Join our Team

(Seasonal)

Employer: Cultivating Connections Montana
Status: Part-time, non-exempt (6 hours/week)
Schedule: Flexible, set weekly in coordination with the Youth Internship & Culinary Program needs (16-week internship season – May to Aug
Compensation: $18 – $20/hour (depending on experience) for 16 weeks
Location: Homestead Organics Farm campus, 175 Skalkaho Hwy, Hamilton, MT 59840
Reports to: Youth Intern & Culinary Programs Coordinator

About Cultivating Connections Montana (CCMT)

We Build Community Through Food by mentoring youth, strengthening food security, and connecting local producers to neighbors through inclusive, hands-on programs like our Youth Internship program, GIVEBACK! Initiative programs such as Ladles of Love, MAYDAY! Gardens program, Special Abilities Camp, Heritage Skills Workshops, and our Farmstand.  Acting as a catalyst, our goal is to empower youth, grow food, share knowledge, foster well-being, provide mentorship, and bring people together through education, participation, and celebration.

Position Summary

The Youth Engagement & Support Mentor provides side-by-side support to teen interns, especially neurodivergent youth and youth who benefit from additional encouragement, structure, or accommodations across all program settings (kitchen, farm, greenhouse, farmstand/market prep, and other program spaces).  This role focuses on monitoring engagement, offering timely encouragement, noticing and responding to stress cues, and using creative, strengths-based problem solving to help interns succeed with dignity and agency. The Mentor works closely with the Youth Intern & Culinary Programs Coordinator to determine which interns may need more or less support on a given day and to adapt supports in real time.

Key Responsibilities:

1) Engagement Support & Mentorship (All Settings)

• Work alongside youth interns during daily tasks across kitchen, farm, greenhouse, and community-facing settings.
• Monitor youth engagement levels (focus, motivation, participation, social comfort) and provide timely encouragement and coaching.
• Support interns with “just-right” scaffolding:  break tasks into steps, clarify expectations, offer choices, and celebrate progress.

2) Neurodivergent-Affirming Support & Accommodations

• Notice barriers to participation and offer practical accommodations as needed (e.g., sensory breaks, pacing adjustments, alternate tools, written/visual instructions, quiet task options, structured task lists).
• Support youth to build self-advocacy and independence while maintaining appropriate support when stress or overwhelm increases.
• Use creative problem-solving to adapt tasks, communication style, or the environment in ways that preserve dignity and agency.

3) Stress Awareness & Supportive Response

• Recognize early signs of elevated stress, overwhelm, or dysregulation and respond calmly using supportive strategies (breaks, grounding, task modification, environment shifts).
• Maintain a balance of agency + safety, helping youth stay empowered while preventing escalation and supporting regulation.
• Support interns in returning to tasks in a respectful, youth-centered way.

4) Daily Coordination & Communication

• Prior to shifts, coordinate with the Youth Intern & Culinary Programs Coordinator to determine which interns need more/less support and what strategies are working.
• Provide brief end-of-shift updates (observations, what worked, what to try next time).
• Communicate promptly about any safety concerns or significant incidents, following CCMT protocols.

5) Safety, Equity, & Inclusion

• Model and cultivate a respectful, inclusive environment for all youth, volunteers, and community members.
• Adhere to CCMT youth protection policies, media consent procedures, and mandatory reporting requirements.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries and confidentiality.

Success Metrics

• Youth Engagement:  Increased participation and task completion with appropriate support; reduced “stuck” moments through timely coaching and accommodations.
• Support Quality:  Youth receive consistent, strengths-based support that promotes both agency and regulation.
• Communication:  Clear coordination with the Youth Intern & Culinary Programs Coordinator; reliable shift updates and documentation as needed.
• Safety & Inclusion:  Supports are delivered respectfully and consistently; concerns are escalated appropriately; inclusive culture is actively modeled.

Required Qualifications

• Experience working with teens in group settings (teaching, coaching, camp, after-school, mentoring, or similar).
• Experience working with youth from diverse backgrounds, including neurodivergent youth and/or youth who need additional support.
• Strong observational skills and the ability to respond with calm, encouraging, strengths-based guidance.
• Creative problem-solving and flexibility; able to adapt supports in real time.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Agree to background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Training or experience in disability supports, special education, youth development, or related fields (formal or lived experience welcomed).
• Familiarity with trauma-informed and/or neurodiversity-affirming approaches.
• CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Work occurs across multiple environments:  kitchen, greenhouse/field settings, farmers’ markets, and community/event spaces.
• Standing/walking for extended periods; bending, carrying, and light lifting; outdoor work in variable weather.
• Schedule and setting may vary week-to-week depending on intern activities.

Safety, Equity, & Inclusion

• Adhere to CCMT policies, media consent, and mandatory reporting requirements.
• Model and cultivate an inclusive, respectful environment for all youth, volunteers, and community members.
• CCMT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome candidates whose lived experience reflects the communities we serve.