Company description

The Oregon Farmers Markets Association (OFMA) is a 501c3 nonprofit, grassroots organization, working since 1987 to support local agriculture and healthy communities by strengthening and promoting Oregon's farmers markets. Farmers markets support the local food system by creating economic bridges between rural and urban communities and incubating the next generation of Oregon farmers and homegrown food business owners. Read more about OFMA’s Mission, Vision & Values.

OFMA recognizes that farmers markets are part of an agricultural system based in a history of racism and oppression and that as a result, many farmers markets in Oregon are majority-white spaces and have not traditionally served Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in our communities. OFMA believes that to achieve our mission, we must work to dismantle existing structures and support efforts to replace them with just systems that serve all Oregonians. We aim to support leadership by those most impacted and encourage people with lived experience navigating systemic oppression to apply for this position. See OFMA’s DEI statement and resources related to anti-racism and farmers markets for more information.

OFMA’s Culture: OFMA offers a flexible, fully remote schedule. Bring your plants, pets, kids, or partner and work where you like, balancing all areas of your life. Our work culture is trust-based. Employees make their own schedule and there’s no demand to work a traditional 9-5 schedule. Our team is made up of supportive, caring, passionate, and collaborative colleagues. A robust and very active board of directors helps support the small number of staff we have. OFMA also values professional development opportunities such as conferences, webinars, trainings, and more. We have been utilizing remote meeting technology during the pandemic, but are looking forward to resuming some face-to-face interactions such as board retreats, market visits and other meetings when it is safe to do so. These meetings revolve around interactive activities, thoughtful discussions and of course delicious local food!

Snapshot of OFMA:

• One of the oldest statewide farmers market associations in the U.S. The organization was 100% volunteer run for 30 years.
• Grassroots organization heavily supported by an active volunteer board and committees. Our board is very much a “working board” who provides the equivalent work of a full-time employee to support our programmatic activities.
• 3 part-time staff (including Executive Director) The organization has had paid staff since 2017 and has grown exponentially since then, both in terms of staff and budget. We are now in a stage where we are looking to sustain our growth.
• ~$200,000 annual budget, with 70-90% coming from federal and foundation grants
• Supports the 100+ farmers market organizations in Oregon (80% of which are OFMA members), ranging from micro to extra-large markets and spread between urban and rural areas.
• In a typical year, farmers markets in Oregon are a $60 million+ industry, which supports 6,000+ vendor businesses.

OFMA’s annual activities and programs include:

• Beginning Vendor Support Network
• Membership drive
• Farmers market directory
• OFMA annual meeting and workshop series for farmers markets
• Farmers Market Week
• Annual farmers market census survey
• Policy and advocacy in support of issues impacting farmers markets

Job description

Some of the links may not work in this posting. Read the full PDF of this job announcement here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QWo91kk1KGNHeeG1FkPYhpPHI0W1fqwL/view?usp=sharing

OVERVIEW

Application due: June 30th. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early applications are encouraged.

Compensation: $30,605 annual salary based on a part-time, 50% schedule

Hours: 20/wk, flexible work schedule

Benefits: $2,100 annual benefits stipend, flexible to the needs of the employee for health insurance, retirement, or similar benefits. Option to exchange cash benefits stipend for employer-offered benefits. 60 vacation hours and 40 family or medical leave hours per year, prorated based on hire date. 2% annual cost of living increase.

Position Type: Employee

Location: 100% remote. However, due to the place-based nature of this work candidates must live within or in immediate proximity to Oregon, or be willing to relocate to the state. Some travel within the state is required.


POSITION SUMMARY
Get a feel for the position by reading a synopsis of a typical work day for our current Executive Director.

The Executive Director is the most visible OFMA staff member, providing key linkages between board and staff and serving as the external “face” of OFMA and Oregon’s farmers markets to the public. They ensure all activities across the organization are serving OFMA's mission, vision & values. This position is responsible for the direction of organizational administration, programming, and strategic planning.

This role is a unique Executive Director opportunity in that this leader is involved with both high-level strategy and hands-on execution, in concert with OFMA board and staff. We are ultimately looking for someone who loves the balance of being both a “thinker” and “doer.”. Other key duties for this role include fundraising, marketing, and partnership development. This position reports to the Board of Directors.

This part-time position is 20 hours per week and will ideally begin in July or August. OFMA is a fully virtual organization; all staff and contractors have the luxury of working remotely and creating their own schedules. As long as some day-time availability is given for scheduling meetings, this position can be very flexible around another position and other commitments. Given the place-based nature of this work, the Executive Director must live within the state of Oregon or in close proximity to the state. Out of state applicants will be considered if their intent to move to Oregon is expressed in their application materials.

OFMA has grown exponentially in the past 3 years. We anticipate that this organization and position will continue to expand in years to come. We are excited to welcome a new leader who is eager to keep things running smoothly and energized to explore opportunities for growth.

There are three traits that are essential for the person in this position to have: 1) a strong commitment to principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and experience leading activities and efforts that relate to these principles. 2) Experience leading fundraising (specifically grant solicitation, writing, and management) efforts in a small organization, without the support of external grant writers or large finance departments. 3) Experience working for or leading a small organization. Candidates that do not have direct experience in all three of these areas are encouraged to demonstrate in their application how skills and experiences they hold would transfer to these three traits. Ideal candidates will also have a love for farmers markets and a leadership philosophy in line with OFMA’s organizational culture, which is flexible, trust-based, and rooted in connections.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Director Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Programmatic Oversight (40% of time)

• Oversees OFMA’s recurring annual activities. Refer to list of annual activities in “About OFMA'' section above
• Oversees and guides communications and programs staff in their work.
• Supports and promotes OFMA member markets through state, regional, and national networks

2. Staff Management and Organizational Culture: (25% of time)

• Hires, supervises, and supports staff in their work and professional development. Creates and maintains a culture that celebrates diversity, strives for equity, and practices creating spaces of belonging for people of all races and backgrounds.
• Hires and supervises all contractors and oversees associated scopes of work.

3. Financial Performance and Viability: (15% of time)

• Responsible for leading fundraising efforts and developing other revenues necessary to support OFMA’s mission, with a specific emphasis on soliciting, writing, and managing grants
• Leads fiscal management for the organization including: developing and operating within an annual budget, managing restricted funds, and light bookkeeping.

4. Board Governance: (10% of time)

• Primary liaison between the OFMA Board of Directors and staff

5. Networking and Partnership Development (5% of time)

• Promotes and enhances OFMA’s work by being active and visible in the community. As the lead of the organization, this position is responsible for developing partnerships and networks that lay the groundwork for the future. These partnerships may be with potential funders, local, state and national community partners, and member farmers markets themselves.

6. Other duties as assigned and/or emerging, agreed upon by all parties. (5% of time)

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $35,000 - $50,000

Location

job can be done remotely

Application instructions

Deadline

June 30, 2021