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

The needs of California’s family-scale farmers, particularly small, historically underserved, and urban farmers, are often not addressed through typical channels that are geared towards industrial scale farms.
CAFF seeks a Farmer Services Regional Lead - Hybrid/Remote to work directly with farmers in providing them “right-sized” technical assistance on food safety compliance, organic certification, transition or maintenance, value-added products, and accessing funding (emergency funding and/or routine grant opportunities).
The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong initiative and ability to dive into and navigate complex issues and “translate” them into the key info a small farmer needs to succeed. A person who will excel in this position is independently driven with strong multicultural leadership, project management, adult education, and facilitation skills with experience and a passion for California agriculture communities.
This position will also be an important part of the Farmer Services Team and location is TBD and dependent on location of applicant. There will be occasional travel to other parts of the state for collaborative projects with other Farmer Services and/or CAFF staff. The Farmer Services Regional Lead - Hybrid/Remote, is expected to be an “advanced generalist” in various topics that small farmers need guidance on.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, varies DOE, $60,000.00 - $79,000.00

Location

job can be done remotely

Application instructions

If you are not registered, you'll be prompted to do so. Don't worry, it's free!

Deadline

February 02, 2026