Community Programs Manager

Description

Position: Community Programs Manager Status: Regular, Full-Time, Exempt Hours: Full-time; includes evenings, Sundays, Jewish holidays, and occasional Shabbat as required by programs Reports to: Director of Programs

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Community Programs Manager is responsible for leading Coastal Roots Farm’s Farm Camp and Jewish community programming portfolios, bringing both to life through engaging educational experiences, strong program management, and meaningful community connection. Rooted in the Farm’s mission and Jewish values, this role oversees the full program cycle - from strategy, curriculum development, and event planning through implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement- while managing the staff, budgets, logistics, and systems that support successful programs. The Manager supervises and develops year-round and seasonal staff, creates clear priorities and accountability, and works closely across departments to ensure programs are educationally rich, operationally strong, and aligned with organizational goals.

As a visible and trusted representative of the Farm, the Community Programs Manager also cultivates relationships with participants, families, synagogues, Jewish organizations, community partners, and other stakeholders. This individual embodies radical hospitality, brings Jewish thought, tradition, and ritual into programs with authenticity and care, and helps create inclusive experiences that deepen connection to land, community, sustainability, and Jewish life across generations.

ABOUT COASTAL ROOTS FARM

Coastal Roots Farm is a nonprofit community farm and education center guided by Jewish values. The Farm’s mission is to cultivate healthy, connected communities by integrating sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom.

The Farm’s impact initiatives include 1) regenerative agriculture, 2) equitable food access, 3) environmental education, and 4) Jewish life. We grow organic food in a climate-smart way, donate the majority our harvests with those who need it most, inspire youth to be the next generation of environmental stewards, and connect people of all backgrounds to Jewish holidays, values, and traditions through farming and food.

Coastal Roots Farm is located in Encinitas, CA on approximately 18 acres of land which we recognize as indigenous to the Kumeyaay and Luiseño peoples. Coastal Roots Farm was incubated by the Leichtag Foundation in 2014 and received 501(c)(3) public charity status in 2015.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Portfolio Leadership:

• Lead annual planning, priorities, calendars, goals, budgets, staffing plans, and evaluation for Farm Camp and Jewish community programs.
• Translate strategy into clear plans, systems, roles, timelines, and measures of success; use data and feedback to recommend program refinements and resource priorities.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day decision-maker for assigned programs, elevating major strategic, financial, staffing, or risk decisions to the Director of Programs as appropriate.
• Ensure educational content and experiences are inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to participants across diverse backgrounds, identities, levels of Jewish knowledge and practice, and physical and cognitive abilities.

Farm Camp:

• Lead seasonal and summer Farm Camps from program design through staffing, implementation, family communication, evaluation, and improvement.
• Ensure Camp is safe, inclusive, educationally rich, and grounded in the Farm's approach to environmental education, agriculture, Jewish values, and care for community.
• Embody radical hospitality and serve as an enthusiastic, engaging, and welcoming face for campers.

Jewish Community Programs:

• Lead Jewish community programs including agricultural festivals, holiday celebrations, Shabbat experiences, workshops, and collaborative offerings with community partners.
• Develop programs that authentically integrate Jewish wisdom, ritual, tradition, values, and the rhythms of the agricultural year with the Farm's land-based setting and mission.
• Facilitate hands-on learning experiences, modeling excellent teaching practices to engage youth, families, and community members.
• Cultivate relationships with synagogues, Jewish schools and preschools, clergy, educators, communal organizations, and other partners; represent the Farm in Jewish communal settings with warmth and credibility.

Staff Leadership & Operations:

• Directly supervise, coach, and develop year-round program staff, with oversight of seasonal staff and volunteers; establish clear expectations, accountability, and a strong team culture.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, and performance support for assigned programs in partnership with the Director of Programs and HR.
• Manage program budgets, logistics, registration, participant communications, supplies, safety, and administrative systems; coordinate closely across Farm departments.
• Track outcomes and contribute to impact reporting, grant deliverables, donor stewardship, and program storytelling with Philanthropy and Marketing.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required

• 4+ years of progressively responsible experience in community programming, Jewish education or communal life, camp leadership, experiential education, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing staff and managing programs that include budgets, staffing, logistics, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Experience in Jewish educational, camp, synagogue, communal, or community settings, with knowledge of Jewish holidays, traditions, values, ritual, or spirituality and an understanding of Jewish communal leadership.
• Experience designing and delivering engaging experiential programs for youth, adults, families, and/or multigenerational audiences.
• Strong relationship-building, facilitation, communication, and partnership skills, including comfort representing an organization with families, community partners, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Strong organizational judgment and ability to prioritize, make decisions, and remain solutions-oriented in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to inclusive community-building across diverse backgrounds, identities, abilities, and levels of Jewish literacy or practice.
• Ability to work evenings, Sundays, Jewish holidays, and occasional Shabbat for related programs
• Proficiency with standard office and web-based program tools.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in education, environmental studies, Jewish studies, nonprofit management, community development, or a related field.
• Familiarity with gardening, farming, food systems, sustainable agriculture, or land-based education.
• Experience with Jewish agricultural, outdoor, experiential, or earth-based programming; music, ritual leadership, or participatory communal facilitation is a plus.
• Experience with CampBrain or a comparable registration/program-management platform.

Compensation

$73,000-$75,000

Typical Working Conditions

The Community Programs Manager will work outdoors and occasionally in the office. There will be exposure to Southern California outside temperatures, chemicals used in the agricultural industry, and loud noises.

Essential Physical Tasks

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Continual walking, standing, climbing, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting and carrying 25lbs. Coastal Roots Farm is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to building an inclusive workforce. We welcome and strongly encourage people with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. All qualified candidates, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information will be considered for this position.