Job Description About Us:

Stable housing and gainful employment are critical for the successful transition of women returning from prison. Benevolence Farm seeks to fulfill this crucial need in North Carolina through an innovative social-enterprise based program that will offer housing, employment, life skills, career development, and nutritious food while providing naturally grown, local food to the community.

A guiding principle of Benevolence Farm is fiscal, operational, and programmatic sustainability. Utilizing a working farm, Benevolence Farm will ground women in the healthful and healing power of nature and community while bringing together the critical resources and skills female re-entrants require for success. We will provide a transitional living program based on a 13-acre working farm for up to 4 women initially and 12 women eventually who have been released from North Carolina prisons. Residents may stay for up to 2 years and will be partially self-supporting through growing their own food, their labor contribution to the farm, and the sale of harvests through local farmers markets, a Community Supported Agriculture program, a farm stand, and sales to restaurants and institutions. A portion of harvests will be provided to low-income communities through partnerships with food banks and churches.

Position Description:

The Farm Manager is responsible for overall management of the Benevolence Farm social enterprise, including marketing, value-added products, field preparation, crop production, equipment maintenance, and resident/staff/intern supervision. The Farm Manager reports to the Executive Director. The goal of this position is to develop the infrastructure of the new site and to setup appropriate tracking, management, and evaluation systems so that the farm can be effectively and efficiently managed by residents and used as a therapeutic training space for future residents. Position has strong potential to become full time quickly as funding becomes available.

Essential Duties:

• Using sustainable growing practices, oversee, direct, coordinate and perform farming duties
• Develop farm & garden documentation, tracking, and management systems
• Coordinate social enterprise, including business planning & implementation, production, and market distribution to markets, restaurants, and groceries
• Supervise, direct, train and evaluate assigned program participants/volunteers
• Facilitate weekly farm meeting and monitor participation and attendance
• Prepare and monitor annual farm budget
• Create sales and operations growth plan after first-year assessment
• Monitor retail income: process and track all expenditures
• Evaluate and purchase new equipment to increase efficiencies
• Establish partnerships with other institutions with common interests in agriculture, health, justice, etc and work with other farmers to build relationships
• Provide oversight and maintenance of all farm records
• Create a food safety guide
• Assist in grant research, writing and reporting
• Develop, evaluate, and revise as necessary farm programs, policies, and procedures ensuring farm is in compliance with all statutory and contractual requirements, adhering to best practices, and that policies are being observed and administered by residents/staff/interns, and that farm operations are accomplishing goals
• Coordinate educational component for residents/staff/interns and volunteers and oversee activities to accomplish the work of the farm
• Assist in planning and implementing expanded vocational programming
• Prepare displays and products for farmer’s markets, CSA deliveries, farm stand, and special events
• Represent Benevolence Farm at farmers’ markets, and support residents in selling at market
• Provide tours and on-site presentations for community partners, donors, and the public
• Attend trainings and professional development opportunities
• Participate in and support program events, fundraising, and advocacy events
• Transport residents/staff

Qualifications:

• Passion for Benevolence Farm’s mission
• Dedication to working as a member of and in partnership with diverse communities
• Demonstrated understanding of agricultural practices, whole farm planning, crop rotation, soil enhancement methods, soil science and general ecological principles
•  Degree in related field and 5 years sustainable vegetable crop production experience preferred
• Ability to organize volunteer groups safely and productively
• Expertise in balancing physical labor, administrative duties and planning/guiding farm expansion
• CPR and ServSafe certification, or willing to obtain within 6 months of hire
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and management skills, including excellent follow-through
• Flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including some evenings and weekends
• Comfort in use of computers and technology on a daily basis
• Creative, resourceful and strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to handle multiple work demands and set priorities
• Ability to lift 25-50 pounds
• Valid driver’s license
• Experience with growing in greenhouses preferred
• Experience with vocational programming and at-risk populations preferred

Compensation this position is : salaried How to apply DeadlineSeptember 15, 2014