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Job Description
Description
The Community Gardens Coordinator is responsible for managing the City’s Community Garden program, which currently includes five gardens. This role oversees all aspects of the program, including site maintenance and upkeep, providing direction to garden liaisons, managing license agreements, and conducting orientations for new gardeners. The role also oversees invoicing and payment collection for over 400 gardeners and garden plots through the City’s Civic Rec program, maintains and manages waitlists for each garden, and ensures compliance with garden rules and guidelines.
In addition to garden management, this position works in coordination with the staff liaison to support the Parks and Recreation Commission. Responsibilities include preparing monthly agendas and associated documents, responding to public emails directed to the Commission, coordinating communications with Commission members, and attending and facilitating monthly evening Commission meetings. This role also manages and administers the Zoom account for Commission meetings, ensures proper records retention, and updates and maintains the Commission webpage.
The Coordinator also supports the Division of Open Space, Parks, and Golf within the Community Services Department by preparing purchase orders, requisitions, blanket orders, payment requests, managing and editing webpages, planning, scheduling, and preparing for meetings, and other written materials. Additional financial responsibilities include preparing invoices for Division customers, processing payment deposits, handling invoice payments to Division vendors, monitoring budget accounts.
Under general supervision, this position coordinates and leads community leisure services programs or special events and may direct personnel involved in these programs.
To learn more about the Community Service Garden and its impact, click here
Schedule: Hybrid/Flexible with required 3 days in office. Monthly night meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission.
This position is represented by Service Employee International Union position (SEIU)
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:- Leads and directs leisure activities or special events in specific and defined program areas.
- Plans community services programs by analyzing demand and researching trends, demographics and needs of programs participants in order to evaluate current programs and plan strategically for the future; prepares justification for recommended programs.
- Coordinate plan, organize and supervise fee classes; prepare instructional materials.
- Plan and implements marketing plan / activities; prepare market promotions, including preparation of brochures, flyers, posters, news releases, and other marketing devices and promotional materials. Instructs support staff, volunteers and participants in the fundamental knowledge required to participate in the preparation and production of Recreation or Community programs.
- Prepares contracts and job descriptions, recruits, interviews, evaluates, and supervises support staff, volunteers and contracts.
- Orders supplies and equipment and coordinates delivery; schedules facilities; coordinates program activities and promotes good inter-group relations.
- Ensure assigned building(s), facilities and equipment are operational and free of serious health and safety hazards; coordinates maintenance and security; inspects for cleanliness, vandalism and maintenance problems; may open and secure facilities.
- Serves as advisor to organized clubs, youth groups, and volunteer groups; explains City policies and procedures; assists in coordinating activities by arranging for and scheduling facilities, finding resources and providing guidance.
- Assists with the development and preparation of annual budget recommendations within the area of assigned responsibility and within assigned Division.
- Prepares revenue and expense projections and budget reports.
- Prepares purchase orders and payment requests and other written materials.
- As assigned, will serve as liaison to community groups and organizations, neighborhood councils, parents, school officials regarding activities within their assigned program areas.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:
For recreation and community positions:
College degree in recreation, liberal arts or a related field, public administration, or equivalent experience.
Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
Supplemental Information
The Selection Process:- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
- Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time after the posting closes.
Interview Process:- First Round of Interviews: Tentatively scheduled for the week of March 24th
- Final Round of Interviews with Hiring Manager: Will take place one week following first round of interviews
Please note that these dates are subject to change. Selected candidates will be notified with specific details.
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have technical difficulties while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. For general inquiries please contact our Recruitment Team at recruit@cityofpaloalto.org or 650-329-2376.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
For more details visit our Careers Page, by clicking HERE.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 3/12/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show morePalo Alto is located about 35 miles south of San Francisco; and 14 miles north of San Jose. Palo Alto, known as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley” and global center of technology and innovation, is the corporate headquarters for many world-class companies and research facilities such as VMWare, Hewlett-Packard, IDEO, Tesla, and Skype. Home to Stanford University and a top-ranked public school system, Palo Alto also features beautiful and historic residential neighborhoods, vibrant shopping and retail districts.
Palo Alto has a highly educated and culturally sophisticated citizenry that is actively engaged in making a difference both locally and globally. Unique among city organizations, Palo Alto operates a full-array of services including its own gas, electric, water, sewer, refuse and storm drainage provided at very competitive rates for its customers.
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. Many world-class businesses maintained or started offices here, including Amazon, Tesla, Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Rivian, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, SAP Ariba, Houzz, Varian Medical Systems, and VMware. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the startup capital of the world.
Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community’s dedication to life-long learning. Stanford’s cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City’s exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation.
Home to picturesque tree-lined streets, bike lanes, and historic buildings that reflect its California heritage, Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy with premium shopping and dining options. Excellent health care facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are just some of this incredibly desirable community’s cherished amenities.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government.
We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
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