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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:
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 protected under 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.