Garden/Nutrition Group Leader

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been consistently ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

Posted Job Title

UACS PT Garden/Nutrition Group Leader

Job Profile Title

Temporary Employee - Non-Exempt

Job Description Summary

PT UACS Garden/Nutrition Educators work as part of the Netter Center UACS team to support nutrition and wellness programming. This place-based position will be rooted at a local K-12 Philadelphia public school. The position oversees the design and implementation of youth-centered, project-based, hands-on, outdoor and indoor garden education and nutrition activities. The position both helps coordinate and provide direct instruction at Netter Center after-school programs.

Job Description

Founded in 1992, the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships is the University's primary vehicle for advancing civic and community engagement at Penn. It brings together the resources and assets of both the University and the wider community to help solve universal problems such as poverty, health inequities, environmental sustainability, and inadequate, unequal education as they are manifested in the University's local geographic area of West Philadelphia and Philadelphia at large. The Netter Center develops and helps implement democratic, mutually transformative, place-based partnerships between Penn and West Philadelphia that advance research, teaching, learning, practice, and service and improve the quality of life on campus and in the community. The Netter Center works with and serves as a model for other higher education institutions across the United States and around the world.

The Netter Center’s university-assisted community schools (UACS) is a strategy to educate, engage, empower, and serve all members of the community in which the school is located and engage students (K-16+) in real world, community problem solving learning.  UACS collaborates with partners to advance teaching, research, learning and service, as well as the civic development of their students.

PT UACS Garden/Nutrition Educators work as part of the Netter Center UACS team to support nutrition and wellness programming. This place-based position will be rooted at a local K-12 Philadelphia public school.  The position oversees the design and implementation of youth-centered, project-based, hands-on, outdoor and indoor garden education and nutrition activities. The position both helps coordinate and provide direct instruction at Netter Center after-school programs. 

Primary responsibilities of this role include supervising K-12 students in safe and fun learning while maintaining a school garden and participating in cooking activities. This involves teambuilding, gardening and cooking, and reflection with K-12 students and Penn students during after-school. A component of the position will be to further implement and develop our University-assisted garden, nutrition and wellness education programming. The position works with staff and partners to implement University-Assisted Garden/Nutrition curricula that is most appropriate and effective for their audience.

This position will work closely with Penn ABCS courses and facilitate connections to faculty partners. This position also works with undergraduate fellows, work-study and volunteer Penn students.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: High school diploma required, college degree preferred in education, environment, or culinary fields

• Experience: minimum of 1 years work experience with elementary-aged children and/or high school youth development programming, minimum of 1 years work experience in a farm or garden setting

• Ability to be excited and actively and constructively engage youth in a variety of garden and cooking activities

• Comfortable working for multiple hours, outdoors, in a variety of weather conditions

• Completion and passing of funder-required compliance documentation and all Federal and State background checks/clearances. You may be required to renew your clearances, before beginning work. Clearances include:

  • PATCH – PA Criminal History Search 

  • PA Child Abuse Search 

  • FBI Criminal History Search (PA Dept. of Human Services)

  • National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR)

  • Mandated Reporter

  • Act 168 Completion

  • The University of Pennsylvania does not accept PATCH or PA Child Abuse documents issued by other organizations.  We can accept the FBI Criminal History Search, only if it was processed by the PA Dept.of Human Services 

• Experience with working in School District of Philadelphia, urban settings and diverse student populations

• Ability to be flexible and work on a team

• Excellent interpersonal, organization and communication skills

• Punctual and regular attendance 

Responsibilities:

• BE POSITIVE, PHYSICALLY ENGAGED, HIGH ENERGY AND FUN!!

• Engage K-12 students and University students in safe garden and nutrition activities

• Work collaboratively as a part of a team

• Use trauma-informed care practices

• Ensure that students are safe at all times. This includes reinforcement of safety precautions

• Plan and implement enrichment activities alongside other staff with students

• Attend all required Netter UACS staff training and meetings

• Take attendance, assist with student sign in/sign out process, and manage required paperwork as directed

• Support the delivery of academic instruction and curricula as assigned

• Play and engage with students in outdoor and indoor spaces during assigned times

• Assist with set-up and clean-up of materials, supplies and equipment including preparing and securing instructional spaces (classrooms etc.) 

• Supervise and direct students according to site-specific and UACS rules and guidance

• Be familiar with and strive to be in compliance with the Netter Center University-Assisted Community Schools Expectations and School Dist. Of Phila. Core Standards for Youth Programs

• Other duties as assigned

Schedule: 

• Varies - some average of 20 hours/week Monday - Friday  2:00 PM – 6:00 PM 

• There may be in-person and virtual orientation sessions in August and early September, as schedules allow

• The UACS academic year afterschool/OST enrichment programs typically run seasonally from Monday - Friday 9/9/2026 - 6/11/2027

  • Fall 2026 appointments will be issued from 8/31/26 - 12/24/2026

  • Spring 2027 appointments will be issued from 1/4/27 - 6/11/2027

  • Punctual and consistent attendance is required for this program.

  • Individual schedules may vary (ie: Hamilton Elementary staff must be available at 2PM; Paul Robeson HS program schedule is Monday through Thursday)

• There is typically no work on SDP school closure days, however staff training may be scheduled on such dates.

• Schedules are subject to change.

Compensation: 

• $18-22 per hour commensurate with experience

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$7.25 - $18.00 Hourly Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
A background check may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health and Life: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

Please note that benefit eligibility is determined/based on ACA guidelines.