POSITION SUMMARY:

Leads and participates in the Gardens Department of the Therapeutic Work Program providing year-round meaningful work for people with mental illness and substance abuse challenges. Oversight of all aspects of the Greenhouse, Garden, People’s Kitchen, Farmer’s Market, and Sewing Room work.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Lead, coordinate, and participate in the Gardens Department of the Therapeutic Work Program providing year-round meaningful work for people with mental illness and substance abuse challenges.

· Supervise and build relationships with crew leaders and residents to accomplish Garden and Work Program goals, involving them in all aspects of gardening, kitchen and winter work, and helping them to participate productively in the Gardens Work Program.

· Collaborate with SLR clinicians and Program Director on treatment planning specific to work program.

· Plan, coordinate and implement the garden program from seed starting to planting to cultivation to harvest; manage the garden as well as the green house and high tunnel growing spaces.

· Supervise the Gardens Crew Assistant and oversee their management of the People’s Kitchen and overall work with Gardens Crew and the Therapeutic Work Program,

· In conjunction with the Gardens Crew Assistant, work with the cooks to supply garden to table produce.

· Work with holiday committees to coordinate and decorate for seasonal events; work with the kitchen to organize the annual Harvest Dinner celebration.

· Plan, implement, and train crew members on creative winter work in the sewing room including but not limited to weaving, sewing, and wool dyeing.

· Oversee the Farmers Market; work with a Program Coordinator to manage the market, including developing goods for sale, scheduling residents and staff to work at the market, and ensuring that the market is a positive interface between Spring Lake Ranch and the wider community.

· Work with the Program Director to create and monitor Gardens-related budgets.

· Maintain regular communication and collaborate with Program Director and other Work Program area leaders regarding Ranch and Work Program needs and to prioritize projects.

· Assist other areas of the Work Program in special and seasonal projects (e.g. cider-pressing, ice-cutting, etc.). Must be able to become a “lead boiler” and cover the sugar house.

· Monitor and enforce Gardens and Kitchen safety guidelines and make recommendations for changes to the Program Director.

· Communicate concerns and observations to resident’s teams; participate in monthly team meetings; with other Gardens crew staff, submit weekly progress reports on the residents on Gardens crew.

· Participate in Friday night outings rotation.

· Participate in Holiday Committee (planning & coverage) rotation.

· Attend daily morning meeting, weekly Work Program meeting, and staff meetings.

· Attend trainings and other staff development opportunities as requested.

· Serve as a mentor for up to 2 residents at any given time. Attend monthly team meetings.

· Other responsibilities as requested.

· Find ways to contribute to the sense of community at Spring Lake Ranch.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Knowledge and experience with all aspects of gardening.

· Have aptitude for canning, cooking, weaving, and sewing.

· Ability and patience to teach others Gardens skills including gardening, cooking, and creative projects.

· Belief and interest in the philosophy and mission of Spring Lake Ranch.

· Willingness/commitment to participate in and foster the therapeutic community milieu.

· Strong creative problem solving, leadership, and supervisory skills.

· Experience in organizing groups of people to accomplish specific and separate tasks.

· Ability to give constructive feedback.

· Ability to create appropriate challenges for each individual participating in Gardens crew.

· Ability to motivate and inspire others to complete projects.

· Ability to set appropriate boundaries.

· Effective collaborative, interpersonal, organizational and conflict resolution skills.

· Flexibility, patience, reliability, sense of humor in the face of changing circumstances.

· Ability to complete physical work consisting of moderate (20-50 lbs.) lifting, carrying, etc. This position consists of a combination of sitting, bending, standing, kneeling, and walking. Work is both indoor and outdoor during all seasons.

· Valid driver’s license and good driving record.

BENEFITS:

· Monday-Friday regular schedule (with after hours and weekend responsibilities).

· Health, dental and vision insurance.

· Short and long-term disability insurance; premiums paid 100% by Spring Lake Ranch after the first year.

· Life insurance; premium paid 100% by Spring Lake Ranch after the first year.

· Paid time off.

· Employer contributions to a retirement plan after six months.

· Employee Assistance Program.

Responsibilities

Lead, coordinate, and participate in the Gardens Department of the Therapeutic Work Program providing year-round meaningful work for people with mental illness and substance abuse challenges.

· Supervise and build relationships with crew leaders and residents to accomplish Garden and Work Program goals, involving them in all aspects of gardening, kitchen and winter work, and helping them to participate productively in the Gardens Work Program.

· Collaborate with SLR clinicians and Program Director on treatment planning specific to work program.

· Plan, coordinate and implement the garden program from seed starting to planting to cultivation to harvest; manage the garden as well as the green house and high tunnel growing spaces.

· Supervise the Gardens Crew Assistant and oversee their management of the People’s Kitchen and overall work with Gardens Crew and the Therapeutic Work Program,

· In conjunction with the Gardens Crew Assistant, work with the cooks to supply garden to table produce.

· Work with holiday committees to coordinate and decorate for seasonal events; work with the kitchen to organize the annual Harvest Dinner celebration.

· Plan, implement, and train crew members on creative winter work in the sewing room including but not limited to weaving, sewing, and wool dyeing.

· Oversee the Farmers Market; work with a Program Coordinator to manage the market, including developing goods for sale, scheduling residents and staff to work at the market, and ensuring that the market is a positive interface between Spring Lake Ranch and the wider community.

· Work with the Program Director to create and monitor Gardens-related budgets.

· Maintain regular communication and collaborate with Program Director and other Work Program area leaders regarding Ranch and Work Program needs and to prioritize projects.

· Assist other areas of the Work Program in special and seasonal projects (e.g. cider-pressing, ice-cutting, etc.). Must be able to become a “lead boiler” and cover the sugar house.

· Monitor and enforce Gardens and Kitchen safety guidelines and make recommendations for changes to the Program Director.

· Communicate concerns and observations to resident’s teams; participate in monthly team meetings; with other Gardens crew staff, submit weekly progress reports on the residents on Gardens crew.

· Participate in Friday night outings rotation.

· Participate in Holiday Committee (planning & coverage) rotation.

· Attend daily morning meeting, weekly Work Program meeting, and staff meetings.

· Attend trainings and other staff development opportunities as requested.

· Serve as a mentor for up to 2 residents at any given time. Attend monthly team meetings.

· Other responsibilities as requested.

· Find ways to contribute to the sense of community at Spring Lake Ranch.

Qualifications

Knowledge and experience with all aspects of gardening.

· Have aptitude for canning, cooking, weaving, and sewing.

· Ability and patience to teach others Gardens skills including gardening, cooking, and creative projects.

· Belief and interest in the philosophy and mission of Spring Lake Ranch.

· Willingness/commitment to participate in and foster the therapeutic community milieu.

· Strong creative problem solving, leadership, and supervisory skills.

· Experience in organizing groups of people to accomplish specific and separate tasks.

· Ability to give constructive feedback.

· Ability to create appropriate challenges for each individual participating in Gardens crew.

· Ability to motivate and inspire others to complete projects.

· Ability to set appropriate boundaries.

· Effective collaborative, interpersonal, organizational and conflict resolution skills.

· Flexibility, patience, reliability, sense of humor in the face of changing circumstances.

· Ability to complete physical work consisting of moderate (20-50 lbs.) lifting, carrying, etc. This position consists of a combination of sitting, bending, standing, kneeling, and walking. Work is both indoor and outdoor during all seasons.

· Valid driver’s license and good driving record.

Benefits

Vision, 401(k), Dental, Medical, Life Insurance

About Spring Lake Ranch

Spring Lake Ranch was founded in 1932, a non-profit residential program serves adults 18+ with a variety of mental health and addiction struggles. Central to our focus is the idea of healing through shared, meaningful work. Each day, residents and staff in small groups participate in all the work involved in keeping a community of nearly 70 people going. There are four crews which engage in five hours of work each day. Our Farm Crew takes care of our cows, sheep, chickens, goats, and pigs, and runs the haying operation every summer. Gardens Crew tends our vegetable gardens, lends a hand in the kitchen, oversees our year-round farmers market booth, and does most of the holiday preparation. The Woods Crew busies itself in our 700 acres of forest – felling, limbing, splitting, and hauling the wood needed to heat our buildings and run our substantial maple sugaring operation. On the Shop Crew, residents build and repair furniture, fix tools, and keep our engines running. Other projects include sewing, weaving, cleaning, painting, landscaping, and all kinds of other work required to keep the Ranch running through all seasons.

In addition to the therapeutic work program, we have a strong clinical presence. Residents meet with masters’ level and/or licensed clinicians on a weekly basis for individual therapy, attend group sessions, and receive medication management from our nursing staff and psychiatrist. While we are mental health primary, we do have a wide range of recovery supports including AA/NA, SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery, and individual recovery coaching.