Compensation: $58,425 annual salary ($59,450 for Spanish bilingual) 24 days of accrued paid time-off in the first year, up to 12 days of accrued medical time-off and 13 paid holidays. Life Lab pays 100% of health plan premiums for employees and their eligible dependents, up to $1,300 per month, with medical, dental and vision coverage. In addition, Life Lab makes a monthly contribution equal to 5% of your salary into a tax-advantaged 403(b) retirement plan.

*This is a 40 hour per week position with responsibilities varying seasonally. Contract and funding is secured through June 2024 with a possibility of extension into the 2024-2025 school year.

Responsibilities

• Lead Next Generation Science in the Garden, cooking and nutrition lessons for 12-16 classes per week throughout the school year. See the PVUSD school calendar here.
• Plan and lead hour-long enrichment classes for PVUSD Expanded Learning After School program for students TK-6, depending on school site, and lead 4 weeks of programming during Summer School.
• Manage and co-maintain the physical garden classroom spaces at your own site with Garden Sites Leader and Life Lab Gardeners.
• Build strong relationships within your school communities through community outreach at school and family events, participating in Back to School nights and Open House, and hosting community workdays in the garden classrooms.
• Collaborate with Life Lab’s Training & Curriculum Specialist and Garden Instructor team to create shared curriculum materials and lesson plans.
• Participate in regular individual check-ins with your Program Leader and monthly Life Lab Instructor team meetings.
• Participate in regular Life Lab all-staff meetings and staff-wide JEDIS (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Solidarity) meetings.
• Gather and share photos, quotes and assessment data from your programs with Life Lab to help understand their impacts, refine programs, and share stories with the community.    

Required Qualifications

• Experience teaching and working with elementary-age students, especially in public school settings.
• Strong communication skills in Spanish.
• A love of collaborating with diverse audiences, colleagues, teachers and students.
• Associates degree or bachelor’s degree from an accredited community college or university.
• An appreciation for working in the outdoors and a basic knowledge of gardening.
• Able to commit to work the remaining 2023-24 PVUSD academic school year and summer school (through mid-July 2024)
• A passion for Life Lab’s mission to cultivate children’s love of learning, healthy food and nature through garden-based education.  
• A personal commitment to equity and inclusion so that all cultures and identities are respected and celebrated in our work.
• Experience prioritizing and problem solving in a dynamic daily program environment, both independently and in collaboration with others.
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt to a dynamic partnership program with the District that is still evolving.
• Ability to get to and from Watsonville, CA, and PVUSD school site(s) on time each day.
• Ability to work legally in the U.S.
• Pass criminal background check and a national check in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Registry.
• Test negative for tuberculosis.

Desired Qualifications/Characteristics

• Bilingual in Spanish and English. Mixteco and Zapotec is also helpful.
• Bicultural understanding of the Watsonville community and its children’s experiences.
• Experience in the communities of the Pajaro Valley, or a similar rural farmworker community.
• Willingness to learn and practice Positive Discipline in working with children.
• Proficiency in Microsoft and Google suites.

Application Process:

Please send a cover letter and resumé to jobs@lifelab.org. Applications are welcome until the positions are filled.  

Life Lab is committed to a policy of non-discrimination as an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment candidates and employees will be considered and managed without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other basis in accordance with applicable law.