Company description

Mission: Rogue Farm Corps (RFC) is an Oregon-based non-profit that trains and equips the next generation of farmers and ranchers through hands-on educational programs and the preservation of farmland.

Vision: RFC envisions a world in which land is deeply cared for, power is equitably shared, and farms, ranches, and the people who work them flourish.

Values:

• Stewardship - protecting farmland and promoting agricultural practices that restore water, soil and biodiversity.
• Mentorship - sharing knowledge and experience across generations through hands-on, experiential education and learning.
• Collaboration - joining forces with partners and allies to advance shared goals and act together for a livable future.
• Systemic change - addressing disparities in the food system to achieve equitable access to education, training, land, and capital, and building diverse, adaptable communities able to thrive in a changing climate.

Programs:

RFC educates aspiring farmers in holistic, regenerative agricultural practices as well as food justice, the history of the current agricultural system, and how to help build a more just, equitable, and Earth-sustaining food system. RFC’s farmer training programs offer aspiring farmers on-farm experience, as well as educational events focused on regenerative agriculture skills, concepts, and techniques. Our Apprenticeship Program provides connections to paid employment positions on partner host farms, which provide real-world experience, training, and mentorship throughout a production season. To augment these on-farm experiences, RFC facilitates a hybrid in-person and virtual educational event series which include classes, farm tours, and discussions that provide participants with opportunities for networking as well as exposure to additional ideas, concepts, skills, and practices. The in-person events are centered in our two chapter locations: the Rogue Valley and Portland Metro.

In 2023, RFC will pilot a new entry-level farmer training program in our Rogue Valley chapter. The Regenerative Farming Fellowship will be based at a partner farm site in the Rogue Valley; in future years we plan to launch additional teaching farm sites in other regions of the state.

RFC's Future Farms Program helps beginning farmers build farm businesses, access land, and secure capital through educational programs, workshops, 1-on-1 technical assistance, and coalition work.

Commitment to Equity, Anti-racism, and a Culture of Care

RFC is committed to engaging in an ongoing learning process around privilege, power, inequality and systems of oppression, and to using our organizational power to be an agent of positive change. RFC works to lift up the voices and knowledge of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) farmers, to become a more equitable, diverse and anti-racist organization, and to transform the field of agriculture.

Our organizational culture is highly collaborative, and the contributions and perspectives of all staff members are valued and appreciated. RFC’s staff and board have a high degree of alignment in our work to center equity in agriculture, and we are constantly striving to learn, grow, and evolve as people and as an organization. We practice a culture of care and honor each other as whole people. Because everyone at RFC works remotely, our work environment also requires a high level of independence, communication, and personal accountability.

Our entire staff comes together approximately twice per year for retreats, evaluation, and planning. Smaller groups of staff members also come together throughout the year to host events, workshops and classes around the state.

Our mission is best served when our staff and board represent the diversity of the next generation of farmers and ranchers. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color, LGBTQIA+, a veteran, immigrant, low-income, or any other identity or group that has been marginalized or underserved in agriculture.

Job description

Rogue Valley Chapter Coordinator (link to pdf)
Location: Mixed in-person and virtual work from home. In-person location two days / week April-October: Family Nurturing Center Farm (at Hanley Historic Farm site in Central Point). Other in-person work in the Rogue Valley at various locations. Occasional travel out of Rogue Valley region.

Compensation & Benefits: Starting salary is $44,500. Benefits include flexible work schedule, generous vacation/holiday/sick leave policy, employer-paid health and dental insurance, home office stipend, and 2% IRA retirement account match. Paid Time Off accrues in the employee’s first year at 3.1 Hours per biweekly pay period (equivalent of 10 days PTO / year). The PTO accrual rate increases each year of employment. In addition, 10 paid floating holidays and up to 10 paid sick days are available per year.

Requirements: Requires the use of your own personal vehicle (mileage reimbursed), cell phone, and computer (monthly phone and internet stipend provided).

Timeline: Application deadline is rolling. Position is open until filled. Initial review of applications will begin the week of January 9, 2023.

Start date: As early as Mid-February 2023.

The Chapter Coordinator manages RFC’s farmer training programs in the Rogue Valley region of Southern Oregon. The Coordinator helps train and equip new farmers via the Apprenticeship program, the Beginning Farmer Educational Event Series, and the Regenerative Farming Fellowship. The Coordinator plans and facilitates educational events, recruits and supports excellent partner host farms, and supports program participants and host farmers to enhance the mentor/mentee experience.

In 2023, the Coordinator will help pilot the new Rogue Valley Regenerative Farming Fellowship (RVRFF) for a small cohort of participants in partnership with Family Nurturing Center’s (FNC) Farm in Central Point, OR. In collaboration with FNC Farm’s manager, the Chapter Coordinator will be involved in direct training, education, mentorship, and supervision of aspiring farmer participants in a farm setting, focused on small-scale regenerative organic mixed vegetable production.

Specific Duties:

Apprenticeship & Educational Event Programming:

1. Assist with recruiting and screening host farmers.
2. Support host farmers in developing on-farm skills lists and farm-apprentice agreements.
3. Conduct outreach efforts to recruit aspiring farmer applicants.
4. Evaluate written applications to the farmer training programs.
5. Keep up-to-date records for participants and host farms.
6. Help plan and facilitate orientations for new participants.
7. Facilitate creation of group agreements with program participants.
8. Collaborate with farmers, agricultural professionals, and other partners in creating the Rogue Valley Beginning Farmer Educational Event Series.
9. Collaborate with RFC staff to plan and execute online educational events and weekend intensives.
10. Organize and facilitate all classes, farm tours and other participant events in the chapter in collaboration with local instructors/leaders. Typically this means leading introductions, keeping track of time, leading certain educational activities, creating and reminding participants of group agreements, checking for understanding, making program announcements, and gathering feedback.
11. Take photos and help create content for organizational communications.
12. Send weekly program updates to current participants and host farmers.
13. Provide one-on-one support to host farmers and participants throughout the program season.
14. Provide positive and constructive feedback to host farmers and instructors.
15. Co-facilitate annual host farmer orientation and debrief meetings.
16. Contribute to ongoing program and organizational communication, development, and improvement
17. Refine goals and structure of programs with Education Director and program partners
18. With RFC staff, help coordinate approximately one local fundraising event per year and support other organizational events.
19. Collaborate with other agriculture and food systems partners in the region.

Regenerative Farming Fellowship Programming (with FNC Farm staff)

1. Plan weekly activities, learning goals, and discussions
2. Mentor and train RVRFF participants in small-scale regenerative organic mixed vegetable farming production skills
3. Seed, plant, protect, harvest, wash, pack, and distribute produce
4. Elicit participant feedback and adapt program to participant goals, feedback, and needs

Required Competencies

1. Commitment to RFC mission, vision, and values
2. Ability to communicate and build relationships with various partners and audiences including staff, experienced farmers, beginning & aspiring farmers, and other local food system organizations
3. At least two full seasons of farm experience in the realm of sustainable/regenerative crop production, market gardening, or equivalent
4. Ability to foster a positive, equitable group learning environment and attend to the needs and goals of the group and individuals
5. Ability to use online applications including email, calendar, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Sheets and willingness to learn new online tools as needed
6. Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative remote team
7. Good organization and time management skills including self-motivation to work remotely and complete tasks in a timely manner
8. Excellent attention to detail
9. Ability to give and receive feedback
10. Ability to connect with and develop trusting relationships with people and communities of various backgrounds and identities
11. Basic understanding of social justice concepts and commitment to applying them to the Chapter Coordinator role

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience teaching or training people in sustainable/regenerative farming skills and concepts, especially as relates to organic mixed vegetable production
2. Commitment to and understanding of soil health and soil biology as well as agricultural practices that foster them
3. Knowledge of or experience with local food systems
4. Strong connections to Black, Indigenous, Latinx, or other communities of color and other underserved populations
5. Commitment to continuous learning
6. Experience coordinating programs and relationships with partners

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $35,568* - $50,000

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline