Garden Specialist - Instructor - St. Joseph's Villa

Under the direction and guidance of the Program Lead of Operations, this position assists participants from St. Joseph’s Villa’s Educational Services programs to acquire skills necessary to prepare for, or obtain employment, or continue to post-secondary training/education.  

The Garden Transition Specialist (Instructor) oversees the Villa Garden training activities offered through Career and Transition Services at St. Joseph’s Villa and actively participates with the team to facilitate garden training activities for our participants.  

Specific responsibilities include developing the garden planting schedule that the team will utilize for training activities. Additionally, the Garden Transition Specialist will plan, train and assist our participants in cultivating organic vegetables, herbs, flowers, and perennials in our garden location, soil cultivation, weeding, pruning, watering, mulching, composting, cover cropping, harvesting, managing farm tools and engaging with onsite Villa participants.  

The Garden Transition Specialist is also responsible for facilitating all garden training activities and serves as an instructor, advisor, and career mentor to participants in CATS. Responsibilities also include continual curriculum development and improvement and facilitated growth of relationships with the local horticulture industry and completion of monthly documentation of activity and student progress, or additional documentation as needed. This position also plans and organizes many of the volunteer projects that are to be held in the garden space. 

All work is performed safely, effectively, to the highest ethical standards, and in accordance with regulatory and accrediting standards and St. Joseph’s Villa’s mission, values and guiding principles. 

Assesment—

• Assesses students using various assessment tools, including MECA assessment software.
• Generates situational assessment data.
• Identifies students’ assistive technology needs.
• Evaluates students’ abilities and interests through aptitude assessments and interviews.

Goal-setting—

• Uses aptitude and achievement assessments to help clients evaluate their interests, skills and abilities.
• Evaluates clients’ background, education and training to help them develop realistic goals.
• Guides clients through making decisions about their careers, such as choosing a profession or the type of degree to select and assists clients in applying for educational programs to obtain the necessary degrees, credentials or skills.

Training—

• Teaches clients job search skills, such as interviewing and networking.
• Teaches clients how to write resumes, locate job openings and apply for jobs.
• Assists in career readiness experiences for clients, including college tours, field trips, guest speakers and other career related activities.
• Works with students to develop skills such as organization, time management, and effective study habits.
• Matches and assists students with available training positions on or off-campus (where applicable)

Workplace Supports—

• Advises clients on how to resolve problems in the workplace, such as conflicts with managers or coworkers.
• Provides clients with one-on-one or group training on assigned tasks and assists them in building proficiency and independence.

Documentation & Reporting—

• Maintains evaluation data.
• Completes necessary monthly and quarterly reports.
• Provides assessment documentation of training progress and transition goals.
• Completes assessment reports of participants involved in training.

Other—

• Participates actively in CATS team meetings, IEP/ISP meetings and other service meetings as appropriate and necessary.
• Attends scheduled training programs for professional development that include, at a minimum, trainings required by St. Joseph’s Villa and regulatory and accrediting bodies.
• Able to support and supervise individual or small groups with or without additional service personnel.

BS/BA degree with three years related experience. Proficient with Windows, Outlook, internet research, and MS Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). Excellent verbal and written communication skills, proficiency with mathematical concepts including basic statistical methodologies. Valid VA driver’s license with excellent driving record.