Volunteer & Garden Program Coordinator

Organization Overview

The Youth Garden Project (YGP) is a 501(c)3 garden-based education and community gardening nonprofit organization located in the heart of Moab, Utah. YGP’s main campus is located on 1.5-acres adjacent to our local high school. Our mission is to cultivate healthy children, families, and community through educational programs and connecting people with food from seed to table. YGP has operated garden-based programs in the beautiful red rock country of Southeastern Utah for over 29 years. YGP believes gardening makes learning fun for all ages, and connects individuals to their local food system, to their community, and to each other.

Position Overview

As the Youth Garden Project’s Volunteer & Garden Program Coordinator, you will be instrumental in connecting more individuals and households to nutritious food, building community around volunteerism and service learning, and contributing to a vibrant local food system. You’ll champion the ‘Moab Community Gardens’ (‘MoCom’) program, empowering low to moderate-income community members with irrigated plots to grow their own produce, and play an integral part in the development of a new community garden. In addition, you will be the point person for all volunteers at both the Youth Garden Project’s main 1.5 acre campus and our additional MoCom sites. Be a part of a mission-driven team that nurtures both the land and its people!

This is a part-time, seasonal position based on-site in Moab, Utah.

Successful candidates will demonstrate great communication skills, comfort in working outdoors in all types of weather (particularly extreme heat and sun exposure), excellence in self-directed work, skillful prioritization of tasks, creativity in problem-solving, experience or interest small-scale sustainable gardening, and a belief in YGP’s mission of cultivating healthy children, families, and community through educational programs and connecting people with food from seed to table.

Seasonal Dates: April 1, 2026 – October 14, 2026

Employment: Part-time seasonal (20-25 hours/week)

Starting Hourly Rate: $18-$20/hour DOE

Application Deadline: Priority deadline is February 1, 2026, after which we will review applications on an ongoing basis. This position will remain open until filled.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Moab Community Gardens (50%)

• In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Farm Programs Director, play a key role in spearheading the construction and development of a new community garden at Old City Park. Manage new and existing community garden applications and plot assignments.
• Develop orientation materials (and conduct orientations as needed) and schedule volunteer tasks.
• Collaborate with YGP farm team, community partners, and volunteers to maintain existing sites and identify / develop new opportunities.
• Manage an online communication platform for gardeners and volunteers.
• Maintain and update policies for program safety and effectiveness as needed.
• Establish maintenance schedules and infrastructure standards.

Volunteer Program (30%)

• Recruit and manage regular and one-time individual volunteers to support organizational goals at both our main campus and our community garden sites.
• Orient and lead service groups, incorporating service learning opportunities.
• Communicate with staff to assess needs for volunteer assistance.
• Conduct and/or arrange for volunteer orientations and training.
• Collaborate with farm crew to schedule and communicate with volunteers.
• Evaluate all aspects of volunteer programs to ensure effectiveness and to recommend/implement changes as appropriate, including regular check-ins with volunteers and end-of-season surveys.
• Maintain accurate records and provide timely statistical and activity reports on volunteer participation.
• Recruit and manage volunteers for programs/events such as Weed ‘n’ Feeds, Harvest Festival, etc.
• Implement volunteer recognition programs and retention strategies, in partnership with the Outreach & Development Coordinator.
• Organize and collect program metrics for grant funding purposes.

Farm & Community Garden Support (15%)

• Work alongside other farm team members or independently to complete farm tasks such as planting, cultivating, thinning, pruning, and other general field and crop maintenance at YGP’s main campus.
• Weeding and organic pest management across all sites.
• Drip irrigation set-up and maintenance across all sites.
• Compost production across all sites.
• General site maintenance (mulching, fence repair, etc.) across all sites.
• Create and maintain educational and instructional signage across all sites.

General YGP Responsibilities (5%)

• Assist with YGP community and fundraising events occasionally beyond normal work hours.
• Part of rotating YGP weekend chores schedule, approx. 1 weekend day per month.
• Support bi-weekly “Weed ‘n’ Feed” evening volunteer events as needed.

Please note that the duties and responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive, and the role and responsibilities may evolve to meet emergent needs over time. 

Other Requirements:

• Applicant must be at least 21 years of age by the target start date.
• The final candidate must submit to and clear a background check.
• Candidates must be able to receive a Utah food handlers license within the first week of employment. Will be paid for by the Youth Garden Project.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Experience in sustainable agriculture and small-scale farming, or the desire to learn.
• Ability to perform physical labor outdoors in all types of weather, especially heat and sun exposure.
• Experience working with or leading volunteers, and comfort speaking in front of large groups.
• Ability to problem solve and think creatively and proactively.
• Experience in project management, and excitement to be a part of a new community garden construction project.
• Clear communication skills and ability to interact positively with community partners, gardeners, program attendees, and site visitors.
• Existing knowledge of or ability to quickly learn new softwares including Google Suite and Mighty Networks.
• Working knowledge of sustainable agriculture, community food systems, outdoor education, and/or youth development preferred.

We encourage candidates to apply if they are excited about this role and believe they can contribute to our work, even if they do not meet all the listed qualifications. 

Benefits

• 20-25 hours per week, with flexible scheduling between 7am-4pm M-F (adapting to volunteer schedules as needed).
• 30 minutes of earned “Paid Volunteer Time” per pay period to support other local causes.

The Youth Garden Project provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.