Nursery Assistant Manager

Title: Nursery Assistant Manager, Freedom FarmsReports To: Nursery Manager, Freedom FarmsPosition Type: Part-time, hourly, non-exempt employee; paid 300-hour apprenticeship with the JVS apprenticeship programCompensation: $28-$30/hour apprenticeship; permanent placement $30-$32/hour, based on experience and demonstrated competencies Start Date: November 9, 2026

This position is offered through the JVS apprenticeship program, with the potential for consideration for permanent employment with Partnership for Growth LA/Freedom Farms Collective upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, based on organizational needs and available opportunities.

Mission:

Partnership for Growth LA (PFGLA) is a community development corporation with a mission to catalyze generational community wellness and cooperative development among South and West Los Angeles through effective and replicable systems of addressing food insecurity and economic development. Our Freedom Farms Program is dedicated to strengthening the local food economy by supporting urban farmers, increasing food access, and ensuring that fresh, high-quality produce reaches our communities.

Position Summary:

Help further grow a nursery where healthy plants create pathways to meaningful work, resilient Los Angeles neighborhoods, and a thriving local food economy. The Nursery Assistant Manager supports daily nursery operations and sales, coordinating plant production, irrigation, inventory, and plant health while mentoring workforce trainees, interns, and volunteers.

Working under the Nursery Manager, this hands-on leader connects sustainable horticulture with community economics—helping turn locally grown plants into income, practical skills, and opportunities for Los Angeles neighborhood growers and emerging entrepreneurs. Through farmers markets, plant distributions, and community partnerships, the position supports Freedom Farms’ role as a food hub with a connected network of gardens, farms, and local enterprises that expand food access and keep resources circulating within the community.

The apprenticeship emphasizes mastery of Freedom Farms’ operating systems and progressively greater responsibility for nursery coordination, team leadership, and enterprise development.

Key Responsibilities

Nursery Production and Inventory Management

• Coordinate the propagation calendar and weekly production schedules for edible starts, herbs, California natives, and assigned microgreens, aligning crop readiness with sales, distributions, and partner needs.
• Lead seeding, seed treatments, vegetative propagation, transplanting, up-potting, thinning, pruning, and hardening off; maintain consistent plant quality and production standards.
• Manage growing media preparation, fertility, plant spacing, labeling, and bench organization to optimize plant development and nursery capacity.
• Maintain accurate propagation and inventory records, including germination, crop losses, stock movement, and saleable quantities; recommend production and purchasing adjustments based on demand, seasonality, and costs.

Plant Health and Nursery Facilities

• Monitor crop health, moisture, ventilation, and growing conditions; adjust irrigation schedules to plant requirements and seasonal conditions.
• Implement integrated pest management and phytosanitary best management practices, including routine scouting, sanitation, isolation of suspect plants, and documentation of corrective actions.
• Inspect and troubleshoot irrigation systems, including timers, drip lines, emitters, valves, and fittings; complete routine repairs and escalate larger maintenance needs.
• Maintain hoop houses, shade structures, tools, growing supplies, and work areas; coordinate preventive maintenance and safe daily opening, closing, and watering coverage.

Team Supervision and Workforce Training

• Coordinate daily assignments and workflow for trainees, apprentices, interns, and volunteers; demonstrate procedures and verify work quality, productivity, and safety.
• Provide culturally responsive, accessible instruction in nursery production, irrigation, inventory management, customer service, and workplace readiness.
• Support Nursery Manager–developed lessons and progressively build participants’ technical skills, confidence, and leadership.
• Maintain attendance, training hours, and competency records; communicate progress, performance concerns, and incidents to the Nursery Manager.

Plant Sales and Community Engagement

• Help curate plant selection, grading, pricing, labeling, merchandising, and order fulfillment for farmers markets, online sales, and community distributions.
• Lead one to two weekly markets in West and South LA as assigned within the approved schedule, including team coordination, setup, customer service, POS transactions, and inventory reconciliation.
• Serve as a program ambassador, sharing practical plant care guidance and engaging residents, growers, community partners, and food hub collaborators.
• Support established partnerships by coordinating plant requests, distribution logistics, and educational activities with the Nursery Manager.

Enterprise Support and Reporting

• Use production, sales, crop loss, and material cost data to recommend inventory levels, pricing, and purchases within approved budgets.
• Support selected enterprise pilots—such as seed sales, herb products, microgreens, or garden services—through basic costing, work plans, and results tracking.
• Provide concise weekly updates on production, plant health, maintenance, sales, and trainee progress; maintain organized records for reporting and nursery inspections.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Associates degree in plant science, horticulture, agriculture, or closely related field, OR a completed certificate in horticulture, nursery production, irrigation, or closely related field.
• At least one year of paid or equivalent nursery experience including propagation, plant care, production scheduling, and inventory practices.
• Working knowledge of propagation, container production, plant identification, growing media, fertility, pest and disease recognition, and nursery sanitation.
• Practical experience maintaining and repairing drip irrigation and adjusting watering schedules.
• Experience mentoring youth or young adults and directing work assignments for staff, trainees, or volunteers.
• Experience supporting business or social enterprise planning and development, such as production costing, sales goals, inventory analysis, product planning, or small business pilot.
• Ability to organize daily work independently, follow through on records, give constructive feedback, and communicate concerns promptly; ability to use spreadsheets, email, digital inventory, and POS tools.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and communication skills.
• Ability to perform essential job duties involving standing, walking, bending, kneeling, reaching, and handling plants and nursery materials, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation and with appropriate equipment or assistance when necessary.
• Ability to work outdoors and in nursery environments with exposure to varying temperatures, sunlight, moisture, and other seasonal conditions, subject to applicable safety protections.
• Ability to follow workplace safety procedures and use appropriate protective equipment.
• Availability to work scheduled shifts, including weekends when required.
• Reliable transportation to assigned work locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Two years of paid or equivalent nursery experience including propagation, plant care, production scheduling, and inventory practices.
• Experience propagating California natives, including seed pretreatment, and producing edible crops or microgreens.
• Background in workforce development, community agriculture, food hubs, or community partnerships.
• Familiarity with Squarespace, online order fulfillment, and sustainable nursery practices.

To Apply:

Please submit your resume and a short cover letter detailing your interest and relevant experience to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Pay: $26.18 - $31.53 per hour

Work Location: In person