Work at Denver Urban Gardens

About Denver Urban Gardens

Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides access, skills, and resources for people to grow healthy food in community and regenerate urban green spaces. We’re working towards a sustainable urban future where people are deeply and directly connected to the earth, each other, and the food they eat.

DUG centers equity as one of its organizational values, and we value diversity in backgrounds and in experiences. We believe food is a universal right, and we need people from all backgrounds and swaths of life to help build the future of our food system. Learn more about us!

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I)

At DUG, we strive to promote JEDI principles across our organization. One example is through our Change Committee, which is a group of staff members and community members who meet monthly to discuss various topics such as accessibility in the gardens, language justice, and youth engagement.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and our staff are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds who share a passion for improving people’s lives. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity, but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and many other parts of one’s identity. All of our employee’s points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.

Employee Benefits

Health & Wellness

• 100% Employer-paid medical insurance through Kaiser Permanente
• 100% Employer-paid dental insurance through Guardian
• 100% Employer-paid group life insurance through Guardian
• HSA employer contribution through Gusto ($750 annually for single, $1,500 annually for family)
• Options for discounted insurance, including term life (through Ladder), pet (through Lemonade), and renters‘ insurance (through Lemonade)

Work/Life Balance

• Hybrid working environment (Tuesdays & Thursdays in office), role-dependent
• Paid holidays and trusted time off
• Flexible scheduling
• In office setup, including ergonomic supplies
• Dog-friendly workspace at the Posner Center for International Development
• Access to Posner Center coworking amenities (24/7 access, meditation room, tea & coffee included)
• Open office concept with flex rooms and alternative seating

Professional Growth

• $250 annual professional development stipend
• Opportunities for professional advancement, including a Director-Track pathway
• Opportunities to attend conferences, workshops, and partner trainings
• Learning Opportunities in Horticulture, Urban Agriculture, Food Access, Health & Wellness, Climate Action, Community Garden Building & Education, Community Garden Establishment and Support, and School Gardens

Finacial Benefits

• Living wage pay for all full-time/part-time staff, contractors, and interns
• $50 monthly phone stipend
• Simple IRA available through Fidelity with up to 3% employer-paid contribution
• 3% annual retention bonus, plus an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA)
  • e.g., 2025 COLA is 2.5% and 2026 COLA is 2.8% which is added to pay independently of the annual retention bonus and internal promotions
• 10% bilingual pay differential on base pay for eligible employees

Unique DUG Perks

• RTD EcoPass (includes unlimited rides on RTD buses and trains in all of metro Denver, including to Denver International Airport)
• Opportunities to participate in DUG workshops & trainings at no cost
• Discounted gardening resources (e.g., seeds & seedlings) at Spring Plant Sale
• Discounts from DUG partner companies

Organizational Culture

• Union Membership option for eligible employees (non-supervisory/managerial roles) through the Denver Newspaper Guild/TNG-CWA Local 37074
• Annual staff retreat and periodic team-building activities
• Supportive, mission-driven environment centered on community, sustainability, and equity
• Annual training sessions to promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)

Hiring Process*

Step 1: Submit Application Before Deadline

• Incomplete applications or applications submitted incorrectly will not be considered.
  • Applications materials must be submitted as PDFs (no Word Doc or zip files)
• Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
• We invite applicants to highlight their unique skills, experiences, and passion in their applications using their own words. While AI can help you prepare your materials, please review and personalize before submitting. Applications clearly written by AI will be rejected. 

Step 2: Hear Back from Hiring Committee

• We will reach out to you via email with a response within 2-3 business weeks of the application close date. Our goal is to respond to 100% of applicants.
• Please do not call or email us regarding your application.
• Please note that due to the high number of anticipated applicants, we may not be able to provide personalized feedback on application materials.

Step 3: Interviews

• If selected, the interview process will consist of one initial video interview (30 minutes), with the potential for a second in-person interview (60 minutes).
• For the in-person interview, questions will be sent to you beforehand to better prepare. However, if you prefer receiving the questions for the virtual interview, please request so to the hiring committee.
• For bilingual (English-Spanish) roles, please expect the interview to be partially conducted in Spanish.

Step 4: Decision

• We will strive to connect with everyone who applied, whether they make it to the virtual interview, in-person interview, or neither.
• You will be notified via email regarding hiring decisions and steps – please do not reach out unless a reasonable amount of time (3 business weeks) has passed without any information shared.

*This process is only applicable to full-time staff applicants and may vary for internships, contractors, and other roles.