Program Specialist

Job Title: Program Specialist

Organization: SustainEd Farms, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Employment Type: Seasonal, part-time W-2 employee (non-exempt, hourly)

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Estimated Weekly Workload: Approximately 25 hours per week during the active season, based on program needs. Work schedules are coordinated with SustainEd Farms staff, school site availability, and program requirements.

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Season Dates: March 23, 2026 – November 13, 2026

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Pay Rate: $22.50–$24.50/hour, based on experience
English/Spanish bilingual candidates may receive an additional ~5% increase based on fluency and proficiency ($23.50–$25.50/hour)

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Location: Denver, CO

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Reports To: Programs Manager, with support from the Executive Director

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About SustainEd Farms: 
SustainEd Farms is a Denver 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses gardens as a way of teaching students about nutrition and environmental sustainability, while using the food produced to supplement communities that lack equitable access to fresh, healthy foods. We work with 50 Denver schools, grades pre-K through 12, supporting over 10,000 students. At these school gardens, we anticipate growing over 5,000 lbs of food this growing season, which will be distributed to school cafeterias, food banks, and no-cost farm stands. We are guided by our mission: Growing food. Growing knowledge. Growing justice.

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Position Overview:

SustainEd Farms is seeking engaging, enthusiastic, and committed Program Specialists to deliver hands-on garden-based education and maintain school garden sites throughout the growing season.

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For the 2026 season, this role is intentionally structured as a seasonal, part-time employee position, reflecting the level of training, coordination, and ongoing staff support provided. Program Specialists work collaboratively with SustainEd Farms staff, school partners, and community stakeholders to deliver high-quality programming in alignment with organizational goals.

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Essential Functions & Responsibilities: 

Program Specialists support SustainEd Farms’ mission by:

• Leading student-centered, hands-on sustainability and nutrition programming at school garden sites, aligned with SustainEd Farms’ educational goals and curriculum

• Maintaining assigned school garden sites throughout the growing season, including watering, weeding, planting, harvesting, and general upkeep

• Harvesting, packaging, and preparing produce for distribution to school cafeterias, food banks, and community partners

• Coordinating with SustainEd Farms staff regarding schedules, site needs, and program delivery

• Participating in required trainings, staff meetings, and check-ins

• Accurately tracking hours worked and completing brief monthly activity summaries

• Supporting additional program activities as assigned and aligned with organizational needs

A Day in the Life (Illustrative Examples): 

The examples below are intended to help candidates understand the nature of the work. Actual schedules and duties are determined by SustainEd Farms in coordination with school calendars, program needs, and seasonal priorities.

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• During the school year: You arrive at an elementary school in the morning to facilitate garden-based lessons with multiple classes. You co-lead activities such as planting, harvesting, or cooking demonstrations, adapting lessons for different grade levels. After programming concludes, you coordinate with SustainEd Farms staff about upcoming site needs and prepare materials for future sessions.

• During the summer: With no student programming in session, you focus on maintaining assigned gardens. You water, weed, trellis plants, seed beds, and harvest produce during cooler morning hours. You may interact with community members near school sites and share information about SustainEd Farms’ work and volunteer opportunities.

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Employment Classification:

This role is classified as a seasonal, part-time W-2 employee position. As a Program Specialist, you will:

• Be an employee of SustainEd Farms and paid through payroll, with applicable federal, state, and local taxes withheld

• Be covered by workers’ compensation and other legally required employee protections

• Receive training, curriculum resources, supervision, and ongoing support from SustainEd Farms staff

• Have work assignments, priorities, and schedules coordinated in partnership with school sites and program leadership

• Be required to accurately track and submit hours worked using SustainEd Farms’ timekeeping system

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This position is seasonal and part-time and does not include health insurance or retirement benefits. Paid sick time will be provided in accordance with Colorado law.

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Knowledge, Experience, & Preferred Qualifications:

We deeply value the diversity of insight, perspective, and lived experience brought by people from a wide range of backgrounds, including Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, LGBTQ+, gender non-conforming individuals, people with disabilities, and others historically underrepresented in environmental and food systems work. SustainEd Farms is an equal opportunity employer.

 

Preferred (but not required) qualifications include:

• Proficiency in Spanish (spoken and written)

• Experience in gardening, farming, or agriculture, particularly in Colorado

• Experience working with diverse K–12 student populations, especially in Denver

• Ability to lift moderately heavy items (e.g., watering cans, bags of compost)

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Required Qualifications: ​

• The ability to be outdoors, regardless of the weather, for extended periods of time

• A high school degree or GED

• The ability to pass a background check, as required by Denver Public Schools, for on-site access

• Reliable transportation and the ability to travel between school sites in Denver

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How to Apply:
Please submit a resume and cover letter explaining your connection to SustainEd Farms’ work and how your experience relates to the responsibilities of this position. Applications should be emailed to Executive Director, Matt Suprunowicz, at matt@sustainedfarms.org with the subject line: “Program Specialist 2026.”

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Next Steps & Anticipated Timeline:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis from January 16, 2026, through February 13, 2026.

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• Phone screenings are anticipated to begin the week of February 2nd.

• Final interviews are expected to begin the week of February 9th.

• The anticipated start date for this position is March 23rd, allowing the selected candidate to provide a full two weeks’ notice to their current employer and have time for personal transition.

• Please note that this timeline is subject to change based on application volume and scheduling availability.