Program Manager, Edible Schoolyard Kern County

Edible Schoolyard Kern County (ESYKC)

Program Manager

Reports to: Executive Director of Programs, Grimm Family Education Foundation

Position Summary:

The Program Manager is the instructional engine of Edible Schoolyard Kern County (ESYKC), responsible for the day-to-day development, coordination, and high-quality delivery of kitchen and garden programs across the full network-including Arvin, Shafter, Buena Vista, Laurel Dell, and all partner sites.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this hands-on leader ensures seamless scheduling, curriculum fidelity, educator support, and family engagement while maintaining strict alignment with ESYKC core principles, wellness policies, and Grimm Family Education Foundation standards. The Program Manager serves as the primary bridge between classroom teachers and ESYKC educators, fostering integrated, standards-based lessons that extend learning from garden and kitchen into academic classrooms.

Key accountabilities include managing secure curriculum distribution, leading on-site training and coaching, collecting and acting on program data, and building strong relationships with site staff and community partners. Regular travel (including multi-day trips and occasional air travel) is required to provide direct support, troubleshoot challenges, and launch new initiatives at partner locations.

This role combines curriculum expertise, instructional coaching, and operational precision to guarantee consistent, impactful programming that inspires students, empowers educators, and strengthens school communities countywide.

Duties and Responsibilities:

(Include but are not limited to)

Program Management

• Oversee scheduling of daily programming, workshops, and family engagement activities across the ESYKC network.
• Contribute to strategic planning, goal setting and KPI tracking for the ESYKC Network
• Ensure consistent instructional blueprints for kitchen and garden curricula.
• Ensure the collaboration between classroom teachers and ESYKC educators finding classroom connections to integrate between the two.
• Ensure instruction aligns with best practices and wellness policies.
• Develop and review instructional resources, including the ESYKC Handbook, Best Practices, Training Manuals, and other key documents.
• Manage the secure distribution system for kitchen and garden curricula.

Leadership

• Serve as Admin Designee in the Executive Director's absence
• Assist in the development and execution of volunteer, recruitment, onboarding and retention strategies
• Lead emergency protocols for weather events and kitchen and garden incidences
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Director of Operations, Finance, and HR on talent strategy and management.

Partner Locations

• Provide consultation and support for class scheduling and lesson delivery at all ESYKC partner sites.
• Travel to partner locations, which may include flying.
• Spend multiple days at a time outside the main office site to develop new programs.
• Maintain regular check-ins with partner locations.
• Build relationships with staff and local partners at partner sites.

Professional Development and Staff Training

• Create and implement a professional development plan for Kitchen and Garden Educators, summer hires, interns, and volunteers.
• Collaborate across the network to ensure programs align with ESYKC's core principles and educational goals.
• Lead regular training sessions and coaching opportunities to support staff growth and consistent instructional quality.
• Coach and mentor educators and community partners on curriculum delivery, instructional methods, and best practices.
• Oversee the catalog and management of training trajectories for all ESYKC staff and partner locations
• Design and deliver specialized trainings and workshops for external partner organizations, including (but not limited to) the Charlie Cart Project, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Farm to School initiatives, and regional school-district cohorts.
• Represent ESYKC as lead facilitator or co-facilitator at statewide and national partner events, conferences, and collaborative learning events focused on edible education, garden-based learning, and school food-system transformation.
• Coordinate logistics, content, and follow-up resources for multi-day trainings and train-the-trainer events hosted with or for partner organizations.

Assessment and Program Evaluation

• Support development and use of assessment tools to evaluate kitchen and garden program performance.
• Utilize assessment results to refine curriculum, improve lesson delivery, and enhance staff development.
• Ensure assessments align with ESYKC's guiding principles and support continuous improvement.
• Work with the research and assessment team to manage surveys and data collection.
• Create annual data dashboards and reporting materials for stakeholders.

Community Engagement and Representation

• Represent ESYKC at community events, public speaking engagements, and off-site functions, including tours and demonstrations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with school administrators, community partners, and stakeholders.
• Participate in school and community events such as Open House, Showcase Night, and others as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep knowledge of kitchen- and garden-based education, curriculum development, and program operations.
• Ability to travel for multiple days at a time.
• Experience producing and refining educational materials for varied audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and timelines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; comfort speaking to diverse groups.
• Experience coaching educators and delivering professional development.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and team collaboration.
• Ability to engage constructively with diverse communities and work effectively with various stakeholders.

Required Education and Experience

• Previous experience working with children, educators, and community organizations.
• Background in educator training and professional development.
• Bachelor's degree in liberal arts, curriculum development, or a related field.
• Administrative experience in an educational setting.
• Experience in curriculum development, education management, program management, outdoor education, and kitchen/garden-based education.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Ability to work in indoor and outdoor environments, including kitchens, gardens, and community settings.
• Capable of standing, sitting, or walking for extended periods and lifting light objects.
• Willingness to work in varying weather conditions, especially in outdoor gardens during summer months in 100+ degree heat.
• Must be able to manage tasks with frequent interruptions and collaborate in a team-based setting.
• Role includes planning, resource development, and administrative tasks.

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