Seasonal Program Assistant for the Alaska Harvest Collaborative

Position Overview: We are seeking an outgoing and motivated individual to join our team as a seasonal temporary Program Assistant for the Alaska Harvest Collaborative (AHC) program based at the UAF Georgeson Botanical Garden. The ideal candidate will be passionate about community engagement, urban agriculture education, and program development. This role offers the opportunity to actively collaborate with existing and potential partner organizations, tailor programming to meet the diverse needs of participants, and offer program support where needed.

About Us: The Alaska Harvest Collaborative (AHC) program is a group of local organizations with the vision of a food resilient Alaska and the common goals of increasing the number of people directly involved in food production, fostering community, and promoting robust food systems in Alaska.  The AHC is a hub for experiential learning and serves as an educational site for collaborating organizations and their participants. The AHC’s main operation center is the Experiential Learning Garden located at the Georgeson Botanical Garden on the UAF campus.

Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a liaison between all collaborators in the AHC.
• Community Engagement: Actively engage with the community, attract program participants, and identify shared resources to enhance program effectiveness. Co-create and send newsletters and social media posts about the AHC in addition to other outreach efforts.
• Program Development: Customize existing curriculum for site-specific applications to meet the diverse needs and interests of program participants and that align with goals and values of the AHC. Organize and document curriculum and activities used throughout the season so that they are accessible to future educators and mentors. 
• Evaluation and Monitoring: Assist in establishing protocols for evaluating and monitoring the progress and impact of the program. Assist in disseminating and collecting evaluations.
• Assist with documenting and ensuring that program requirements are met and collaborative agreements are fulfilled.

Qualifications:

• Degree or coursework in a relevant field (e.g., communications, education, community development) or equivalent work experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently.
• Passion for urban agriculture and community empowerment.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Proven work experience in community engagement, program development, urban agriculture or related field.
• Experience working with groups of school-age youth.
• Familiarity with volunteer management and engagement strategies.
• Experience creating e-newsletters and using social media as an outreach tool.
• Knowledge of best practices in experiential learning and informal education.

Pay: Depends on experience.

UAF is an AA/UAF is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination/