YOUTH PROGRAMS INSTRUCTOR: MH & BK

Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) is building a food-secure future through school-based, youth-led hydroponic farming, providing local, sustainably-grown produce to food desert communities, and building health, education, and opportunity equity. TFFJ trains students in Title I elementary, middle, and high schools to maintain indoor hydroponic farms through hands-on farm education in STEM, health, and culinary school day classes, as well as food justice and nutrition-focused afterschool programming.

About the role

Partner with TFFJ to build an equitable, sustainable, and healthy food system throughout New York City through school- and community-based, youth-led hydroponic farming! This is a part-time role intended for the duration of the 2026-27 school year, supporting hands-on food justice, hydroponics, urban agriculture, culinary, and youth leadership programming across TFFJ partner sites in Manhattan and the Bronx.

Responsibilities

• Lead and co-lead hands-on activities related to hydroponics, food justice, urban agriculture, sustainability, nutrition, cooking, STEM, and youth leadership.
• Facilitate prepared TFFJ lessons, workshops, afterschool club sessions, and community-based youth programs, adapting when required to meet the needs and engagement levels of participating youth.
• Support students and educators in making connections between food, farming, health, the environment, community, and equity.
• Help create activities and learning experiences that are accessible, participatory, and responsive to students’ varied learning styles and prior knowledge.
• Build positive, respectful, and appropriate relationships with youth participants, informed by Positive Youth Development principles.
• Use clear expectations, positive behavior management, and restorative approaches to support participation, with support from the Senior Program Manager.
• Actively supervise youth during activities, transitions, and program routines following TFFJ and partner-site policies.
• Create a program environment where all young people and partner staff feel welcome, capable, and excited to participate.
• Support inclusive participation for students across age levels, learning styles, language, and comfort levels with hands-on learning and food and farm experiences.
• Prepare, organize, transport, set up, and clean up program materials, always returning partner sites to their original state.
• Support basic data collection, participation and engagement notes, and program feedback using TFFJ’s Airtable-based data collection systems.
• Communicate effectively and consistently with the Senior Program Manager about supply needs, facilitation and implementation challenges, and program quality.
• Follow all TFFJ and partner-site protocols for youth safety, materials, food handling, and space use.
• Support program documentation and reflection so that TFFJ can continuously improve program quality.
• Collaborate with TFFJ program staff, school-based staff, district partner Farmer-Educators, and community partners.
• Participate in onboarding, training, supervisory meetings, and periodic team meetings.
• Support occasional school and community events.
• Represent TFFJ professionally and positively when working with students, educators, families, school staff, and community partners.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience working with youth in an educational, afterschool, camp, community-based, or enrichment setting.
• Strong youth engagement and group facilitation skills.
• Strong interest in working with youth and educators in a fast-paced, hands-on learning environment.
• Ability to create a warm, structured, inclusive, consistent, and energetic learning environment.
• Reliable, organized, communicative, and comfortable working in dynamic program settings.
• Ability to travel and consistently arrive on time to partner sites across NYC.
• Proficient in Google Drive and able to learn and manage data tracking software; comfortable using a Windows PC for email, data entry, and calendars.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to complete required food safety and youth safety trainings along with other compliance tasks.

Qualifications

• Experience working with a range of youth, from elementary to high school.
• Experience with food education, gardening, hydroponics, cooking, environmental education, STEM, and/or youth leadership programming.
• Familiarity with restorative practices, positive youth development, culturally responsive education, and/or trauma-informed practices.
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Commitment to social justice.
• Connection to or experience working in NYC public schools or NYC community-based settings.

Pay

Hourly, $20/hr