Youth Development Coordinator

Position Type: Full-time 

Reports To: Senior Program Manager

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. with some evening or weekend hours required for event support. Daily schedule will vary depending on afterschool program hours that require attendance for supervision and support. 

Salary Range:  $58,000 to $68,000 annual salary. Additionally, TFFJ offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, plus a retirement 403(b) plan and substantial vacation.

Organizational Overview 

TFFJ is galvanizing a youth-led movement to end food insecurity in one generation and to break the cycle of diet-related illness that impacts low-income communities, particularly those of color. TFFJ trains youth as 21st-century, school-based hydroponic farmers — growing and distributing large quantities of fresh, affordable produce to their food desert communities — and as food and health justice advocates who can lead themselves and others towards healthier futures. 

Position Overview 

TFFJ seeks a passionate individual with an entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit, flexibility, an interest in and experience working with youth, and a desire to join a small, growing organization. Under the direction of the Senior Program Manager, the Youth Development Coordinator will: oversee TFFJ’s afterschool programs related to health, nutrition, food justice and advocacy; develop workforce development programs both internally and in partnership with existing school-based programs; assist with coordinating TFFJ’s weekly community food distribution programs; and coordinate all school and community-related outreach and engagement events. This role will also support the recruitment, training, and management of TFFJ’s interns and on-site program mentors.

Please note: This role requires regular travel between TFFJ’s New York City-based partner school sites, in addition to the locations of other community partners. Flexibility in working location is available with access to a shared office and remote work options; however, this role requires in-person and on-site work.  

Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Afterschool Program Coordination (35%) 

• Coordinate TFFJ’s afterschool programming with teachers, Farmer-Educators and mentors at all partner school sites throughout the school year, by: 
  • Recruiting school-based faculty/teachers to co-lead afterschool programs at each school campus. 
  • Training Farmer-Educators, lead teachers, and mentors in afterschool program curriculum and facilitation, and site-based program management (such as attendance tracking, supply ordering, and expense tracking).
  • Regularly meeting with school-based staff and supporting their work related to afterschool program facilitation, goal-setting, evaluation, and student engagement.
  • Supporting afterschool curriculum development with a focus on hands-on and engaging activities related to hydroponics, food justice, health, cooking, leadership and advocacy. 
  • Planning and implementing TFFJ’s annual Student Leadership Conference, during which TFFJ students convene and showcase their food justice and advocacy projects. 
  • Identifying and participating in school- and community-based outreach and engagement events to include broader community and stakeholders in TFFJ’s work. 
  • Collecting and organizing program data such as student rosters, attendance, mentor agreements and stipends. 

Workforce Development Program Coordination (35%) 

• Coordinate TFFJ’s workforce development programming with Farmer-Educators, teachers and school-based workforce development program managers by:
  • Creating workforce development activities, curriculum, and trainings for high school students in career and technical education programs, school-based workforce programs such as the Training and Opportunities Program (TOP), Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), Work, Learn, Grow (WLG) and others. 
  • Collaborating with Farmer-Educators and TFFJ’s Farm Operations Manager to coordinate workforce development program integration at each TFFJ site. 
  • Assist in managing and growing relationships with NYCDOE school-based workforce development programs (TOP, SYEP, WLG, etc.) and other school stakeholders with the goal of full management of these relationships.
  • Training TFFJ Farmer-Educators and other program staff on the workforce development program, facilitation, and site-based program management (such as attendance tracking, supply ordering, etc.). 
  • Collaborating with Senior Program Manager, Senior Farm Operations Manager and Farmer-Educators to identify workforce development opportunities within food distribution programs. 
  • Building capacity for campus produce distributions to be student-led and aligned with workforce development goals. 
  • Collecting and organizing program data such as student rosters, schedules, and hours. 

Community Food Distribution (15%) 

• Support the coordination of TFFJ’s community food distribution programs across sites by:
  • Working collaboratively with TFFJ’s Farm Operations Manager and Farmer-Educators to evaluate site needs and distribution capacity. 
  • Managing and growing relationships with food distribution stakeholders within each school campus and broader community to maintain and establish partnerships. 
  • Screening potential food distribution partners to ensure community food distribution arrangements are of a high standard, impact and efficient for all parties.
  • Developing and maintaining free produce distributions for campus students, families, and staff across sites. 

Administrative Responsibilities (15%) 

• Maintain organized work streams and ensure youth development programs are aligned with TFFJ’s overall program goals, mission and strategy by:
  • Preparing for and attending program team and all-team meetings.
  • Tracking expenses, preparing reports, and managing budgets across youth development program areas. 
  • Collaborating with the program and executive teams to prepare for and implement annual program evaluations. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Three to five years of relevant experience working with youth, food, nutrition or agricultural education, workforce development, community-based programming, social services or other related fields.
• Experience supporting program implementation in a related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• The ability to successfully and empathetically engage various stakeholders, including youth, external partners, and internal, cross-department colleagues.  
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to work independently while self-managing multiple priorities and deadlines. 
• Passion for youth empowerment, education, food justice and advocacy. 
• Must be able to clear a required background check. 

An Ideal Candidate Will: 

• Have an Associate’s degree or higher. 
• Bring energy, enthusiasm and empathy to TFFJ’s farm classrooms and youth programs. 
• Be able to collaborate with diverse groups and maintain professional and respectful relationships with students, TFFJ staff, teachers, school administrators, mentors, interns, funders, and community and industry partners.  
• Seek new ways for collaboration, partnership and programming across TFFJ sites with a specific eye towards developing young people as leaders in their communities, emerging STEM fields, and food policy and advocacy.

TFFJ’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and diversity applies to all aspects of employment: recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; and terminations. TFFJ does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, sex/gender (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, unemployed status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

To apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to work@teensforfoodjustice.org. Include the words “Youth Development Coordinator” in the subject line.