Greenhouse Program Assistant, Part-Time

JOB ID: 24000197

Milton Hershey School (MHS) is one of the world’s best pre-K through 12th grade private schools, where students from disadvantaged backgrounds are provided with a cost-free home and a top-notch education. Thanks to the generosity of Milton and Catherine Hershey in 1909, the school is fully endowed with the resources to ensure students thrive.  The school has prepared almost 12,000 graduates to lead fulfilling and productive lives and is expanding to serve more students. MHS boasts an amazing agricultural and environmental education program that is available to all students.   

MHS is seeking a part-time Program Assistant for the School’s Horticultural Center, greenhouses, and gardens.  In addition to providing all students enrolled with agricultural, horticultural and environmental experiences, students with interest in agriculture & environmental education can enrich those experiences by taking classes, participating in clubs and activities, and working in the School’s Agricultural and Environmental Education (AEE) Program.  Starting pay is in the range of $15.43 to $20.59/hour, pay is determined based on experience.  This is an on-site position located in Hershey, PA.

Responsibilities:

• Supporting the Instructional Advisors at the Horticultural Center to provide engaging, authentic, hands-on educational experiences in the horticultural center which includes greenhouses, hydroponics, and outdoor gardens.
• Facilitating educational and inspiring after-school clubs and other horticultural activities and programs.
• Supporting operational functions that ensure the greenhouses and gardens are healthy, well maintained, and annually productive with products students can plant, nurture, harvest, and sell.
• Utilizing greenhouse mechanical systems.
• Assist with greenhouse and outdoor garden management (cultivar selection, scheduling, crop management, harvesting).
• Assist with integrated pest management systems, as well as fungicide and pesticide applications.

Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED. Degree in horticulture or agriculture recommended.
• Demonstrated success in ensuring healthy and productive greenhouse crops and gardens. 
• Knowledge of greenhouse and gardening management is preferred.
• Knowledge of integrated pest management systems, as well as fungicide and pesticide application. PA Pesticide Applicators license a plus.
• Demonstrated success with hydroponics preferred.
• Demonstrated success in providing youth with engaging agricultural or horticultural educational programming.
• Experience with diverse Pre-K -12 grade students from lower income backgrounds a plus.
• Proficient with Microsoft applications, Google docs, and Internet, as well as the ability to effectively incorporate various technologies into educational experiences.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate, lead, educate, and inspire.
• Ability to work an average of 29 hours/week on a flexible schedule (including weekends as needed).
• Candidates should demonstrate a high degree of integrity, as all MHS staff are considered to be role models for MHS students.
• Candidates should be willing to actively engage with students beyond the scope of their job responsibilities.