Jardin, Cocina y Mercado Food Coordinator

At Bowie High School

El Paso, Texas



Position: Food Coordinator
Number of Hours: Full-time, Hourly, Nonexempt
Employment Period: October 2014 July 31, 2016

La Semilla Food Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization established in 2010, the result of
community garden, youth development, and food system education efforts in southern
New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Owing to these efforts, La Semilla is the only nonprofit
organization solely devoted to fostering a healthy Paso del Norte region food system.
Since our inception we have taught thousands of elementary and middle school students
how to grow and cook fresh food while establishing a 14 acre education and demonstration
farm in Anthony, New Mexico. We are committed to building strong relationships that
empower youth and families to grow and cook good food, create positive change, and
foster connections between food, health, and local economies.
The Food Coordinator will oversee Bowie garden development and expansion, integrate
school garden-based activities into the classroom, assist with culinary program and
cooking activities, and coordinate post-harvest marketing activities. The Coordinator is
responsible for developing Bowie as a model Edible Education program site, coordinating
with students, faculty, and clubs to assist with activities, and promoting the Bowie garden
in the community.
Position Responsibility
This position is based out of Bowie High School in El Paso, Texas and employed by La
Semilla Food Center. The Food Coordinator reports directly to the Farm to School
Director at La Semilla.

Scope of Work
This position is created at Bowie High School to directly support the Bowie Jardin,
Cocina y Mercado Programs. The Food Coordinator works with the principal, students,
program coordinators, teachers, staff, academic experts, UTEP/Loya Center, parents, and
community volunteers to:

Manage school garden development and expansion. This includes all aspects of food
production from building soil fertility to post-harvest handling. Specifically, the Food
Coordinator will help compost, water, plant, maintain, harvest, document and utilize the
Jardin at Bowie. The Coordinator will collaborate to organize garden, nutrition and
cooking activities that support the development of La Semilla Food Centers Edible
Education program at Bowie and to expand knowledge of food and nutrition for all Bowie
students and community, such as parents and grandparents. The Coordinator will also
support planning for Phase Two of the Jardin at Bowie. This includes helping to procure
additional funds, supplies, and other necessary resources.

Assist with cooking and culinary activities and programs. Coordinate with the Chef at
the Bowie School of Culinary Arts regarding the growing and delivery of produce to the
Bowie kitchen with knowledge and strict adherence to applicable federal, state and local
laws and regulation. Coordinate with the Chef to lead family cooking nights where
surrounding community members are invited to cook nutritious meals. Organize food
tastings for students to try foods prepared directly from the garden. The Food Coordinator
will research applicable food safety and handling rules and regulations, assist the Culinary
Arts program in integrating garden produce into activities, and provide ongoing support for
Cocina activities.

Help coordinate market activities. Coordinate with the Bowie International Business
Academy Coordinator to and implement the marketing of garden produce and foods
through the Academy. This includes helping to integrate marketing activities into the
classroom and curriculum, developing an understanding of related rules and regulations,
and coordinating with restaurants and local markets to develop market opportunities for
Bowie products.

The Food Coordinator will facilitate activities in the following three areas:

A. The Jardin at Bowie

Work with master gardeners, educators, parents, children, academics and community
members to assist with maintaining and expanding the garden; 2) facilitate extracurricular
student gardening and cooking clubs; 3) help teachers incorporate garden-based education
into classroom activities that meet education benchmarks and standards; 4) work to increase
garden production, using more produce in classroom cooking and tasting activities; 5)
provide general garden maintenance including tending to irrigation lines, pests, and other
gardening challenges; 6) organize volunteer workdays at the school garden site and assist
with Master Gardener training sessions; 7) monitor water use, document and prepare Annual
Water Report to the PSB for Water Grant; 8) Support Phase Two Planning activities; and 9)
provide limited guidance to other schools interested in school garden development and
expansion.

B. The School of Culinary Arts at Bowie

Coordinate culinary and nutrition workshops, including family cooking events, and
cooking and tasting activities in-class and after school; 2) assist with cafeteria fresh
produce tastings; 3) work to grow, deliver and use fresh food in the school kitchen per
applicable laws and regulations; 4) work with culinary school students to educate them
on gardening and food production, specifically seasonality and production cycles; and 5)
identify and assist chef with grant ideas and submissions.

C. Edible Education Development at Bowie

Assist with the development of a school garden listserv and volunteer base at Bowie High
School; 2) participate in public outreach events to promote the Bowie initiative and La
Semilla; and 3) act as a resource center for potential new school based gardens in the Central
El Paso area.

Responsibilities also include:
Integrating Edible Education program goals and education objectives into
classroom activities and the school community.
Fostering relationships with teachers, parents, and community volunteers
to ensure garden program sustainability.
Administering program evaluation. Track and document all program data.
Contributing to La Semillas and Bowie High School social media venues, including
Facebook, Twitter, the websites school garden blog, and school newsletters.
Understanding and communicating the complexity of the globalized food
system and the challenges and benefits of developing a local food system to
enhance healthy communities.
Understanding applicable laws and regulations for food to table initiatives in Texas.

Required Qualifications
At least two years of program development or teaching experience.
Demonstrated experience in gardening, market development, resource
development and educational programming strongly preferred.
Bachelors Degree in a related field is strongly preferred.
Self-motivated with strong interpersonal skills.
Commitment to working collaboratively with a wide range of partners and under
limited supervision.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Detail-oriented and well organized.
Hard working and dependable with the ability to manage multiple projects, set
priorities and meet deadlines.
Interest or past experience working in the areas of local food systems, health,
nutrition and sustainable agriculture.

Salary & Benefits
Compensation for this position is based on qualifications and experience. La Semilla offers
excellent health benefits, paid time off, and a lively, creative work environment.

To Apply
Please email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references as one PDF
file to rebecca@lasemillafoodcenter.org by September 30, 2014. The position is open until
filled; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

La Semilla Food Center is an equal opportunity employer.