Development Director
Description of Organization and General Function
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), a 501c3 nonprofit based in Santa Cruz, CA, provides job training, transitional employment and support services to people experiencing homelessness. In complement, HGP operates a vibrant community volunteer and education program. The training, employment, education and volunteer programs take place in a 3.5 organic farm and related enterprises.
HGP is in an exciting period of growth, preparing to move our farm from its temporary 3.5-acre site to a permanent 9.5-acre farm site, within a 20-acre site on City of Santa Cruz Pogonip park land. This new permanent site will allow us to triple our job training capacity, over time, providing 50 positions each year.
Position
We seek an enthusiastic, outgoing, resourceful and organized person skilled in databases, communication, social media, outreach, and building partnerships. The ideal candidate will also have an interest in agriculture and social enterprises and a sincere commitment to ending homelessness. The Development Associate will be an integral part of HGP’s fundraising and communications team, working closely with the Development Director and Executive Director, as well as other members of the staff. The Associate’s role supporting the development and maintenance of our donor community is vital to the success and long-term sustainability of the organization.
Responsibilities
The Associate will report to the Development Director. Our diversified revenue model includes individual support, special events, public and private grants and contracts, and program-related revenue, so the Associate will have opportunities to be involved in a variety of fundraising projects and activities including the current capital campaign.
Donor Stewardship (50%)
The Development Associate will lead gift acknowledgment processing to ensure that donors understand the vital impact their support has on HGP’s work and receive appropriate:
- Documentation and recognition of gifts and
- Pledge payment reminders.
- Support implementation of HGP’s stewardship plan for individual donors;
- Assist with donor research and qualification;
- Support board members in their fundraising work.
Support Donor Cultivation and Special Events (25%)
Currently HGP hosts several major fundraising events each year plus regular events throughout the year at the farm and its retail store in downtown Santa Cruz. This year, events are being pioneered virtually. The Development Associate will lead staff and volunteer special event teams to maintain timeliness and momentum of preparations and follow-up including:
- Identify and invite potential attendees;
- Coordinate communications, both print and social media for events;
- Shepherd attendees through event(s);
- Work with Development Director and Executive Director to support table captains;
- Provide Development Director and Executive Director with follow up materials/communication.
Institutional Communications and Social Media (25%)
Work with the Executive Director, Operations Director, and Development Director to:
- Assist with website management
- Assist with general email communications, including building email drafts and managing a calendar of communications
- Support general donor stewardship communications, to keep supporters informed and involved in support of the HGP annual development plan;
- Update donor information packets;
- Provide program updates via social media, direct mail and the annual report;
- Create and update brochure content.
Qualifications
We’re looking for someone with the passion and commitment to support our programs and help shape HGP for sustainability and future growth.
- Strong computing skills in database, spreadsheet, word processing, cloud-based applications, social media, online research and/or communication tools;
- Excellent organization and administration skills and experience with systems for maintaining personal and team focus and priorities;
- Excellent skills for communicating with diverse audiences, colleagues and partners in writing, by phone, in person and via social media;
- Team orientation;
- A passion for helping others;
- Individual initiative within a collaborative group culture;
- Self-awareness and excellent interpersonal communication;
- Demonstrated ability to work independently;
- Multicultural experience and/or competency;
- Flexibility and a sense of humor.
Desirable skills and qualifications
- At least one year of nonprofit fundraising experience, particularly with individuals, events and grants;
- WordPress experience a plus;
- Experience with fundraising database;
- A passion for farm-based learning and empowerment;
Core Values
HGP values respectful communication, collaboration, connection with people and nature, and open, inquiring minds. The development staff undertake management functions as partners with the rest of the staff, in support of their work toward HGP’s mission. A management team cooperatively assesses strategic choices and organizational direction with the support and partnership of the board of directors. We value individual initiative and cultivate a culture in which it can thrive.
To Apply:
Please send a cover letter and resume to Paul Goldberg, HGP Director of Development, at Paulg@Homelessgardenproject.org. We will review materials and schedule interviews on a rolling basis, no calls please.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, classes, and religious identities to apply.
Administrative Assistant
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week
Compensation: $39,520 - $41,600
Benefits: HGP offers health benefits as well as paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
Reports to: Executive Director
To Apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to Darrie Ganzhorn, HGP Executive Director, at Darrieg@Homelessgardenproject.org. We will review materials and schedule interviews on a rolling basis, no calls please.
Description of Organization and General Function
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, that provides job training, transitional employment and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness. Our programs take place on our 3.5-acre organic farm and related social enterprises. In complement, HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program serving nearly 3,000 people each year.
HGP is currently going through an exciting period of growth, preparing to move our farm from its temporary 3.5-acre site to a permanent 9.5-acre site on City of Santa Cruz Pogonip park land. The transition to Pogonip Farm will triple the organization’s capacity to transform lives and build community connections through a public-private partnership. Serving as a national model, Pogonip Farm will be the heart of HGP’s dynamic agriculture program to provide job training for people who are experiencing homelessness, volunteer opportunities for community members and land stewardship through organic farming.
We are seeking an individual with enthusiasm, energy, a can-do attitude and the ability to stay focused on getting the job done. By supporting the Operations, Fundraising and Administration of the organization, the Administrative Assistant will be a key member of the staff, involved in many of the organization’s activities and most importantly, be of tremendous help to our dedicated and very busy staff. The Administrative Assistant will report to the Executive Director.
Responsibilities
- Ensure a smoothly running office including functioning office equipment, sufficient inventory of supplies, building & truck repairs.
- Answer telephones and receive visitors; serve as initial point of contact in agency including receiving and directing general email inquiries to the appropriate person; and mail pickup and distribution.
- Organize and schedule meetings and appointments; manage Executive Director calendar
- Assist in preparation for Board and committee meetings
- Support staff with daily clerical tasks.
- Ensure timely and accurate data entry necessary for reports and contracts, including fundraising, program, finance, and enterprise data
- Supervise volunteers performing clerical tasks.
- Assist Business & Finance Manager with bookkeeping, including receipt of deposits, maintaining clear financial records, and the timely payment of bills.
- Assist in production of newsletter, event and other mailings
- Assist in promotional activities, including social media
- Assist in IT issues, including website and hardware updates
- Support operations at the farm and retail store with deliveries and pick-ups as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills—especially with people of varied ages, experience levels and backgrounds
- Outstanding organizational and time management skills
- Excellent Microsoft Office knowledge and English proficiency
- Demonstrated experience in office management systems and procedures
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong problem-solving skills, ability to work independently
- Confidentiality and discretion
- Experience working with nonprofits, preferred
Core Values
HGP values respectful communication, collaboration, connection with people and nature, and open, inquiring minds. The development staff undertake management functions as partners with the rest of the staff, in support of their work toward HGP’s mission. A management team cooperatively assesses strategic choices and organizational direction with the support and partnership of the board of directors. We value individual initiative and cultivate a culture in which it can thrive.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, classes, and religious identities to apply.
Internships
We accept interns each quarter or semester from several colleges at UCSC and the surrounding area. Past internship projects include managing our CSA program, creating and maintaining a kitchen garden, working with trainees on nutritional issues, and building our newest nursery.
Email atalantak@homelessgardenproject.org with intern inquiries.
Volunteer Openings
Our volunteer program is flexible to allow for varied interests and schedules.
Learn more about our current volunteer needs here or contact us if you'd like more information about our volunteer openings. In addition to our daily volunteer opportunities, we are also seeking: