Status: Regular, Full-time, Non-exempt

Position summary: The Vocational Coach role is part of our for Growing Teens for Life vocational and workforce development program. The person in this position provides hands-on instruction, supervision, and mentorship to Interns, helping them develop practical job skills and workplace readiness in preparation for employment following residential placement. This role collaborates closely with the 50 East Garden Center and Cafe leadership team and residential treatment teams to deliver meaningful, skill-based work experiences across café, storefront, and greenhouse operations. The Vocational Coach ensures that daily tasks support both business needs and individualized learning goals, while fostering a Christ-centered environment that promotes personal growth, responsibility, and positive relationships. The position also supports operational functions, customer service, and community engagement while maintaining a safe, structured, and supportive learning environment for Interns.

Qualifications:

• A Christian with strong convictions who is also in agreement with Josiah White’s mission statement, Statement of Faith, and Code of Conduct. 

• Must be 21 years of age or older.

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required. 

• Prior experience working with youth in a mentorship capacity is required.

• Previous experience in horticulture or aeroponic farming is preferred.

Essential job functions:

• Experiential Learning and Skill Development: Facilitate hands-on training in a greenhouse setting while teaching Interns about aeroponic towers, as well as employability and soft skills aligned with individualized learning goals.

• Intern Supervision and Mentorship: Supervise Interns in daily work activities, provide coaching in social, interpersonal, and life skills, and support mentoring relationships in coordination with the treatment team.

• Collaboration and Program Integration: Work closely with leadership and treatment teams to align work assignments with therapeutic goals and certification opportunities.

• Crisis Intervention and Safety Management: Address behavioral concerns, manage conflict, administer basic first aid, and implement approved MindSet intervention techniques to maintain a safe environment.

• Greenhouse and Agricultural Operations: Maintain aeroponic tower systems, including seeding, pH balancing, harvesting, cleaning, pest control, and overall greenhouse upkeep.

• Operational Support and Customer Service: Perform daily 50 East business operations in the cafe and storefront as needed, ensure excellent customer service, manage transactions and inventory, prepare daily reports, and maintain a clean, organized environment.

• Faith-Based Engagement and Community Representation: Promote a Christ-centered environment through spiritual programming support and serve as a positive liaison within the organization and the broader community.

Work Schedule:  This position requires, on average, 40 hours per week. Normal hours for the 50 East Garden Center and Cafe are Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 5 pm. Work hours will fall within this timeframe. Vocational Coaches may be required to work a rotating schedule on Saturdays. Depending on project cycles, events, and workflow demands, additional hours, weekend hours, or workday schedule changes may be required. 

Physical Demands & Work Environment: The employee in this role will work in multiple environments including a greenhouse, cafe, and retail storefront. The role involves a combination of indoor and outdoor work, with exposure to varying temperatures, humidity, and weather conditions, particularly in greenhouse operations. The employee must be able to stand and walk for extended periods, lift, carry, push, or pull supplies, inventory, or equipment up to 50 pounds, bend, stoop, kneel, reach and twist frequently, successfully complete Mindset, our crisis and de-escalation curriculum, and CPR/First Aid training, which requires the ability to get on the floor, on knees, and back up. 

Principles of Teaching Family Model will be incorporated into the culture. We are committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals–staff, children, and families–are treated with compassion, respect, and dignity. Our ministry seeks to serve each child and family with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and grace.