Company description

The Rio Grande Farm Park’s mission is to create and sustain a vibrant place where people come to learn, play, and grow. It is a land-based project of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition. The RGFP Operations and Development Director will join a collaborative team at a grassroots nonprofit working to foster an equitable local food system in the San Luis Valley. The Farm Park hosts over 40 growers each year on 15 arable acres managed with regenerative and traditional methods. These growers participate in either the cooperative/market farming program or the family garden program. The whole 38 acres provides youth and community education, volunteer programs, and a public park, playground, and orchard, connected to Alamosa’s Rio Grande trail network. The Farm Park also hosts an abundance of community events, including a Wednesday evening Farmers’ Market in the summer. Further, the Farm Park manages enterprise projects for community benefit including retail compost sales, Education Center rental, and market vegetable production.

Find more information at riograndefarmpark.org and slvlocalfoods.org.

Job description

Job Overview: The Rio Grande Farm Park seeks a community-oriented, organized, motivated leader to direct strategic development and manage operations and programs.

Workplace Locations:
Rio Grande Farm Park - 6935 State Hwy 17; Alamosa, CO 81101

San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition Office - 412 State Ave; Alamosa, CO 81101

Supervisor: San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition Co-Directors

RGFP Operations and Development Director Responsibilities and Duties:

Operations and Programs

• Manage and mentor RGFP staff, including interns and full-time service members (AmeriCorps and Mennonite Voluntary Service); hold regular team meetings and uphold LFC policies
• Create and oversee volunteer, education, and farming programs
• Oversee Farm Park maintenance and water infrastructure
• Direct public outreach for Farm Park programs, in coordination with LFC marketing staff
• Develop, update and implement policies for the operation and use of the RGFP
• Oversee the organization of the weekly Mercadillo en el Rio farmers’ market, especially during the growing and harvest season
• Collect, organize, and analyze Farm Park program data, and improve programs accordingly
• Manage grant deliverables and assist LFC Development Director with grant writing and reporting
• Participate directly in programs as needed, building trust with program participants

Development

• Lead strategic development of RGFP property buildout according to an evolving community-designed master plan
• Conduct community fundraising and donor stewardship
• Develop annual budget for Rio Grande Farm Park in coordination with SLVLFC leadership
• Manage RGFP budget by tracking and analyzing program and project expenses, in coordination with Co-Directors, Finance Director, Development Director, and Farm Park team
• Track balance of restricted and unrestricted funds
• Track and evaluate Rio Grande Farm Park enterprise projects

Partnerships and Community Organizing

• Lead monthly RGFP Advisory committee meetings, aligning Farm Park strategy and goals with community needs
• Serve as a community connection point for organizations or individuals wishing to collaborate with the Farm Park, building partnerships as opportunities arise
• As challenges arise at the Farm Park, work creatively and collaboratively with Farm Park team, community partners, and individuals to help solve them
• Lead government relations, ensuring Farm Park programs and projects comply with relevant laws and existing agreements, including water stewardship and drought resilience planning

Qualifications & Experience:

• Applicant must exhibit a passion for land, soil, and water
• Understanding of the diversity of San Luis Valley communities, traditions, and cultural values
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Lead by example the LFC mission to “foster an equitable local food system”
• Priority given to bilingual English and Spanish speaker
• Must reside within local commuting distance of the Rio Grande Farm Park
• Experience in nonprofit management, regenerative agriculture, or another relevant field, or equivalent Bachelor’s degree

• Proven staff management experience, with demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills
• Organized systems-thinker who can effectively manage multiple projects at once

• Ability to communicate with and respond to various stakeholders' needs, with the understanding that this is a community project
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, and competence with software and office equipment necessary to perform the role
• Experience with program and budget management
• Cooperative nature and ability to make time to work together with the Farm Park team
• Financial literacy required and business acumen preferred
• Ability to put good ideas forward for the on-going development and well-being of the RGFP

Start Date: July 15, 2023

Hours: Full-Time - 40 hours per week, including some evenings and weekends

Salary: $52,000 - $70,000 depending on education, training, skill sets, and experience.

Benefits: The San Luis Valley Foods Coalition offers:

• Health and dental insurance with 50% of premiums for the employee covered.
• A Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) through Colorado SecureSavings.
• Twenty days of paid time off per year after the introduction period, intended to cover personal holidays and sick leave.
• Nine paid federal holidays per year.
• A 20% discount at the Valley Roots Food Hub, which offers food and related products from over 100 family farms and ranches
• Except for in the case of regular commuting, the SLVLFC offers reimbursement of $0.585 per mile for work-related travel.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline