Agriculture Program Director Refugee & Immigrant Self-Empowerment
- Date Posted April 04, 2024
- Location Syracuse, NY
- Category Agriculture / Nonprofit
- Job type Full-Time
Company description
The Syracuse Refugee Agriculture Program (SyRAP) is a training program and incubator farm for former refugees who are interested in accessing farmland to grow their own food and/or to generate income from selling their produce. The program’s offices and most farmers’ residences are in Syracuse, but the 180-acre farm property is located in Lacona, NY, in northern Oswego County. Each year, a new cohort of farmers receive relevant training in vegetable farming basics, marketing, and business topics. In Year 2 and beyond, farmers receive access to a 1/8th-acre plot at the incubator farm to manage independently, with technical assistance from SyRAP staff, with the intention that they eventually “graduate” towards more independence, operating with less support from the program and assuming some of the financial costs of farming. In addition to receiving curriculum and technical assistance, farmers are also supported by the program with tools, facilitated market channels, interpretation of program materials, and free transportation. SyRAP also consists of a series of community gardens on the Northside of Syracuse, and formerly, operation of a meat goat farm.
The Agriculture Program Director will be an employee of Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE). RISE advocates and promotes self-sufficiency through employment, education, social support, and economic independence for members of the refugee and immigrant communities in Onondaga, Erie, and Oswego counties, NY. Job description The Agriculture Program Director will oversee the Syracuse Refugee Agricultural Program, including farm program coordination, staff management, grant management, day-to-day program operations, public inquiries, and program direction. A successful Program Director should have very strong interpersonal skills to communicate with Executive Staff, the Agriculture team, farmers from multiple countries, donors, and community partners. The Program Director will need to be able to work independently, prioritize tasks, be flexible, and open minded. They must have a sincere interest in food justice, working with different cultures, decreasing food insecurity, and increasing self-sustainability.
Duties and Responsibilities:
● Oversee coordination of program activities including transportation, interpretation, purchasing, and education dissemination among farmers at RISE Community Farm
● Oversee the weekly communication of essential logistics and educational curriculum to 20+ farmers at RISE Community Farm via interpreters including topics such as irrigation management, produce sales, garlic planting, etc.
● Coordinate transportation of clients to the farm throughout the growing season including communicating with Drivers and Community Liaisons at 2 pickup locations, and act as the backup van driver, as needed
● Approve purchase requests, submit billing requests for interpreter hours, create invoices as needed, and oversee market reimbursements, to ensure that farmers, partners, and contracted staff are adequately compensated in a timely manner
● Assist Development Director in grant writing
● Oversee the management, and reporting processes for the Agriculture Department grants, including ensuring all policies and procedures are adequately followed
● Support community garden planning and coordination
● Supervise all SyRAP employees including approving timesheets, vacation requests, and conducting regular one on one meetings with each staff member
● Oversee any department-specific hiring
● Complete monthly internal program reports and regularly communicate with other RISE Directors and the Executive Team about challenges and opportunities
● Help build positive relationships with new and existing community partners
● Support growth and program development through yearly visioning process
● Oversee agriculture specific policies for safety at the RISE Community Farm, RISE gardens, and farmers markets
● Other duties as assigned by the RISE Executive Team
Required Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience
● 1-2 years of experience in supervision or management
● Clear communication skills, in both written and verbal forms
● Deep familiarity with agricultural production, adult education, and Syracuse food system
● Self-directed individual with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as collaborate with others in a team setting
● Outstanding leadership ability and communication skills, including experience with communicating with diverse groups of staff, clients, and partners
● Ability to be flexible, solve problems as needed, and manage competing priorities
● Deep passion and commitment to connecting marginalized communities with sustainable agriculture resources and opportunities
● Ability to drive and have a clean driving record
● Ability to lift 50 lbs
● Proficiency in using Google Drive Suite Preferred Qualifications:
● Fluency in another language
● Lived and/or professional experience working with refugees and immigrants or working internationally
● Experience with and passion for community and personal development
Compensation:
● $50,000 / year
● 401k / IRA with 6% employer matching
● Paid time off including 10 vacation, 3 sick, 3 personal, and 2 floating holidays, plus days off for 12 additional holidays
● Flexible comp time based on seasonal workload fluctuations Compensation this position is : salaried, 35,568* - 50k Application instructions
The Syracuse Refugee Agriculture Program (SyRAP) is a training program and incubator farm for former refugees who are interested in accessing farmland to grow their own food and/or to generate income from selling their produce. The program’s offices and most farmers’ residences are in Syracuse, but the 180-acre farm property is located in Lacona, NY, in northern Oswego County. Each year, a new cohort of farmers receive relevant training in vegetable farming basics, marketing, and business topics. In Year 2 and beyond, farmers receive access to a 1/8th-acre plot at the incubator farm to manage independently, with technical assistance from SyRAP staff, with the intention that they eventually “graduate” towards more independence, operating with less support from the program and assuming some of the financial costs of farming. In addition to receiving curriculum and technical assistance, farmers are also supported by the program with tools, facilitated market channels, interpretation of program materials, and free transportation. SyRAP also consists of a series of community gardens on the Northside of Syracuse, and formerly, operation of a meat goat farm.
The Agriculture Program Director will be an employee of Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE). RISE advocates and promotes self-sufficiency through employment, education, social support, and economic independence for members of the refugee and immigrant communities in Onondaga, Erie, and Oswego counties, NY. Job description The Agriculture Program Director will oversee the Syracuse Refugee Agricultural Program, including farm program coordination, staff management, grant management, day-to-day program operations, public inquiries, and program direction. A successful Program Director should have very strong interpersonal skills to communicate with Executive Staff, the Agriculture team, farmers from multiple countries, donors, and community partners. The Program Director will need to be able to work independently, prioritize tasks, be flexible, and open minded. They must have a sincere interest in food justice, working with different cultures, decreasing food insecurity, and increasing self-sustainability.
Duties and Responsibilities:
● Oversee coordination of program activities including transportation, interpretation, purchasing, and education dissemination among farmers at RISE Community Farm
● Oversee the weekly communication of essential logistics and educational curriculum to 20+ farmers at RISE Community Farm via interpreters including topics such as irrigation management, produce sales, garlic planting, etc.
● Coordinate transportation of clients to the farm throughout the growing season including communicating with Drivers and Community Liaisons at 2 pickup locations, and act as the backup van driver, as needed
● Approve purchase requests, submit billing requests for interpreter hours, create invoices as needed, and oversee market reimbursements, to ensure that farmers, partners, and contracted staff are adequately compensated in a timely manner
● Assist Development Director in grant writing
● Oversee the management, and reporting processes for the Agriculture Department grants, including ensuring all policies and procedures are adequately followed
● Support community garden planning and coordination
● Supervise all SyRAP employees including approving timesheets, vacation requests, and conducting regular one on one meetings with each staff member
● Oversee any department-specific hiring
● Complete monthly internal program reports and regularly communicate with other RISE Directors and the Executive Team about challenges and opportunities
● Help build positive relationships with new and existing community partners
● Support growth and program development through yearly visioning process
● Oversee agriculture specific policies for safety at the RISE Community Farm, RISE gardens, and farmers markets
● Other duties as assigned by the RISE Executive Team
Required Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience
● 1-2 years of experience in supervision or management
● Clear communication skills, in both written and verbal forms
● Deep familiarity with agricultural production, adult education, and Syracuse food system
● Self-directed individual with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as collaborate with others in a team setting
● Outstanding leadership ability and communication skills, including experience with communicating with diverse groups of staff, clients, and partners
● Ability to be flexible, solve problems as needed, and manage competing priorities
● Deep passion and commitment to connecting marginalized communities with sustainable agriculture resources and opportunities
● Ability to drive and have a clean driving record
● Ability to lift 50 lbs
● Proficiency in using Google Drive Suite Preferred Qualifications:
● Fluency in another language
● Lived and/or professional experience working with refugees and immigrants or working internationally
● Experience with and passion for community and personal development
Compensation:
● $50,000 / year
● 401k / IRA with 6% employer matching
● Paid time off including 10 vacation, 3 sick, 3 personal, and 2 floating holidays, plus days off for 12 additional holidays
● Flexible comp time based on seasonal workload fluctuations Compensation this position is : salaried, 35,568* - 50k Application instructions
this job's deadline has passed
DeadlineApril 19, 2024