Campus Farm Management Fellow - University of Michigan Campus Farm

Click here to apply!

Who We Are:

The Campus Farm serves the University of Michigan community and beyond as a living learning lab for food systems work by providing high-impact teaching and learning opportunities in sustainable food production with an emphasis on student leadership development, on-farm carbon neutrality, food access, and justice, all centered around food grown by students for students. As part of Matthaei Botanical Gardens, the Campus Farm situates food production in the context of positioning humans as participants in the natural world and encourages those we engage to be active participants in the efforts towards a more resilient and just food system, and community rooted in biocultural diversity and climate forward practices.

Job Summary:

The Farm Management Fellow position is designed to give one dynamic and driven individual the opportunity to continue the development of their knowledge and farm management skills in the context of a production and educational farm. Duties include: crop planning and establishment; ecological/organic soil, cover crop and fertility management; transplant production; crop irrigation and weed management; operation of tractor and other farm equipment; organic pest and disease management; harvest and post harvest handling, assisting with program management, educational tours, and the facilitation of farm work by student farmers with an emphasis on creating an empowering, authentic and high impact learning environment. Skills honed and developed would be applicable to many professional contexts including coordination and management of educational farms or farm-based programs in the non-profit sector and management positions on private farms. The Farm Management Fellow will report to/communicate with both Campus Farm Program Managers. The position is 8-9 months long, starting in April/May and ending in mid December. This position is onsite 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday with occasional weekend and evening responsibilities.

Job Responsibilities:

With Campus Farm Program Managers, help oversee the daily operations of the UM Campus Farm serving as an accessible point person and resource for student farmers including: student staff, summer interns, Campus Farm Club (CFC) shift and workday participants, practicum students, tour groups, etc.
Provide technical assistance and hands-on guidance/instruction/training to student farmers; interact with students in a manner that respects and cultivates their agency in our student-run campus farm
Work alongside students to lead by example, setting the pace to maintain a highly efficient, and educational work environment that focuses on doing tasks quickly and well, while affording time for thinking and learning
Support student management in various aspects of farm operations
Work independently or as part of a team to complete farm work including, soil preparation, planting, weeding, watering, pest management, harvest, post harvest handling, sales and deliveries
Regularly use equipment such as tractor, BCS and attachments to help facilitate or accomplish farm work
Host tours, classes and work groups in collaboration with Program Managers and student staff

Work in a multitude of conditions and tolerate the physical challenges of a farm and greenhouse work environment
Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field or 2+ years of experience in farming or 1+ year in farm management
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and execute tasks, while maintaining clear communication with team members on progress, next steps, and necessary follow up
Experience organizing and leading groups of people to accomplish tasks
Willingness to set a quick and efficient work pace for yourself and students
Willingness and enthusiasm to take on new tasks/challenges
Show up excited to engage in the work
Excellent collaboration skills
Commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive work environment
A State of Michigan Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License OR willingness to obtain one within 60 days of starting is required (MBGNA provides study materials and covers certification expenses)
Regularly move and safely transport transplant media, soil amendments, and produce bins weighing up to 40 pounds
A valid Driver's License and motor vehicle record (MVR) check is required

Additional Information:

Compensation: $18.50 per hour

This temporary position may meet eligibility requirements for health care benefits. For more information, please see the eligibility section for temporary employees here.

University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) stewards over 840 acres of land and water across four properties in and around Ann Arbor, with Nichols Arboretum and Matthaei Botanical Gardens serving as its two anchor locations. Click here to view our Strategic Plan. With more than 500,000 annual visitors, MBGNA is committed to becoming a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the lands and waters we steward. We put that commitment into action by:

Positioning humans as active participants within the natural world and compelling the university community and our publics to negotiate the full complexity that entails
Advancing partnerships, programs, user experience, and all that we steward to catalyze equity and justice in a radically changing world
Emerging as University of Michigan’s premier partner for research, teaching, and public impact in sustainability, climate-forward practices, and biocultural diversity
Promoting healthier communities, cultures, and ecosystems through active care and cultivation of the gardens, fields, natural habitats, and dynamic systems that sustain our world

For more information about Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, please visit mbgna.umich.edu

Application Deadline:

Job openings are posted for at least seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled at any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.

Click here to apply! Please feel free to reach out to Campus Farm Program Manager, Haley Kerner ([log in to unmask]) with questions about the position.

U-M EEO/AA Statement:

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.