MANDY’S FARM
AGRABILITY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
JOB DESCRIPTION: Program Assistant
Seasonal Position
POSITION DETAILS
Title: AgrAbility Program Assistant; Reports to: AgrAbility Coordinator
Starting Wage: $15/hr.
Benefits (medical, dental, vision insurance, retirement) available after 60 days.
Schedule: This is a seasonal position running June 2024 until December 2024, with opportunity for re-hire in February 2025 until November 2025.
The schedule for this position is Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM during the cool season (February, March, April, May, September, October, November) and 8:00 AM-2:00 PM during the warm season (June, July, August).
Program assistants will receive an exit interview at the conclusion of their position in November, assistants who are chosen to return in February will receive a wage increase in relation to their exit review.
Location: Program Assistants will provide support to apprentices either at the Lakeview farm site, at the Clark farm site, at the apprentice’s assigned community internship site in the Albuquerque area
DESCRIPTION
The AgrAbility Program Assistant supports individuals with wide ranging disabilities in achieving their career, educational, and financial goals related to farming and agriculture. The AgrAbility Program Assistant provides onsite support to clients completing an agricultural apprenticeship at Mandy’s Farm. The support may include physical assistance (assisting with mobility), verbal prompts, creation or modification of tools, transportation, or any other assistance the client needs to be successful. AgrAbility Program Assistants also support the AgrAbility Program Coordinator and Manager with completing needed fieldwork on-site at Lakeview or Clark farm sites. AgrAbility Program Assistants provide support to the AgrAbility Program Coordinator and Manager with implementation and facilitation of agricultural and workplace readiness curriculum. AgrAbility Program Assistants also provide skill-building training and support related to customer service skills, email etiquette, or agricultural industry specific knowledge.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Train clients on quality task completion, following apprenticeship rules, maintaining a clean and safe work environment, maintaining professionalism and boundaries, effectively communicating with fellow apprentices and supervisors, and other areas of growth as needed;
- Act out of respect for the living beings present on the farm, including crop plants, volunteer plants, insects, other invertebrates, and fellow people;
- Follow any codes of conduct as applicable to the AgrAbility Apprenticeship Program;
- Promote and encourage the independence of all clients through informed choice-making, the development of personal relationships, and the pursuit of other community connections;
- Take initiative to follow through on field work tasks, classroom support, and individualized provision of services for AgrAbility Apprentices
- Analyze how to maximize natural supports, building on the organization’s training and development programs to ensure that the client will have adequate on-going support;
- Maintain close contact and communication with both the apprentice and the Coordinator to resolve problems and continue to evaluate performance, learning, and production;
- Educate community members about supported employment, customized employment, adaptive agriculture, and disability awareness and rights;
- Stay abreast of current best practices in the fields of agriculture and disability;
- Ensure thorough and timely reporting, including daily progress notes, incident reports and clock-ins;
- Maintain a professional appearance and attitude at all times;
- Complete all required trainings as directed by the personnel policies, your direct supervisor, and the training coordinator;
- Attend client team meetings to report on progress;
- Maintain professional boundaries with apprentices; do not disclose personal information;
- Maintain regular and prompt attendance;
- Understand and follow principles of incident management;
- Wear appropriate personal work attire, namely close-toed shoes, hat, and long-sleeve shirt.
- Support with transportation of apprentices
- Must be able to lift twenty-five (25) pounds above the shoulders, fifty (50) pounds repeatedly, and support seventy to one hundred (70-100) pounds occasionally.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
Candidate must:
- Adopt the Mandy’s Farm mission statement and act in alignment with organizational values;
- Be able to safely, comfortably, and willingly work outside in a wide array of weather conditions, including full sun, temperatures above 95 degrees and below 40 degrees, high winds, and occasional rain or snow;
- Have reliable transportation to navigate between assigned locations
- Be highly motivated and able to self-manage;
- Be flexible;
- Enjoy learning;
- Enjoy working independently and as a team;
- Be solutions-focused and detail-oriented;
- Have strong communication skills;
- Demonstrate exemplary multi-tasking and time management skills;
- Be over the age of 21;
- Have completed their High School Diploma or equivalent; and
- Have a valid NM driver’s license and current car insurance;
- Have at least a year of agricultural or horticultural work experience;
- Have at least a year of work experience working with individuals with disabilities.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $15.00 per hour
Expected hours: 30 per week
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Albuquerque, NM 87105 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Albuquerque, NM 87105: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person