The Urban Farm is currently hiring a horticulture manager.

Job Description: Horticulture Manager

The Urban Farm (TUF) strives to provide the opportunity for urban youth to engage and participate in local food and agricultural systems by removing the barriers to entry such as land access, time, location and finances. TUF delivers experiential programs in animal husbandry, organic gardening, environmental education, land conservation, and food security that provide practical and behavioral life skills for youth and young adults. Our aspiration is to foster compassion and resilience in people and inspire them to build sustainable, healthy, and equitable communities.

Position Summary

Reporting to TUF’s Executive Director and working collaboratively with the TUF team, the, Horticulture Manager is responsible for the planning, management and oversight of TUF’s horticultural operations and team which include produce production on a ~1 acre market garden, oversight of the community garden, a demonstration hydroponic greenhouse, Freight Farm hydroponic shipping container, pollinator & perennial gardens throughout the property, well as the educational programming and horticultural based events. This position ensures that the farm is producing as well as educating and engaging members of the community about gardening, agriculture, food access, and sustainability. The Horticulture Manager will play a key role in leading the operations of our horticultural programs as well as achieving the organization’s mission.

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in related field (2-3 years of relevant experience may be substituted for education)

  • A minimum of 4 years of experience farming for commercial markets

  • A minimum of 2 years of greenhouse management experience

  • Farm management experience or 2 years of supervisory/program management

    work in a related field

  • Experience managing and training staff, student workers and volunteers

  • Demonstrated experience with curriculum development, program administration

    and delivery

  • Demonstrated knowledge of organic farming practices including crop rotation, cover cropping, composting, IPM, season extension, and soil fertility/health management

  • Experience with hydroponics, “container farms”, and/or various agricultural technology applications

  • Experience tracking, reporting, and meeting production targets and revenue projections

  • Demonstrated experience leading small scale construction and landscaping projects

  • Ability to safely operate tractors and other farm equipment (i.e. manure spreader, disk, etc)

  • Comfortable working with databases or farm-planning software, POS retail/ inventory management software, and proficient in Google Drive and Microsoft Office.

  • Strong communication/people skills; ability to build relationships aligned with TUF’s mission

  • Valid US driver’s license and clean (insurable) driving record

  • Demonstrated commitment to communities of color, Latinx, immigrant, refugee,

    historically marginalized, and asylum-seeking populations

    Preferred Skills

  • Livestock, pasture, and regenerative management experience

  • Bilingual in English and Spanish

    Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities

  • Plan, perform and manage seed-to-harvest work using soil-based and hydroponic systems, year-round including the planting, cultivation, harvesting and distribution of produce

  • Lead 3-5 seasonal horticultural employees and assist in the hiring, training and management of employees

  • Supervise and contribute to hands-on lessons on gardens, nutrition, food sources, environmental science, cooking, and sustainability with students K-12, in classroom, afterschool, field trip, and summer camp settings

  • Create, maintain and deliver curriculum for farm apprentices and vocational programs, this includes youth that are system involved through TUF’s partnership with Denver Juvenile Youth Services

  • Collaborate with local stakeholders and partners to advocate for local farmers, sustainable local food system, and food access, TUF currently donates over 10K per year to partner organizations for distributuion

  • Facilitate local food distribution of produce through on-site sales, donations, CSAs, and restaurant sales as determined in annual strategic planning, informed by clients, stakeholders, and community.

  • Ensure tools and facilities are maintained, cleaned, and organized and hold team members, volunteers and program participants to the same level of accountability

  • Regularly monitor and inspect horticultural areas for health and productivity, and

    apply nutrients, pesticides, fungicides, or manual removal as necessary (TUF uses

    organic methods whenever possible, but is not certified organic).

  • Contribute to the implementation of TUF’s master site plan by providing expertise

    on landscaping, soil remediation, pasture management, and native plantings.

  • Coordinate and facilitate farm to table dinners, annual plant sale, horticulture

    based workshops, and horticultural volunteer days

  • Maintain and enforce food safety, work safety, and good agricultural practices for

    produce operations

  • Conduct detailed record keeping, invoicing and budget management for

    horticulture operations.

  • Contribute to grant applications and grant reporting as relevant.

  • Other duties as assigned.

    Work Environment

    This position will require a mix of office work (including options to work from home) and

outdoor physical labor. Hours will be variable, some weekends and evenings required based on special events and programming. Applicants must be able to lift 50 lbs, stand and/or sit for long periods of time, and work outdoors in variable weather conditions.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position requiring 40 hours per week. Starting salary will be dependent on experience and qualifications; however, the target salary range for this position is $65,000 - 70,000.

  • Paid health insurance (for base plan), generous vacation, sick and holiday pay.

  • 401k

  • Fresh produce stipend.

    To Apply

    Send a cover letter, resume, and three professional/academic references to Paige Heydon, Executive Director at paige@theurbanfarm.org. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until November 3rd, 2025. Please use the subject line “Horticulture Manager_Application”.