Full Job Description is on our website here: https://roguefarmcorps.org/jobs
Reports to: Education Director
Employment Type: Exempt; 0.6 FTE (24 hours/week)
Location: South Willamette Valley, Oregon (remote / work from home)
Application Deadline: January 24, 2020
Start date: March 2-9, 2020
Compensation: Starting salary is $24,000. Benefits include flexible work schedule and vacation/holiday/leave policy, monthly health care stipend, and employer matched retirement account. Requires the use of your own personal vehicle (mileage reimbursed), cell phone and computer (phone and internet stipend provided).
Our organization is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from candidates of color.
Rogue Farm Corps Overview
Rogue Farm Corps (RFC) is a non-profit whose mission is to train and equip the next generation of farmers and ranchers through hands-on educational programs and the preservation of farmland. RFC offers farmer training programs at the entry and advanced level that combine hands-on training at partner host farms with classes, farm tours, discussions, and independent study. These programs provide real-world experience on a diverse network of sustainable family farms that host program participants. Our Changing Hands Program helps beginning farmers access land and capital, and creates tools and resources to help retirement age farmers plan for succession. For more information, please visit www.roguefarmcorps.org.
Position Description
The South Willamette Chapter Coordinator manages RFC’s farmer training programs in the South Willamette Valley. The Coordinator helps train and equip new farmers in the entry-level Internship and advanced Apprenticeship programs by planning and facilitating educational events, conducting evaluations, recruiting and retaining excellent partner host farms, and supporting program participants and host farmers to enhance the mentor/mentee experience. The Coordinator helps fill RFC program positions by assisting with recruitment, outreach, and screening of applicants. The Coordinator collaborates on fundraising efforts in the South Willamette area with RFC’s Development Director. The Coordinator promotes a just, sustainable local agricultural system by collaborating with local food system allies and partners. The Coordinator collaborates with RFC staff to further RFC programmatic and organizational goals.
Recruit host farm sites that meet RFC’s guidelines, in collaboration with Education Director
Work with host farms to develop individualized on-farm curricula
Coordinate outreach efforts to recruit applicants with Education Director and program staff
Process incoming applications including initial screening calls
Keep up-to-date online and paper records and files for all local chapter participants and host farms
Help keep participants and host farms on track with their program fee payments (with Executive Director)
Adapt RFC’s core class curricula to the local agricultural community by collaborating with farmers, agricultural professionals, and other partners in creating educational program events.
Schedule and organize all classes, farm tours and other student events in the local RFC chapter.
Facilitate on-farm orientations at each host farm site soon after participants arrive (Spring)
Help plan and facilitate a group orientation for new participants (Spring)
Send weekly program updates to current participants and host farms
Help troubleshoot any issues that may arise with participants or host farmers; Facilitate conflict resolution processes as needed
Help hold participants and host farmers accountable to RFC program agreements and guidelines
Stay in regular contact with host farmers and remind them of good farming mentorship practices and ideas
Help facilitate all classes, farm tours and student events in collaboration with other local instructors, including leading introductions, keeping track of time, leading certain educational activities, making program announcements, and gathering of feedback via evaluation forms
Conduct on-farm evaluation sessions with all host farmers and participants twice per season (mid-June to mid-July and mid-September to mid-October)
Collate all evaluation feedback electronically and provide positive and constructive feedback to participants, farmers, and instructors
Act as a resource, confidant, supporter and mentor to all host farmers and students
Co-facilitate annual host farmer debrief meeting with all chapter host farmers
Help host farmers create on-farm agreements for their RFC program participants
Support Education Director in arranging ongoing professional development for host farmers
Submit monthly chapter reports and reimbursement requests
Participate in regular online meetings with staff
Attend occasional conferences, trainings, meetings, and retreats
Seek out and conduct outreach opportunities in the community
Create and publish social media content
Coordinate local fundraising events (with Development Director) and support other organizational events as assigned
Required Qualifications
Commitment to RFC mission
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and justice in the food system
Ability to facilitate a positive group learning environment and attend to individuals’ educational needs and goals
Ability to communicate clearly and coordinate with various partners including staff, beginning & experienced farmers, and other local food system organizations
Able to connect and develop trusting relationships with people and communities of various backgrounds and identities
Proficiency with online applications especially Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Sheets. Ability to readily learn new computer tasks and applications.
Organized, self-directed, independently motivated, and attentive to detail
Some knowledge of and/or experience with sustainable agriculture production systems
Preferred Qualifications
Ability to lead educational modules with adult learners
Knowledge of local food systems
Connections to communities of color and other underserved populations
Commitment to continuous learning
Good stress management skills
Ability to support conflict resolution processes
Collaborative team player
Apply
Please apply by emailing your cover letter and resume as a single PDF file attachment to stu@roguefarmcorps.org with “South Willamette Chapter Coordinator Application” in the subject line.
In your cover letter please describe how you meet the qualifications above and address the following questions:
Why do you want this position and what would you bring or add to this organization (lived experience, values, vision)?
What does justice and/or equity in the food system mean to you?
Rogue Farm Corps is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.