Group Leader

Harlem Grown Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Harlem Grown provides youth and community development programs focused on urban farming, wellness, and sustainability through equity and justice. The Group Leader supports DYCD COMPASS after-school and summer programs by assisting Activity Specialists to help run food, farm, STEM, cooking, wellness, arts, and enrichment activities for youth.

Group Leaders help create a safe, inclusive environment with positive behavior management, homework assistance, youth engagement, and daily classroom

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 18 years or older.
• Minimum 2 years of experience teaching, coaching, or facilitating programs with children under age 13.
• Must have content knowledge, experience, and skills to implement activities.
• Ability to engage and motivate youth across grades K-5.
• Strong classroom management and communication skills.
• Ability to bend, kneel, and lift up to 50 lbs of supplies.
• Energetic, reliable, and team-oriented; able to work independently.
• Commitment to Harlem Grown's mission.
• Meet OCFS background check requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead student pick-up from local Public Schools to Harlem Grown after-school site.
• Assist with prep and delivery of activities that prepare youth for academic success (e.g.: Homework Help).
• Maintain child safety and classroom management.
• Provide active supervision during all program activities for youth safety and engagement.
• Maintain the area environment to support youth development outcomes.
• Assist in facilitating STEM activities rooted in food, farming, sustainability, nutrition, wellness, cooking, and environmental education.
• Collaborate with Activity Specialists and Program Management to ensure well-organized, inclusive activities.
• Build strong relationships with youth and families; contribute to a supportive space.
• Follow positive behavior management and Harlem Grown values.
• Participate in training and professional development sessions.

Skills

Youth engagement

Classroom management

Communication skills

Teamwork

Motivation of youth

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Harlem Grown is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability and nutrition. We operate local urban farms, increase access to and knowledge of healthy food for Harlem residents, and provide farm-based development programs to Harlem youth.

Founded in 2011 by Tony Hillery with one school partnership, one urban farm and an idea to help Harlem children, today Harlem Grown's farms and greenhouses are used as classrooms and as venues to cultivate a connection to the environment and food among young people. Harlem Grown operates 14 urban agricultural sites featuring soil-based urban farms, hydroponic greenhouses, and a mushroom chamber.All of our sites are located between 122 nd and 152 nd Streets in Central Harlem, Manhattan.

Our Programs

Harlem Grown cultivates deep community roots by growing fresh food, strong youth, and lasting relationships. We meet children where they live, learn, and grow—offering opportunities that extend beyond our farms to the classroom and into their futures. Through Food and Farm Education, we help youth build healthy habits, leadership skills, and a deeper connection to their community. Our urban farms provide free produce and nutritious meals for families while creating joyful spaces for connection and support. Through 14 urban farms and year-round programming, we provide free produce, nutritious meals, and cooking lessons while creating joyful spaces for connection and support. In addition, our programs increase economic opportunity for families and develop leadership and advocacy skills so participants can drive transformational change in their communities.

At Harlem Grown, we grow healthy children and communities through hands-on education, access to resources, and long-term youth support. Our Food and Farm Education -including summer camp, in-school and after-school programs, mobile education, service learning, and farm tours-delivers farm-based lessons to children in our community. We offer free community resources like farmstands, Saturdays on the farm, and events that provide fresh food and create spaces for support and connection. Through academic support, internships, and career readiness programs, we help our young people build confidence and skills to thrive from elementary school through adulthood.

Type: Part-time | Hourly Location: Various community center/school locations available in Harlem Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 2pm-6pm; Occasional Saturdays | Wednesday: 1pm-6pm

About The Opportunity

Harlem Grown provides youth and community development programs focused on urban farming, wellness, and sustainability through the lens of racial justice, food justice, social justice, and equity. Our youth-focused programs include intensive school partnerships, educational farm tours, a summer camp, a Saturday enrichment program, and a DYCD COMPASS afterschool program.

Position Overview

The Group Leader supports Harlem Grown's DYCD COMPASS after school and summer programs by under the guidance of Activity Specialists to support the facilitation of food, farm, STEM, cooking, wellness, arts, and enrichment activities for youth. Group Leaders help create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment through positive behavior management, homework assistance, youth engagement, and day to day classroom support while helping maintain program expectations, safety procedures, and DYCD and DOH compliance standards. Additional responsibilities include assisting with administrative tasks, snack distribution, attendance tracking, and leading student pick up from partner school sites and safely transporting participants to Harlem Grown program locations.

Responsibilities

Program Delivery & Youth Engagement

• Lead student pick-up from local Public Schools to Harlem Grown after-school site
• Assist with prep and delivery of activities that prepare youth for academic success. (i.e.: Homework Help)
• Maintain child safety and classroom management
• Provide active supervision of participants during all program activities, transitions, meals, field trips, and dismissal to ensure youth safety and engagement.
• Maintain the area environment that facilitates the achievement of youth development outcomes.
• Assist in facilitating engaging standards-aligned STEM activities rooted in food, farming, sustainability, nutrition, wellness, cooking, and environmental education.
• Collaborate with Activity Specialists and Program Management to ensure activities are well-organized, inclusive, developmentallyappropriate, and aligned with program goals.
• Build strong relationships with youth and their families and contribute to a supportive program space
• Follow and model a positive behavior management approach that promotes guidance,reinforces Harlem Grown's values, and supports a respectful, nurturing environment.
• Participate in training and professional development sessions.

Program Implementation

• Assistwith preparation, setup, and cleanup for daily programming.
• Maintaina safe, structured, and engaging program environment by adhering to Harlem Grown's internal protocols, DYCD requirements, and all relevant health and safety guidelines.
• Maintainaccuratedaily attendance records for all participants, ensuringtimelyentry, tracking, and follow up
• Participate in staff meetings, training, and program events.
• Represent Harlem Grown at community events, school visits, or farm-based learning experiences.
• Support data collection, reflection, and continuous improvement efforts as directed by program leadership.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• 18 years or older
• Minimum 2 years of experience teaching, coaching, orfacilitatingprograms with children under age 13 years.
• Necessary content knowledge, experience, and skills to effectively implement activities as required
• Ability to engage and motivate youth across grades K-5.
• Strong classroom management and communication skills.
• Ability to bend, kneel, andlift upto 50lbs of gardening and programming supplies
• Energetic, reliable, and team-oriented; able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Commitment to Harlem Grown's mission.
• MeetOCFSbackground check requirements.

Preferred

• Strong connection to Harlem or similar urban communities.
• Associate's degree in education, youth development, social work, orrelatedfield.
• Familiarity with DYCD COMPASS program standards and OCFS SACC regulations.
• Experience integrating sustainability, urban farming, or nutrition education into instruction.