Job: Montana State University – Production Manager at Towne’s Harvest Garden

PROGRAM COORDINATOR II (Production Manager) - Health & Human Development (Towne's Harvest Garden)

Announcement Number: 10-078; Position Number: 1545 Starting Date: March 15, 2010 or upon successful completion of selection process Starting Salary: $13.37 per hour, Eligible for benefits Description: MSU is a comprehensive land grant university serving approximately 13,000 students in its baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degree programs. MSU is located in Bozeman, an extended community of about 40,000 nestled in the Rocky Mountains in southwest Montana, 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. Bozeman is well served by four national airlines. Bozeman boasts high quality medical facilities, many fine restaurants, acclaimed public and private schools, and a vibrant cultural and arts scene including a symphony orchestra, choir, and annual opera. The K-12 educational system, growing reputation of Montana State University, small-town charm, pristine natural environment and abundant opportunities for year-round recreation combine to make Bozeman one of America's most attractive university towns. Colorado College ranks the Gallatin Valley (home of Bozeman) as "the healthiest place to live in the Rocky Mountains." Further, this same report gave the area top scores in "livability, vibrancy, and vitality." This position is associated with Towne's Harvest Garden (THG), a collaborative project of the College of Agriculture, and the Department of Health and Human Development in the College of Education, Health & Human Development. Towne's Harvest Garden is a 3 acre vegetable farm which serves as an outdoor classroom and laboratory for the Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems (SFBS) degree program. The garden project includes a Community Supported Agriculture Program, a growing partnership with the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, and outreach and sales at two community farmers' markets and one campus farm stand. The Towne s Harvest Garden is a site for SFBS internships as well as service learning on campus, and community service. For Job Description, Qualifications and Application Information, click 'Read More'

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Job Duties

Farm and garden production tasks such as: develop annual garden production plan; supervise the ordering of seeds and other supplies; coordinate greenhouse seeding and watering and production tasks; develop transplanting and harvesting schedule; supervise and conduct harvesting and post-harvest preparation/washing; manage soil fertility and pests; set up and maintain irrigation; construct and maintain deer fencing; maintain tools; plant cover crop for winter; coordinate end of season farm clean-up; coordinate care of chickens and coop maintenance; delegate production related tasks to production interns. Personnel Management tasks such as: supervise student interns and volunteers; schedule and coordinate intern farm activities; report regularly to THG advisor; collect, organize, and analyze data for THG annual report; follow MSU’s sanitation/safe food handling guidelines. Distribution tasks such as: oversee farmer’s market preparation and sales; oversee fulfilling Towne’s Harvest CSA and partnership obligations; manage Towne’s Harvest budget; be accountable for business transactions; participate in educational and public outreach events; act as a public liaison between Towne’s Harvest, MSU and the Bozeman Community.

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture or a relevant field or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

2.Successful experience in small farm vegetable production in Zone 4 or similar climate.

3. Successful experience managing or supervising personnel or interns.

4. Demonstrated ability to prioritize, negotiate, and organize details.

5. Familiarity with Word, Excel, and data collection methods

6. Excellent written and oral communication skills.

7. Ability to use agricultural tools and equipment.

8. Must possess current, or be eligible to obtain, a valid Montana driver s license, and have an acceptable driving record (less than 12 points). (Please do not include a copy of your driver s license. The successful candidate will be required to provide a copy of their current driver s license upon hire.)

Preferred Qualifications

1. Knowledge of sustainable farming practices and techniques for season extension.

2. Experience in leadership and teaching.

3. Experience in a Community Supported Agriculture program.

The successful candidate will also have the following abilities: provide leadership for a University Farm/CSA; exercise good judgment and demonstrate initiative; work well independently; dependable, innovative, and creative; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with various constituencies, including students, administrators, faculty, co-workers, and community members. Position duties require relatively strenuous activity and lifting up to 50 pounds in adverse weather conditions.

Application Deadline: Screening of applications will begin on February 1, 2010, and continue until a suitable applicant is hired.

Application Procedure: To apply, please download the application materials by clicking here MSU Classified Employment Application.

The applicant MUST submit a MSU Application along with responses to the required and preferred qualifications. Electronic submissions in Word or PDF are highly preferred but hard copies will be accepted. An original signature on the MSU-Bozeman Application Cover Sheet is required via scanned PDF, fax, or hardcopy original to the address below. Submit materials to:

Alison Harmon

Montana State University

Health and Human Development

121 PE Complex

P.O. Box 173360

Bozeman, MT 59717

harmon@montana.edu

Phone: 406-994-6338

Fax: 406-994-6314