Time Commitment: In-person; part-time; approximately 25 hours/week

Start Date: October 1, 2026

Compensation: $25/hr

This is an 11-month, grant-funded independent contractor position with the potential for extension, funding permitting. Benefits are not provided.

About Acres4Change:

Acres4Change (A4C) is a Baltimore-based nonprofit that equips underserved BIPOC farmers with the tools, skills, and resources to achieve collective land ownership and build sustainable farming enterprises through our flagship Stewardship Program and Charm City Caps Mushroom Farm.

Charm City Caps (CCC), our mushroom micro-farm at Green Street Academy, produces specialty mushrooms, grow kits, and value-added mushroom products and provides hands-on mushroom education to the community.

What We Seek:

A4C is seeking a reliable, hands-on Charm City Caps Farm Lead to manage the day-to-day operations of our mushroom farm. This person will lead mushroom production, keep the farm organized and operating consistently, coordinate farm shifts, supervise and train the student intern and Stewards, support sales and customer fulfillment, and help deliver community workshops.

The ideal candidate is a quick learner and self-starter who can take ownership of the farm without significant day-to-day supervision.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Manage mushroom production from inoculation through fruiting, harvesting, packaging, and grow-kit production

  • Maintain sanitation, daily farm checks, production records, inventory, equipment, and routine maintenance follow-up

  • Schedule and oversee farm shifts and train Stewards and the student intern on approved farm procedures

  • Directly supervise the student intern, including work planning, training, scheduling, task assignments, and follow-up

  • Coordinate value-added mushroom production in the commercial kitchen

  • Manage customer orders, market preparation, routine customer follow-up, and early customer acquisition

  • Coordinate and eventually lead hands-on mushroom workshops

  • Support farm technology and systems improvements, including production, inventory, and sales tracking

  • Coordinate implementation of CCC’s SNAP/EBT payment system, including authorization, setup, testing, and ongoing

    readiness

  • Oversee day-to-day coordination of A4C’s CBT-funded environmental project at Green Street Academy, including intern

    activities, workshops, project tracking, and documentation

Schedule & Training

This is a 25-hour-per-week position with a mix of scheduled and flexible hours based on production needs. Some weekend hours will be required for farm checks, markets, and workshops. The position begins in October 2026 with a three-month hands-on transition and training period alongside A4C’s mushroom consultant. The Farm Lead will assume primary responsibility for CCC operations beginning in January 2027.

Qualifications/Competencies:

  • Experience in farming, mushroom cultivation, food production, horticulture, urban agriculture, or a related hands-on field

  • Dependable, organized, and comfortable taking responsibility for day-to-day operations

  • Ability to learn technical processes quickly and consistently follow standard operating procedures (SOPs)

  • Experience supervising, training, mentoring, or coordinating others

  • Comfort using technology for scheduling, inventory, production tracking, and recordkeeping

  • Strong multi-tasking skills and ability to work independently, troubleshoot problems, and follow through on responsibilities

  • Comfort working with high school students, adult program participants, and community partners

  • Ability to perform the physical work associated with a small farm and food-production operation

  • Reliable transportation and ability to work regularly on-site at Green Street Academy

  • Must live in Baltimore City or within a reasonable commuting distance of the work site

  • Mushroom cultivation experience is strongly preferred but not required for the right candidate

Education

Relevant college degree, certificate, technical training, apprenticeship, or demonstrated hands-on experience in mushroom cultivation, agriculture, horticulture, food production, environmental science, or a related field.

How to Apply:

Please email your résumé and a brief cover letter or statement of interest to info@acres4change.org with “Charm City Caps Farm Lead” in the subject line.

Applications are due September 11, 2026

Equal Opportunity Employer

Acres4Change is an equal opportunity organization. We welcome qualified applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.