College Hill Garden Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator - External Affairs - SFPUC (3374)

The College Hill Garden Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator at SFPUC is responsible for managing educational activities at the College Hill Learning Garden in San Francisco. Key duties include teaching field trips, coordinating with schools, maintaining gardens, and fostering community partnerships. The role focuses on environmental education for youth, particularly in grades 3-5, and involves outreach to underserved schools. This position is part of the SFPUC’s Community Benefits Team.
The College Hill Learning Garden is owned and operated by the SFPUC with the goal of educating the next generation of environmental stewards. At the Learning Garden, the SFPUC provides free field trips and educational experiences for youth in the elementary grade levels (primarily grade levels 3rd through 5th but occasionally youth in grade levels K through 12th). Through unique site-specific curricula, youth make connections between the water, power, and sewer services of the SFPUC and key eco-literacy concepts which support their growth toward becoming environmental stewards.

This position is responsible for all operational and educational activities at the College Hill Learning Garden. Primary responsibilities include site management, teaching, and instruction. Position responsibilities also include administration of educational programming at the College Hill Learning Garden, scheduling field trip visits with teachers and schools, coordination with various internal and external stakeholders including developing relationships with SFUSD teachers, developing College Hill community support and interest, maintaining educational vegetable gardens and acting as a good neighbor to the community surrounding the College Hill Learning Garden.

This position is part of the SFPUC’s Community Benefits Team. The SFPUC was among the first utilities in the nation to adopt an Environmental Justice Policy and later, a Community Benefits Policy, and the Community Benefits team is tasked with ensuring that the SFPUC is in compliance with these policies. This position reports to the SFPUC’s Arts and Education Program Manager.

Essential Functions:

TEACHING & OUTREACH: 50%
• Manage all site operations and all educational programming at the garden.
• Lead instruction for all fieldtrips to the College Hill Learning Garden, including leading hands-on outdoor fieldtrips for youth and adults in both small groups and large groups.
• Facilitate hands-on field trips for SFUSD students utilizing existing College Hill Learning Garden curriculum and best practices in outdoor education.
• Outreach and coordinate with SFUSD Schools for enrollment in fieldtrip availability. Outreach will be targeted to SFUSD students in grades 3rd through 5th.
• Implement educational curriculum which is aligned with the SFPUC’s Big Ideas educational framework and the NGSS.
• Develop and/or deepen a partnership with underserved schools in San Francisco, as well as the four schools closest to College Hill (Fairmount, Junipero Serra, Leonard Flynn and Paul Revere ES).
• Coordinate with non-profit providers to provide community involvement days at College Hill for residents of Bernal Heights, Mission and other nearby neighborhoods.
• Lead and facilitate regular weekend open-garden hours to allow for community exploration and engagement.
• Develop, outreach and facilitate virtual educational engagements for SFUSD youth centered on the SFPUC’s Big Ideas, existing College Hill Learning Garden fieldtrip curriculum and SFPUC operations.

CULTIVATING EDUCATIONAL VEGETABLE GARDENS: 20%
• Manage the College Hill Learning Garden so that all site assets perform their educational functions;
• Coordinate the maintenance of garden equipment, grey and green infrastructure, and garden irrigation;
• Ensure the site is safe for all and secure when staff are not present (ensuring gates are locked, tools are locked in tool shed, etc.)

ADMINISTRATION AND REPORTING: 30%
• Manage, schedule and assign tasks and responsibilities to the Garden Associate and Garden Interns.
• Manage, schedule and assign tasks to students and volunteers.
• Track and measure Key Performance Indicators related to the operation of programs at the College Hill Learning Garden, such as: number of students served, student demographics, number and types of field trips/lessons conducted, number of schools participating in a field trip, number of adult classes/community involvement days, and pounds of vegetables harvested.
• Communicate and coordinate with internal and external partners and stakeholders, as needed.

The 3374 Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator will perform other related duties as required.