Company description

Mission: To build sustainable food and farming systems through policy advocacy and on-the-ground programs that create more resilient family farms, communities, and ecosystems.

Values:
Ecological Stewardship: We recognize that all farms and communities benefit from healthier and more resilient agroecosystems, particularly in the face of climate change and loss of biodiversity. We provide information and resources to meet farmers where they are and support them according to their unique circumstances so that they may become better land stewards.

Justice and Equity: We recognize the historic and lasting inequities in the California food and farming system. In order to achieve justice, we believe farmers of color, and other historically oppressed people, including immigrant, indigenous and women farmers, should have the opportunity to create and participate in a food and agriculture system that aligns with their needs, values, identities, knowledge systems, and communities. We commit to advancing racial, gender, and environmental justice in our larger systems, as well as in our own workplace because it is morally right and this diversity yields enhanced creativity, problem-solving as well as system-level resilience and wisdom.

Practical Solutions: We are rooted in the real-world needs of working farmers and see farmers of diverse backgrounds as knowledge holders. We offer opportunities for cross-pollination and provide practical resources that help farmers succeed as small businesses, local food providers and land stewards. We remain a resource hub for tools, events, and tips that they can apply directly in their day-to-day operations to be the best farmers they can be.

Economic Fairness: We promote a fair economic system that uplifts farmers’ dignity and gives them the freedom to make individual choices that meet the needs of their land, farm, families, and communities. We believe excessive corporate power undermines the prosperity of individual farmers, our communities, and the health of our democracy.

Centering Farmers: The future of farming rests on optimizing farms for farmers and recognizing the daily challenges they face in growing food, rather than maximum yields or output, which minimizes farmers and their communities and leads to extraction. Our programs and policies are guided by the expressed concerns, needs, and aspirations of farmers. Listening to and including farmers directly in decision-making is essential to advancing policies and programs that address their needs.

Strong Local Communities: We believe vibrant communities, anchored by strong local food economies, offer an antidote to concentrated corporate power. Our staff, board, and chapters aspire to strengthen relationships in their own backyards as part of the fabric of local communities, and allow the organization to remain connected to, informed and enriched by the diversity of California peoples.

Job description

Position Summary
CAFF has grown in size over the past few years and refined its focus on communities of farmers we aim to serve. This position will support staff and programs and provide direct engagement of Latino/a/é/x (Latinx) farmers, helping facilitate cross-team engagement and weaving together existing technical assistance through CAFF communications channels. The position is situated in the Communications and Membership Team at CAFF and serves as Co-Director of that team and is responsible for ensuring outreach and technical assistance is both linguistically and culturally appropriate. With strong facilitation skills and a collaborative leadership style, this position will work closely with Program Directors to resource their teams to better engage Latinx farmers in our four core program areas.

In 2020, after an extensive discussion and reflection process, CAFF affirmed justice and equity as a core value, and a commitment to better serve the needs of BIPOC farmers. In 2021, we developed and adopted a Racial Equity Action Plan, with a particular focus on growing our capacity to serve Spanish-speaking Latinx farmers. CAFF’s internal staff-led Justice & Equity Committee and Las Semillas, a staff Spanish-language peer-support cohort, have offered some organizational accountability and capacity in this work. We are seeking additional communications and engagement leadership to advance organizational changes.

CAFF is headquartered in Davis, CA. This position is preferred in Northern or Central California, given trips to Davis and proximity to other CAFF staff but open to considering applicants from across California. Additional travel will be required throughout California to support staff.

We are concurrently hiring an Equity Associate Director who will also support this work. Please see the listing for that position at caff.org/jobs-at-caff
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
% Time — Description

40% - Relationship Building & Latinx Farmer Accountability
Support peer-to-peer learning structures (e.g. Las Semillas) to enhance individual staff capacity to serve Latinx farmers
Cultivate strong, professional relationships with partners serving Latinx farmers in California
Support landscape analysis of Latinx farmer-serving organizations with partners, including who is providing what support in particular regions of the state, how they are providing it, and where needs remain
Contribute to and represent CAFF at relevant Latinx farmer events, e.g. Latino Farmer Conference, EcoFarm’s Spanish Language track, etc.
Participate in and represent CAFF as part of any local or state working groups, committees, etc. focused on Spanish-speaking farmers
Conduct individual relationship-building with Latinx farmers to anchor CAFF’s work in regions of the state (locations TBD, depending on other staff)
Support and enhance annual or bi-annual farmer listening and accountability process partnering with CAFF’s Policy Director and CAFF’s Equity Associate Director

40% - Communications Strategy & Assessment
Work across teams and program areas at CAFF to understand internal needs and resources needed to develop CAFF’s capacity to serve Spanish speaking farmers
Collaborate with the Co-Director of Communications & Membership and Bilingual Communications & Events Manager to develop and improve effective, accessible, and culturally appropriate communications framework and tools for Spanish-speaking farmers and improve existing communications channels for English-speaking farmers
Develop high-level strategic roadmap for Spanish language content: website, newsletter, social media, etc.
Act as liaison between staff serving Latinx farmers and the Communications team to ensure effective collaboration, cohesive voice, content creation, storytelling, etc.
10% - California Small Farm Conference
Collaborate with the Bilingual Communications & Events Manager to grow and enhance Spanish language track at the CA Small Farm Conference
Serve on the Conference Planning Team, solicit speakers, panels, and subjects
Partner-building and promotion of Spanish language track to a wider community
Assist in hosting at least one Spanish-language event as part of the regional gatherings taking place on the final day of the conference

10% - General CAFF responsibilities
Support fundraising for activities identified above and participate in additional fundraising activities
Participate and contribute to organizational racial equity action planning discussions

Participate in local grassroots engagement efforts, including outreach and relationship-building with farmers in your local community
Represent CAFF by participating in community activities and events as necessary
Participate in other administrative tasks as needed
We know it's impossible to convey every single task for a particular job in one job description. Our hope is that as we work together, and your role evolves over time, we can adjust your job description accordingly.

QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience
High School, Associate’s, or Bachelor’s Degree (a degree or emphasis in Chicanx Studies or Spanish language is a plus)
At least 3 years of experience in communications-related work in an organization or institution
Passion for food and agriculture issues and engaging underrepresented voices
Demonstrated ability to create processes to advance justice and equity goals is preferred
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Strong facilitation skills
Collaborative leadership style
Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish, including strong experience communicating in conversational Spanish
Experience with team building in a virtual/hybrid work environment
Demonstrated ability to effectively work with and support diverse team members through your understanding of self, language, culture, and community

*For a full description, please visit our site.



 

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 75k-100k

Location

job can be done remotely

Application instructions

Deadline

June 30, 2024