Company description
California FarmLink’s mission is to invest in the prosperity of farmers and ranchers through lending, education, and access to land.
We envision a healthy food system where farmers and ranchers have equitable opportunities to build wealth and conserve natural resources. We value equitable access to opportunity, resilient working landscapes, fairness and accountability, and learning from diverse farmers and ranchers.
Established in 1999, FarmLink works across California, with a focus on serving farmers of color, beginning and sustainable farmers and family-scale fishers. We partner with training programs, impact investors, public agencies and other nonprofits, weaving an ecosystem of support for next-generation farmers and ranchers. We believe that working lands provide valuable incomes as well as ecosystem services through regenerative agriculture.
California FarmLink is certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), one of the first in the nation focused on sustainable and organic agriculture as well as economic and environmental resilience. Our strategic initiatives include:
Job description
Reports to:
Senior Program Manager, Business & Innovation
Salary:
$75,000 to $100,000 commensurate with experience
Job Summary
Join California FarmLink! As a Community Development Financial Institution, we invest in the prosperity and well-being of farmers, ranchers, and fishers who have limited access to financial resources. Our programs center communities of color, and promote just and resilient economies and natural resource conservation. We offer fair financing, business education, and support for owning or managing agricultural land.
Our Lending Program provides access to credit. Our three Land and Business programs provide technical assistance and business education. The Business and Innovation program provides farmers, ranchers and fishers with technical assistance and pilots new programs to further FarmLink’s mission.
The Project Manager, Business & Innovation will lead the work of a multi-year pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of solar-powered cooler infrastructure. Participating farmers will acquire small-scale on-farm cold storage, to keep produce fresh, attractive, and nutritious longer, allowing farmers to manage their time more effectively and sell their products at higher prices in markets farther from their fields.
Our goal is to create a replicable model for refrigeration that is cost-effective and climate-smart, using innovative, on- or off-grid solar power. Small-scale, post-harvest solar cooling and battery storage have the potential to expand rapidly. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for a motivated individual to influence a nascent field.
Flexible employment arrangements may be offered depending on circumstances.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
With the supervision and close mentorship of the Program Director:
- Work directly with primarily Spanish-speaking farmers to make them aware of the opportunity and evaluate their operation for suitability to participate in the pilot project
- Work with other FarmLink staff to make final determinations about which farmers will be given the opportunity to participate in the pilot
- Work with a cross-department team to develop the conditions and agreements for farmers to be accepted into and continue to participate in the program
- Develop and oversee a quarterly monitoring and compliance process
- Develop written guidance with options, costs, and recommendations to determine the best options for various circumstances and condition
For each participating farm:
- Work with the farmer(s) and project team members to evaluate and select the best cooler and related power options and costs
- Assess permitting options and costs
- Assess site options and costs including wash water, drainage, and other food safety and quality considerations
- Ensure all necessary permits and licenses are obtained for installation and operation of cooler units
- Manage the installation of infrastructure, including managing relations with and between the farmer and the various contractors
Leading a cross functional core team, plan, organize, and manage all phases of the project ensuring that the project is delivered on time, within scope, and within budget
- Take ownership and responsibility for issue management, risks, decisions, and the overall success of a project with internal and external (suppliers) teams
- Coordinate internal resources and third parties/vendors
- Assess project issues and identify solutions
- Ensure all project-related documentation and deliverables are documented
Required Qualifications
- Spanish language fluency
- Self-motivated, independent-minded person able to process personal, managerial, and technical information
- Ability to organize, educate, and support mostly Spanish-speaking farmers so they are active participants and obtain real value from the project
- Demonstrated ability to meet budget and project deadlines
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, economics, agriculture, or related field
- 3+ years of project management experience
- Proficiency with MS Word, Excel and Google Suite tools
Desired Qualifications
- Cultural competencies for working with Latine farmers
- Project Management Professional certification
- Knowledge of agricultural business models, particularly for fresh produce, post-harvest handling and refrigeration
- Experience working with county agencies in the planning and permitting process
- Hands-on experience with mechanical systems, refrigeration, post harvest handling, and solar experience
- Ability to work under pressure of many priorities and deadlines and to manage short-term and long-term projects simultaneously
- Excellent interpersonal skills, comfortable working with people of varied cultural backgrounds
- Excellent organizational skills, well disciplined, able to meet deadlines, self-starter
- Knowledge and experience using customer relationship management (CRM) software, Salesforce preferred Salesforce
Who We Are
The mission of California FarmLink is to invest in the prosperity of farmers and ranchers through lending, education, and access to land. We value equitable access to opportunity, resilient working landscapes, fairness and accountability, and learning from diverse farmers and ranchers. For more info, and to learn about FarmLink’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) visit our DEI Principles.
Compensation
this position is: salaried, $75,000 - $100,000
Application instructions
This job expired on February 09, 2024
Deadline
December 15, 2023