Cook Fresh Program Manager

About Us

Urban Roots is a Saint Paul organization whose mission is to cultivate and empower youth through nature, healthy food, and community. Urban Roots focuses its programs on the East Side of Saint Paul, MN and our vision is a world where all communities have unlimited access to nature and healthy food. We place the tools of personal and community development in the hands of young people and families.

Over the past 55 years, Urban Roots has provided a range of community development services in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and southern Minnesota, including architecture, urban planning, economic development, and organizational development—with a common thread of empowerment, engagement, and innovation. Since 1996, we’ve operated our food and environmental programs on the East Side of Saint Paul, engaging thousands of under-resourced youth ages 14-24 in education, training, and work projects that provide service to the community, develop young leaders, and improve health and the environment.

We offer three programs to engage and support youth in paid internships and educational opportunities— Market Garden, Cook Fresh, and Conservation.

The Cook Fresh Program Manager reports to the Executive Director to oversee the operations of the Cook Fresh Program. Urban Roots works towards creating more access to healthy, local produce and experiences in nature to our community.

This is an exempt, full time, year round position.

Pay starting at $50K/year, health benefits, optional retirement package with employer contribution, paid vacation, holiday and sick time.

• Create and manage opportunities for a year-round youth employment & internship program related to the Cook Fresh Program and other objectives in accordance with the Youth Development Framework.
• Plan, develop and propose program content and implementation with the Cook Fresh team in partnership with Conservation + Market Garden and implement programs as required.
• Ensure program activities and goals meet specified objectives as determined by the planning team and administration.
• Evaluate, maintain and report on detailed records for program-related activities and youth development content.
• Assist Executive Director in seeking out and applying for new grant funding sources for program operations.
• Facilitate and build partnerships with schools, community partners, and businesses to create outreach (Service Learning and volunteer) opportunities and action projects.
• Reflect on and revise programming, evaluation and reporting methods.
• Work in partnership with Conversation and Market Garden Programs to build organizational capacity.
• Select and attend workshops and events supporting job development with supervisor assistance.
• Work with external and internal stakeholders to operate the Mobile Demonstration Kitchen.
• Create a safe, accessible and healthy atmosphere for youth interns and staff to learn about kitchen operations and procedures.

• Assist with recruitment and interviewing of prospective youth interns, process intern application forms, attendance, and time sheets in coordination with administration, accounting, and workforce development partners.
• Recruit, train & manage college interns, school groups & volunteer groups to participate in hands-on program related work.
• Manage the summer and academic year programming, ensuring it is a successful and meaningful experience for interns in the program.
• Supervise Program Coordinators and Crew Lead staff to ensure they understand the organization and position and provide support and mentorship.
• Develop programming and curriculum that reflects the goals of the Cook Fresh Program and broader Common Outcomes of Urban Roots curriculum.

• 2-4 years experience working in food career pathways and/or youth development.
• Experience working with high school aged youth in a teaching capacity.
• Strong attention to detail, including outstanding written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate ideas and information, confidently, effectively and compellingly to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability…