Round the Bend Farm in South Dartmouth, MA is hiring an Education Assistant

Round the Bend Farm (RTB), a Center for Restorative Community, is located in South Dartmouth, MA and is a 115-acre working farm and educational non-profit. Our non-profit mission: We are a living laboratory that cultivates, educates, and empowers people of all ages. We are devoted to the global paradigm shift toward hope and abundance by valuing diversity, modeling nature, and redefining wealth. RTB is seeking a passionate and motivated individual to join our team as a full-time OR part-time Education Assistant. We are currently accepting applications until January 24, 2025.  Anticipated start date is in late March/early April 2025.

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Our Education Assistant position requires a highly motivated and energetic individual; someone who is passionate about RTB’s mission and local food systems.  It is expected that this employee will participate in the overall mission of RTB.  This employee will work under the direction of our Executive Director and Education Manager, supporting our education programs and initiatives and assisting with various groundskeeping tasks . This position will focus on learning the nuances of our diverse sustainable practices and applications, in order to be able to holistically and wholeheartedly understand and teach about the work we do. Tasks will include engaging farm visitors (including RTB volunteers) of all ages in service learning, experiential education, and a wide range of inquiry-based learning projects; hands-on gardening; food processing; and various sustainability initiatives.  Our Education Assistant may also participate in shared community cooking, food preservation, monthly Open Farm Days, our Manifest Love Food Truck, and occasional support of other farm projects & events as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS 

As an organization that strives to value diversity in all that we do (it’s even part of our mission!), we take extra care and place extra value in continuing to diversify our team. Candidate preferences include the following: 

• Teaching experience with a variety of ages- either in a classroom or alternative education environment- with requisite classroom management skills

• Groundskeeping experience to assist in general farm-landscape maintenance; experience with groundskeeping equipment preferred

• Ability to work outdoors for long hours in all weather conditions to facilitate educational experiences and to complete a variety of groundskeeping tasks

• Commitment to working in the scope of RTB’s mission (preference may be given to those who have an active interest in environmental and social justice issues pertaining to both local and global food systems) 

• Desire to respect & care for the health of soil, plants, animals and humans 

• Desire to participate in and build local, vibrant community 

• Persevering work ethic and ability to complete directed tasks in a timely, efficient fashion 

• Focused attention to detail and quality 

• Personal and professional maturity – mindful self-awareness, dependability, flexibility, and ability to execute instruction

• Attentiveness to communication, with the ability to accept direction, feedback and guidance, and ask questions when unclear 

• Comfort giving or relaying instructions to others (students, volunteers, teammates) when needed

• Ability to work both independently and in groups of diverse people 

• Open mind, open heart and an open palate… we will be eating well! 

• Experience in a communal living situation for those who may be interested in potential RTB housing (optional and not guaranteed) 

COMPENSATION 

• Annual wages starting at $32,760 (for 40 hours per week) or $20,475 (for 25 hours per week); with benefits, the Total Compensation Package range is approximately $54,000-68,000 for full-time or $30,000-$43,000 for part-time (with potential for optional housing for full- or part-time) 

• Benefits paid by RTB include the following (numbers listed are specific to Fiscal Year 2025):

  • Pension Plan: RTB contributes 10% of the employee’s gross salary, fully vested from the first day of employment (no probation period). This is a 403(b) plan which is equivalent to a 401(k) plan. In addition to RTB’s allocation, a teammate can opt to allocate additional funds from their paycheck. $3,276/fiscal year 2025 for full-time; $2,048/fiscal year 2025 for part-time 

  • Health & Dental insurance *90-day waiting period (Full-time only) Note: *RTB pays for 75% of the health & dental premiums for the first three years of employment; after 3 years of employment, RTB pays for 100% of the premiums. $7,850.79/fiscal year 2025 (full-time only)

• Life Insurance, Short-term & long-term disability *30-day waiting period (Full-time only) $420/fiscal year 2025

• Flexible spending account (Full-time & part-time) $60/fiscal year 2025 for full- or part-time 

• Fringe benefits: Health & Wellness (herbal apothecary, supplements, sauna, annual massage, occasional team celebrations), Food, and (optional) Lodging: $3,200-$17,000/year for full- or part-time (depending on housing)

• Thirteen paid holidays per year $1600/fiscal year 2025 for full-time; $1025/fiscal year 2025 for part-time

• Paid vacation & wellness days (80 vacation hours & 56 wellness hours for full-time) (50 vacation hours & 35 wellness hours for part-time) $2,140/fiscal year 2025 for full-time; $1,335/fiscal year 2025 for part-time)

• RTB may provide room & board. Housing may include a private place to sleep (in a tiny house) with access to our new bathhouse (including laundry facilities and a sauna) and shared access to our commercial kitchen and library spaces with internet access. Please note:  This job is not contingent upon living on the farm.  Additional responsibilities to contribute to the community are required if housing is available and an employee chooses to live on the farm.

• Weekday lunches crafted from delicious, vibrant, farm produce

• Hands-on learning environment focused on all aspects of sustainable living

• Buzzards Bay breezes, silky SouthCoast sunsets, and stargazing/moon views from goat rock

HOW TO APPLY 

Please complete the RTB Candidate Questionnaire (https://forms.gle/YPNQPa26nV72V2Y36) and send a letter of interest telling us about yourself and detailing your motivations and qualifications for this position, along with a brief resume and two professional references by JANUARY 24, 2025. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know. Also, please feel free to note in your application which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc). 

Please send materials via email (preferred) to heather@roundthebendfarm.org or via snail mail at: 

Round the Bend Farm (RTB) 

92 Allens Neck Road 

South Dartmouth, MA 02748 

Attn: Heather Zine

*ROUND THE BEND FARM (RTB) IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER*  RTB values a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. RTB is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.