Position description: Under the direction of the Burlington County Agricultural Agent, the Master Gardener (MG) Coordinator develops and manages the MG program within Burlington County. There are currently 125 active adult volunteers within the MG program trained to serve Burlington County. The ability to supervise and lead adult MG volunteers is critical. In addition, the ability to plan programmatic outreach for the next five years is core, as well as developing communication and organizational structures capable of coordinating and outreaching to geographically dispersed volunteers across Burlington County.
Job Duties: Provide organizational structure to volunteers in the development and delivery of educational outreach goals. Oversee attainment of goals through introductory and advanced training programs to (1) increase the organizational strength and structure of the volunteer group, (2) provide opportunities for increasing the horticultural knowledge base for the local county volunteers, (3) develop knowledge base goals appropriate to our unique environmental and climatic region. Ensure that the MG Helpline is adequately staffed during Helpline operating hours. In the absence of volunteer helpline staffing coordinator will be responsible for Helpline coverage. Responsible for addressing general public horticultural questions outside of volunteer helpline hours. Work with the County Agricultural Agent to define needed outreach goals and topics. Provide ongoing, day-to-day supervision to approximately 30 recently trained volunteer Master Gardeners. Develop core objectives and goals for the program which align with the NJAES RCE Master Gardener Mission.
Design forms, ensure volunteer compliance with the Burlington County Master Gardener Policy and Administrative Handbook and maintain confidential records in a secure setting. Ensure that the Burlington County MG program operates within the established procedural guidelines and policies of both NJAES RCE and Burlington County. Review all Burlington County Master Gardener Project proposals to insure alliance with RCE educational mission. Connect with county and state-wide organizations and associations to extend and procure RCE research-based horticulture outreach. Establish written guidelines and procedures which govern verbal and written methodologies for provision of outreach. Represent the Burlington County Master Gardener Program as appropriate at Burlington County and NJAES RCE department, working group and committee meetings. Prepare and assist with overall production of a Burlington County Master Gardener landscape horticulture newsletter distributed to County Master Gardeners and the general public. Initiate a weekly e-mail for distribution to Burlington County Master Gardeners providing scheduling and event updates. Oversee Burlington County Master Gardener web-page content and timeliness as outreach to the county Master Gardeners. Perform other related duties as assigned.
Job Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture, Forestry, Botany, Agriculture, Biological Sciences, or Agronomy and one (1) year of experience in Horticulture (including focus on Botany or Landscape Architecture). Experience writing and editing outreach text. Working knowledge of office procedures, including database development and management, clerical procedures and basic bookkeeping using Microsoft Excel or equivalent computer program. Familiarity with text processing (such as Microsoft Word), and production of outreach materials using computer software equivalent to PowerPoint and Access. Proven experience managing and training adult volunteers, including insuring procedural adherence, overseeing community outreach programming, and designing educational outreach programming.
Email resume to: Mary Pat Robbie, Director of Resource Conservation at mrobbie@co.burlington.nj.us