Career Opportunities

Position: Full-time
Reports to: Director of Educational Programs & Partnerships
Based at: Jackson Olin High School

Under the supervision of the Director of Educational Programs and Partnerships, the JVTF High School Instructor is responsible for developing and delivering food-based education using the Good School Food framework. The Good School Food framework connects students to food, farming, and culinary arts through standards-based learning experiences across all subject areas, including science, math, social studies, English language arts, health, and art. The High School Instructor bridges classroom instruction with hands-on experiences in both outdoor and indoor spaces at Jackson-Olin High School.

The High School Instructor will collaborate with Birmingham City School administrators and teachers at every grade level to implement in-school and after-school programming. Lessons that are developed and conducted will complement and expand what students are learning in the classroom and will provide additional experiential opportunities for students within the Academy of Horticulture at Jackson-Olin High School. Instructors are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Teaching Farm (both outdoor and indoor) spaces. They work alongside Farm and CEA Managers to maintain the appearance and integrity of the sites. This position blends teaching, crop management, and leadership development to cultivate curiosity, skills, and purpose in every student.

At the Center for Food Education, the Instructor will be expected to assist with camps and field trips for students visiting from across the state. All Instructors are expected to develop, manage, lead, and implement one or more of our key programs: in-school lessons, after-school clubs, camps, field trips, and/or any new initiatives. This work requires a high degree of professionalism and a collaborative spirit. A successful candidate must possess extraordinary interpersonal skills as well as strong management, organization, and communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct standards-based lessons for students in grades 9th-12th that align with the Alabama Course of Study
• Collaborate with the Agriscience Teacher to provide lessons and experiences for students that align with Career & Technical Education (CTE) requirements
• Collaborate with teachers and administrators to develop relevant and rigorous lessons for high school programming
• Design and lead after-school programs for high school students
• Guide students in general maintenance of the Teaching Farm at Jackson-Olin High School with a specific focus on hydroponics
• Work collaboratively with Youth Pathways and Experiences Team to create opportunities to engage JVTF Interns at Jackson-Olin High School
• Work collaboratively with the CEA Manager and Farm Team to create a superior learning environment, maintaining a vibrant and productive space
• Create a safe, structured, and warm learning environment for all students
• Mentor individual students in and out of class, model respect and curiosity for learning, and encourage students’ interests and talents while maintaining healthy and appropriate boundaries with students
• Assist with instruction for camps and field trips
• Recruit students for camp and field trips
• Assist with recruiting students for High School Internship
• Meet weekly with the Education Team
• Maintain detailed farm and education records
• Work with the Education Program Manager to produce teaching and visual aids for standards-based lessons
• Provide written feedback on standards-based lessons to improve their quality and rigor over time
• Collaborate with the Impact Manager to document and maintain evaluative data

Please note this job description is not designed to provide a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Job responsibilities may change at any time without prior notice. New job responsibilities may be added as needed.

What We Look For

• Believer in the power of education and food
• The “Teaching Farm” part of JVTF is not just part of our name, but it is the heart of our mission, and we make hiring young people a priority. As an employee, mentoring and working alongside students and apprentices is a required and fundamental piece of our work.
• A commitment to social justice
• A positive and constructive attitude
• Must be able to take initiative and problem solve.  Must be a creative thinker.
• A love for learning
• The ability to hear, reflect upon, and implement feedback
• Able to communicate effectively with youth, co-workers, stakeholders, and families in a respectful and culturally competent manner via written and verbal communication.
• Able to work with a team but enjoys working independently
• Must be capable of participating in the physically demanding needs of gardening and landscape work
• Reliable transportation required
• Min 4 years experience in farming, youth development, and/or education (including intern and apprentice experience at JVTF) OR Masters/BA/BS degree with a Teaching Credential

Duration​ ​and​ ​Compensation
This is a year-round, full-time position with a 3-month probation period. Competitive compensation package includes:

• Compensation Range $45k-50k
• 403(B) with employer matching
• Paid Health and Dental Individual benefits
• 22 Days of Paid Time Off
• End of year Winter Break
• Generous parental leave

How to Apply
To apply for this position, send your cover letter and resume to jobs@jvtf.org with the subject line “High School Instructor.”

Criminal background check and a valid driver’s license required.

Position: Full-time
Reports to: Executive Director
Based at: Center for Food Education

The Executive Assistant’s primary role is to support the Executive Director and ensure that JVTF’s administrative operations align across departments to support the success of the organization.

This position requires a high level of professionalism, discretion, and independent judgment to manage complex tasks, communications, and projects that are sensitive in nature. The candidate must be organized and proactive. The Executive Assistant prioritizes competing interests, handles matters expeditiously, and follows through on projects to successful completion, often with deadline pressures. They work collaboratively with members of the leadership and operations team. 

The Executive Assistant will be a trusted partner to the Executive Director, a key point of contact for board members and the Leadership Team, and an organizational culture ambassador who models our organizational values.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Support

• Strategically manage and oversee the Executive Director’s calendar, ensuring adherence to all commitments and  keep them informed of upcoming responsibilities
• Anticipate the needs of the Executive Director and proactively manage tasks to ensure efficiency and effectiveness
• Schedule internal and external meetings, create and distribute meeting agendas, compile supporting documents, organize meeting spaces, ensure necessary technology setup, process notes into minutes, and ensure follow-up on action items
• Draft written communications, including emails and letters of support, to conserve the Executive Director’s time
• Maintain and organize physical and digital files, including receipts and other documents
• Complete errands and tasks outside the office as needed
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and external partners and coordinate special projects and initiatives as assigned by the Executive Director 
• Manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion
• Support planning and execution of JVTF events and activities
• Represent Executive Director with professionalism when interacting with staff, board, donors, and stakeholders

Board Liaison

• Serve as the administrative liaison to the Board of Directors, ensuring compliance in board                            matters by keeping all necessary forms, information, and materials up to date
• Plan, schedule, and coordinate logistics for all board and committee meetings, including drafting agendas, preparing and distributing board packets, and maintaining accurate minutes
• Maintain up-to-date records of board rosters terms, assignments, and attendance
• Support board recruitment, onboarding, and engagement strategies in partnership with Executive Director and Leadership Team
• Coordinate communication between Executive Director, Leadership Team, Staff, and Board members

Office and Operations Support 

• Provide front desk coverage, including greeting visitors and answering calls
• Maintain reception area and all common areas in a clean and organized manner
• Take inventory of office supplies and restock as needed
• Coordinate logistics for organizational events, including all-staff meetings, board meetings, and assist external events
• Manage printing systems and provide technology and AV troubleshooting support
• Assist in mail distribution
• Assist in opening and closing the Center for Food Education
• Host or lead tours of the Center for Food Education for community partners

Please note that this job description is not designed to provide a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position.  Job responsibilities may change at any time and without prior notice.  New job responsibilities may be added as needed. 

What We Look For

• Believers in the power of food, education and community
• Strong understanding of nonprofit governance and board relations
• Excellent organizational skills and project management  with strong attention to detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to deal effectively with all levels of the organization as well as external parties and ask for clarity, when needed.
• Ability to work some  evenings, nights, and weekends, and willing to travel as necessary
• Ability to effectively maintain confidential information
• Exceptional written, verbal, and proofreading skills
• Proficient with Google and Microsoft Office Suites
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently, prioritize accordingly, manage changing deadlines, and recognize the nuances linked with supporting the Executive Director
• Ability to work well under pressure and exhibit excellent judgment, tolerance of ambiguity
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgement
• Self-managing: ability to work well independently with minimal oversight and as part of a team
• A positive and constructive attitude
• A love for learning
• The ability to hear, reflect upon, and implement feedback

Duration​ ​and​ ​Compensation

This is a year-round, full-time position with a 3-month probation period. The competitive compensation package includes:

• Compensation range: $50,000 as starting salary
• 403(B) with employer matching
• Paid health and dental individual benefits 
• 9 paid holidays, 22 Days of Paid Time Off, and end-of-year winter break
• Generous parental leave

How to Apply
To apply for this position, send your cover letter and resume to jobs@jvtf.org with the subject line “Executive Assistant.”

Criminal background check and a valid driver’s license required.

Position: Full-time
Reports to: Farm Director
Based at: Multiple locations (eight sites)

The CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) Manager will lead management and maintenance of JVTF’s Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems, including hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming setups. This role supports our educational programming in classrooms and greenhouse environments, where students learn sustainable farming techniques and the principles of indoor agriculture. The position promotes food security, environmental stewardship, agricultural education, and is critical to advancing JVTF’s mission. The CEA Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of our current eight hydroponic sites across the city. This work is done independently and will require a candidate that is eager to work alongside teachers, school administration and external stakeholders. 

The ‘Teaching Farm’ isn’t just part of our name. It’s the heart of our mission. At JVTF, every team member plays a vital role in educating, mentoring, and working alongside students and young people. This expectation isn’t an add-on to your job; it’s woven into the fabric of your daily work. If you’re energized by the idea of passing on your knowledge and skills while doing meaningful work, you’ll thrive here.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and maintain CEA systems, including lighting, irrigation, climate controls, and nutrient delivery systems
• Primary liaison for the CEA system partner, New York SunWorks 
• Attend weekly meetings with CEA system partner
• Ensure optimal plant growth conditions by properly monitoring pH, temperature, and nutrient levels
• Troubleshoot and repair system components as necessary
• Collect and analyze data on plant growth, system performance, and environmental conditions
• Prepare reports to evaluate program outcomes and identify areas for improvement
• Manage inventory of seeds, nutrients, tools, and equipment for classroom and greenhouse operations.
• Assist in budget planning for CEA-related projects
• Train and supervise volunteers, interns, teachers, and students involved in CEA projects
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment for school administration  and students
• Promote CEA programs to community organizations, partners, and stakeholders
• Work alongside Farm Director to create potential partnerships and expansion opportunities for CEA programming
• Represent JVTF at events to showcase the importance of sustainable agriculture and education

Please note that this job description is not designed to provide a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position.  Job responsibilities may change at any time and without prior notice.  New job responsibilities may be added as needed. 

What We Look For

• Believers in the power of food, education and community
• A positive and constructive attitude
• The ability to hear, reflect upon, and implement feedback
• Experience managing CEA systems such as hydroponics, aquaponics, or vertical farming.
• Strong technical and mechanical skills for system maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Passion for sustainable agriculture and education
• Ability to see the big picture while managing details
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and priorities shifts.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to deal effectively with all levels of the organization as well as external parties and ask for clarity, when needed.
• High degree of flexibility,comfortable working in dynamic, fast-paced environment

Duration​ ​and​ ​Compensation

This is a year-round, full-time position with a 3-month probation period. The competitive compensation package includes:

• Compensation range: $50,000 as starting salary
• 403(B) with employer matching
• Paid health and dental individual benefits 
• 9 paid holidays, 22 Days of Paid Time Off, and end-of-year winter break
• Generous parental leave

How to Apply
To apply for this position, send your cover letter and resume to jobs@jvtf.org with the subject line “CEA Manager”

Criminal background check and a valid driver’s license required.