Community Food Systems & Sustainability Manager - East Meadow, NY

Cornell Cooperative Extension•New York, NY

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Food Systems & Sustainability Manager leads integrated programs that advance equitable access to fresh food, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience. This role oversees horticulture initiatives, farmers market operations, and community nutrition programs while developing and implementing sustainability strategies across the CCE Nassau County programs. The Manager coordinates and supports a network of Master Gardener volunteers, providing training, oversight, and program alignment to expand community education and urban growing efforts. Working cross-functionally and with external partners, the position ensures programs are data-informed, community-centered, and aligned with CCE Nassau County’s mission to strengthen local food systems and promote healthy, sustainable communities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree.
Experience relevant to the role of the position.
Valid NYS Driver License and the ability to meet travel requirements associated with this position.
Ability to work a flexible work schedule, including nights and weekends, and during seasonal programs as required.
Deep expertise in composting disciplines, specifically biodynamic tea brewing and soil microbiology.
Experience in designing and executing landscape topography changes (grading/drainage).
Experience in greenhouse management and diverse plant propagation.
Strong public speaking skills for educational demonstrations.
Passion for community building and sustainable "Land Grant" philosophies.
Demonstrated ability to effectively support and manage a team.
Ability to clearly communicate (speak, read and write proficiently) in English, and to do so effectively and with tact.
Ability and willingness to work with diverse audiences and maintain cultural sensitivity.
Ability to relate effectively to co-workers, advisors, community and professional leaders.
Ability to support staff who are learning a new skill through clear instructions, accompaniment, and periodic follow up.
Ability and willingness to work with a high degree of integrity, accuracy, organization, sound professional judgment, and the ability to handle confidential, sensitive information.
Ability to organize, manage, and prioritize multiple tasks, deadlines, requirements, and priorities to complete work in a timely manner and within established deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to utilize computer technologies for educational, management and communication purposes, including Microsoft Office programs.
Ability to work creatively in an environment with a degree of ambiguity, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Ability to reflect on experience, derive insights, and refine program based on a process of action-reflection.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of and ability to work with local and state agencies, government, nonprofit organizations, community resources, partners, and community stakeholders, especially those with limited income.
Experience implementing strategies and educational programs that influence community change.
Strong understanding and commitment to addressing environmental and economic inequities through solution-based approaches.
Experience in fund development or fundraising; experience writing/implementing grants and proposals.
Ability to recruit, train, and support diverse volunteers.

Responsibilities

Apply subject matter knowledge to provide input in the development of educational strategies.
Support the research, identification and selection of existing educational and community resources and identify additional resources required for new programs and initiatives.
Influence the creation of program materials to meet the needs of program participants.
Apply subject matter knowledge to create innovative lesson plans to deliver educational programs.
Teach workshops on composting standards, thermal phases, and soil food web disciplines to reduce community waste.
Implement and demonstrate manual and electric tool usage to show businesses and homeowners how to manage landscapes without fossil fuels.
Utilize gradients to demonstrate passive irrigation, drainage mitigation, and rain barrel implementation.
Host events for building "Ladybug Motels," "Praying Mantis Motels," and "Honeybee Hotels" to encourage beneficial insect populations.
Host seasonal crafting workshops including but not limited to wreath-making (using facility-grown materials), garden journaling, and propagation techniques (seed to harvest).
Teach germination and cultivation for various objectives (Victory Gardens, Living Walls, Xeric/Native Scaping, Pond Scaping).
Teach individuals and community stakeholders how to document phenology and garden progress.
Provide public demonstrations on structural pruning and ecological pest management.
Implement program evaluation as designed.
Based on program parameters, interpret evaluation data to constituents.
Assist with development of program work plan ensuring alignment with goals, standards, practices and principles of CCE Nassau and requirements of the funder(s).
Working with other team members, participate in and prepare quarterly work plans to deliver programming in region.
Anticipate and/or project expenses and develop budget to accompany quarterly plans.
Develop and/or enhance relationships with appropriate agencies, organizations, industries and community leaders for the program.
Develop program goals to align with program objectives.
Participate in planning effective internal and external communication efforts.
Assist in developing shared team vision and mission and developing appropriate goals and strategies to advance the mission.
Assist in planning organizational leadership development strategies.
Make recommendations to the staffing plan development process.
Monitor progress toward overall program objectives.
Ensure program work plan aligns with goals, standards, practices and principles of funders, as well as program activities conform to Association Plan of Work.
Ensure the facility is a pristine, labeled, and accessible botanical destination.
Oversee the maintenance, pruning, weeding, and IPM (Integrated Pest Management) of: floral beds (rose garden, dahlia bed, entrance garden); production areas (vegetable beds, berry garden, greenhouse, and hoophouse); ecological zones (native planting beds, pollinator habitats, arboretum, and herb garden; community assets (community garden plots, chicken coop, and turf management; new installations (installation of a dedicated exotics bed and extensive pathway beautification).
Identify training and other support needs for the staff members and organize training when appropriate.
Effectively allocate human resources and align appropriate staff skill sets and performance level under established staffing plans to accomplish program objectives.
Provide management (including recruitment and selection) and supervision (including guidance, performance feedback and annual performance reviews) to designated staff and provide oversight to volunteers in accordance with established policies, procedures and protocol, and provide regular staffing updates to the Executive and Associate Director as required.
Solve problems and resolve conflicts that arise in the program, utilizing appropriate policies and procedures.
Identify, develop, enhance and engage networks of volunteers and volunteer leaders.
Ensure volunteer recruitment and management adheres to Volunteer Involvement Policy.
Give guidance to volunteers and staff, including those performing similar work.
Monitor program financial status (income/expense) to ensure compliance with funding requirements, grant specifications and adherence to Association Plan of Work.
Monitor program to ensure that educational content conforms to research base, policies and objectives of the Association and is research knowledge-based.
Effectively allocate financial and other program resources to accomplish association program objectives.
Monitor program income/expense to ensure the spending is within program budget constraint.
Provide moderately complex administrative tasks to guide the implementation of communication strategies, including oversight of website(s), social media, newsletters, etc. This includes obtaining different levels of permission and input from other staff and organizations, as required by contracts.
Leverage specialized expertise to create a closed-loop fertility system and new revenue streams.
Design and manage a large-scale (20–50 gallon) brewing station using oscillating pump technology for 24-hour aerobic brews.
Lead the design of safe gradients, berms, and swales to break the monotony of the current flat landscape.
Design and install "Living Fences" utilizing woven Willow/Salix species to demonstrate natural boundaries.
Develop a demonstration pond/aquaponics site to teach symbiotic relationships between aquatic life and plant cultivation.
Package and sell liquid compost tea to community members potentially at farmers markets, Taste of New York, and EMF visitors.
Function as the primary liaison with School Boards, PTAs, and Universities to integrate the farm into academic curriculums.
Collaborate with Civic Associations to align facility goals with town needs.
Network with local garden centers and nurseries to source unique planting material and cross-promote services.
Assist in the coordination of the Association’s work plan and implement established program schedule.
Effectively maintain professional relationships with other agencies, Cornell faculty, organizations and businesses that promote effective communication and facilitate continued programming efforts.
Maintain appropriate records and make reports to administrators and committees, as requested.
Coordinate, compile and organize existing program resources and program materials.
Purchase materials relevant to the functioning of the program in keeping with needs and Association policies.
Collect evaluation data from program participants based on existing framework.
Collaborate with community agencies as requested or required to facilitate programming, special events, and activities.
Submit proposals for grants and contracts that will fund new and existing program activities.
Maintain extreme confidentiality of information, participant information and data collected.
Coordinate volunteer enrollment and reporting process and work with the team to ensure all volunteer files, paperwork, and communication has been completed in accordance with established policies and procedures.
In cooperation with the Natural Resource Program Leader and/or Association Executive Director, jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan as a means to increase competencies relative to position accountabilities and to address changes in programming and association priorities.
Collaborate in activities that are in general support of Cornell Cooperative Extension including but not limited to attendance at staff meetings, timely reporting of expenses, working with other staff, general marketing of Extension programs and other duties as assigned.
Support the association to maintain a safe working environment.
Be familiar and strive to follow any applicable federal, state, local regulations, association health and safety policy/procedure/requirement and standard.
Act proactively to prevent accidents/injuries and communicate hazards to supervisors when identified.