ABOUT

CFSA is a non-profit membership  organization that works to create a local and organic food system in North and  South Carolina.  We help people in the  Carolinas grow and eat local, organic foods by advocating for fair farm and  food policies, building the systems family farms need to thrive, and educating  and organizing farmers and the communities they serve.  Based in Pittsboro, NC, CFSA is the oldest  and largest sustainable agriculture organization in the Southeast. We have a  thirty-two-year record of successfully uniting farmers, consumers and  businesses to build a just, healthy food and farming future. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Community Mobilizer is a thirty  hour per week paid position. The position is expected to start beginning of  June and is funded for 8 months to coincide with the end of current  congressional terms. Weekly schedule and exact start/end dates will be  determined at the time of hire. The term of the position may be extended  subject to availability of funds.

The Community Mobilizer must be  highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize and complete a wide  variety of tasks. Organizers must be comfortable interacting with people from a  wide variety of backgrounds; communicating the importance of Farm Bill reform;  confident in asking people to become CFSA members and/or to financially support  our work through donations; and to engage people to be active in regional  chapters and campaigns.

The Community Mobilizer will report directly to the Director  of the Sustainable Food NC Coalition, and will work closely with the Executive  Director.  The Community Mobilizer is based in  the Pittsboro, NC office. Some night and weekend meetings and extensive travel  throughout the Carolinas will be required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working  with CFSA Tour Coordinator to plan, coordinate and implement visits to at least  25 farmers markets and at least 12 restaurants, markets or other farm-to-fork  businesses across the NC and SC, focusing on the following key regions:  Triangle, Piedmont, Triad, Asheville, Charlotte, Upstate SC, and Charleston.
• Working  with the CFSA Tour Coordinator to activate our membership by reaching out to  key ‘friends and allies’ to host informal barn-storm tour meet-ups in their  area and/or train members to get farmers listed on the local food finder.
• Monitoring  federal Farm Bill legislation.
• Analyzing  the relevance of the Farm Bill proposals to the sustainable and organic farming  communities in the Carolinas.
• Assisting  CFSA communications staff to develop informational materials about the 2012  Farm Bill to distribute to CFSA’s grassroots network
• Communicating  this information to CFSA's members and partners using a variety of electronic  and print methods (e.g., action alerts)
• Providing  regular Farm Bill briefings to CFSA staff
• Coordinating  grassroots outreach about the Farm Bill with CFSA’s 2012 Barn Storm Tour, with  special emphasis on connecting with the members of the Carolinas’ congressional  delegation while they are in their districts
• Coordinating  grassroots outreach about the Farm Bill with prominent regional and state  events (e.g., conferences & forums)
• Assist  CFSA team in formulating sound organizing strategies
• Leverage  existing CFSA members, board and staff to build relationships and heighten  visibility of important Farm Bill issues in all of CFSA’s regional service  areas
• Identify,  recruit, and develop community leaders for CFSA’s team of “super-activists”
• Recruiting  new CFSA members
• Track,  report, and evaluate weekly activity
• Develop,  with supervisors, a simple tracking system for grassroots advocacy activities  taken and reported by CFSA members.

MEASURES  OF SUCCESS      

The performance of this  position will be evaluated using:

• The  development of informational materials about the 2012 Farm Bill for CFSA  grassroots network.
• The  number of community events hosted by the Community Mobilizer.
• The  number of organizations and individuals recruited to support beneficial  provisions in the Farm Bill proposal;
• The  number of new grassroots contacts in each congressional district in the  Carolinas;
• The  number of community leaders willing to serve as CFSA’s super-activists in each  regional chapter.
• The  development of a simple system to track and communicate the votes of the  Carolina congressional delegation on desired Farm Bill provisions.
• The  number of new e-mails signed up to receive CFSA’s eNews.
• The  number of new CFSA members recruited.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, communications, agricultural policy or equivalent work experience.
• Demonstrated interest in public policy with an emphasis on agriculture, environment, community economic development, nutrition or similar;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience in volunteer management, meeting facilitation, and/or community relationsExperience with public policy analysis and translational writing for a broad public audience;
• Facility with basic research (e.g., laws, proposed bills);
• Experience with community organizing techniques, including the use of social media such as       Facebook, Twitter, and blogs
• Proficiency with MS Office Pro applications
• Ability to work occasional evening and/or weekend hours.
• Ability to travel through the Carolinas; including valid driver’s license.
• Deep commitment to using grassroots advocacy to affect lasting public policy change to advance the values of sustainable and organic agriculture.
• Commitment to creating and strengthening lasting working relationships throughout the diverse       communities of CFSA’s service area.
• Creativity, flexibility, and a sense of humor, and a passion for community organizing.

Expected  start date: June 1, 2012.  CFSA offers  generous vacation and personnel policies, and health insurance benefits.