Job Opportunities
Sweet Mountaintop Nature School
Lead Teacher
Our established outdoor preschool is seeking a new Lead Teacher to join our community. Our current lead teacher is transitioning out in mid-June, and we want the right person in place early enough to receive a thorough, hands-on training period before taking the reins. This is a rare opportunity to step into a well-loved, thriving program with real support during your transition.
About the Role
You'll guide a group of up to 12 young children through a nature-immersed, play-based program with Waldorf-inspired roots. You'll plan seasonal curriculum, lead two assistant teachers, communicate closely with families, and show up every day ready to be outside — in the mud, in the wind, in the sunshine. We're looking for someone who wants to grow with us for the long haul, not just fill a seat.
Our Ideal Candidate
Qualifications & Certifications
• Minimum 12 Early Childhood Education units
• Current CPR/First Aid certification
• Epinephrine (epi-pen) administration certification
• Clear background check
Experience
• 2+ years as a lead teacher or in a lead early childhood role
• Forest school, outdoor school, or nature-based education experience strongly preferred
• Familiarity with Waldorf philosophy and pedagogy
• Experience navigating parent communication around conflict and sensitive topics
• Comfortable with all stages of potty learning and diaper changing
Skills & Personality
• Confident singing in front of children and adults, with a love of songs and circle time
• Knowledge of plants, gardening, and the natural world
• Enthusiastically comfortable with insects, animals, and getting dirty
• Physically capable of a full day outdoors in all weather
• Able to lead and mentor assistant teachers, including delegating and giving constructive feedback
• Resilient and calm under pressure
• Warm, professional, and genuinely positive
Commitment
Training begins no later than the first week of May alongside our outgoing lead teacher — this overlap is essential. Our spring program wraps up June 12th, after which the new lead teacher will take over fully through at least a portion of our summer program. The fall program resumes at the end of August. We're looking for someone available through the full school year, with occasional aftercare availability. This is a long-term position and we're hoping to find someone who sees it that way too.
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:15am-1:30pm. Occasional aftercare until 4:00pm.
Compensation
$27-$32/hour depending on experience (this is negotiable). Sick pay and paid time off.
Assistant Teacher
We are looking for someone to fill the position of the assistant teacher for our outdoor preschool! The shifts are from 8:30-1:30 - sometimes your shift will go until 4:00 if there is aftercare.
This job is a supporting role to the lead teacher, assisting in guiding the students throughout our daily rhythm. In this role, you would be responsible for assisting the lead in daily preparation of the school space, ensuring consistent observation of the children throughout the school day, preparing spaces prior to transitions and cleanup at the end of the day. We are looking for someone who is ambitious and would like to grow with our school and expand their responsibilities. Early Childhood Education/ Experience preferred but not necessary in this position, if willing and able to commit to the learning process.
Our Ideal Candidate
- Have experience working with children between the ages of 2 and 5
- Be familiar in Waldorf/Forest School philosophies or actively willing and interested in learning
- Be willing and able to be outside in all seasons and weather shifts
- Be willing to get dirty daily
- Be comfortable with bugs, wild animals, livestock
- Be knowledgeable of local flora and fauna
- Have some experience in farming, herbalism and naturalism
- Be comfortable holding insects, animals, and exploring/foraging with the children
- Physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds, hike, run, play, dance and sing with the children and families daily
- Have First Aid/CPR certifications (can be completed after being hired)
- Is able to multitask and work independently
- Is exceptionally responsible, energetic and has a positive attitude
- Able to commit to our daily schedule for the entirety of the session
Availbility needed
Summer:
Every Tuesday between June 29 - Aug 7, and the entire week of August 9 - August 14.
Fall:
Our Fall Session begins on August 24 and goes through Decmbr 18. You would need to be avaibale each week during that session for 2-3 days per week. Taking occasional time off is ok with advance notice.
Compensation:
$20-$22/hour depending on experience.
Sweet Mountaintop Farm
Farmers Market Representative
Sweet Mountaintop Farm is seeking new smiling faces for our farmers market stands!
What a farmers market shift looks like:
- Arrive at the farm the morning of the market and load the flowers into the market van - our farm is located on Rincon Mountain, which is about 15 minutes outside of Carpinteria.
- Drive our market van to the market and set up the booth (tents, tables with tablecloths, signs, flowers and other products)
- Make sales and provide customer service
- Report sales and submit fees to the market staff
- Breakdown the booth in a timely manner and reload the market van
- Return to the farm to unload any leftover flowers and restock product in the van
- Drop off cash in the office and fill out the daily sales log
What we need from you:
- Punctuality - showing up on time for your shift is a MUST. These shifts begin early in the morning and you will need to be able to show up to our farm as early as 5:45am.
- Consistent availability - we go to the farmers market every weekend. Occasional time off is ok and expected, but we need to be able to rely on you being available to work most weekends of the year.
- Eagerness to work - we want someone who enjoys hustling, working hard, and taking their job seriously. Some of the Los Angeles farmers market shifts are long days (11 hours), and you must have the endurance to handle these kinds of shifts each week.
About You:
- Ideally you have prior farmers market experience, or experience that is comparable
- You have reliable transportation in order to get to the farm to pick up the market van
- You are able to multitask and work individually
- You have the willingness and desire to learn about our products in order to explain them to our customers
- You are exceptionally responsible, energetic, and have a positive attitude
- You are physically able to perform some heavy lifting required for market setup and breakdown
- You are a good driver with a good driving record, and you feel comfortable driving to and from the Los Angeles area
You need to be able to accurately count money, use the Square POS system, use the Venmo app, and use the Google Sheets App to fill out sales logs. Markets are mostly on Saturdays and Sundays, so you must be available on weekends. A smart phone is required for this job.
During the winter and early spring, we will mainly be attending the Santa Barbara farmers market on Saturdays, and occasionally in Los Angeles on Sundays. During the busy months we attend market on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Compensation:
We pay a training rate of $18/hr. Once you are fully trained, hourly compensation increases to $20/hr. Training usually takes no more than 3 markets. After 90 days if you are a good fit for the company your compensation will increase to $22-23/hr. After you have worked a full season with us your compensation will increase to $25/hr. You will be paid as an independent contractor, and you will receive an IRS-1099 for all wages paid.