Company description

The Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA’s mission is to cultivate markets, policies, and communities that sustain thriving, socially just, and environmentally sound family farms. RAFI works nationally and internationally, focusing on North Carolina and the southeastern United States. RAFI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Pittsboro, North Carolina and incorporated in 1990.

Our vision:

• Family farmers have the power to earn a fair and dependable income.
• Everyone who labors in agriculture is respected, protected, and valued by society.
• Air, water, and soil are preserved for future generations.
• The land yields healthy and abundant food and fiber that is accessible to all members of society.
• The full diversity of seeds and breeds, the building blocks of agriculture, are reinvigorated and publicly protected.

Job description

Farmer Democracy Project Coordinator

The Farmer Democracy Coordinator will be responsible for the success of RAFI’s technical assistance program by ensuring seamless management, coordination, and delivery of high-quality technical assistance services to vulnerable farmer communities in North Carolina. The Farmer Democracy Coordinator will play a key role in the execution of the Farmer Leadership Network, enterprise development services, and risk management education. The Farmer Democracy Coordinator may also provide assistance to related other projects within the organization. This is a full-time, salaried position with benefits including healthcare and paid vacation.

CORE FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

Farmer Leadership

• Manage budget and overall direction of project, including but not limited to seeking additional funding, strategic alliances, and growth of project to regional scale
• Maintain and grow relationships with partners, subcontractors, Farm Service Agency and other government officials
• Provide technical assistance to interested farmer-leaders: access to federal programs, resource referral
• Plan, execute, and facilitate one-on-one coaching and group farmer trainings
• Develop and refine leadership curriculum, including research on committees and boards to keep up with regulatory changes
• Base-build with farmer voters and leaders across North Carolina
• Strategize, connect, and engage broader legal, civil rights, and agricultural landscapes
• Plan and conduct workshops on federal farm programs and relevant committees
• Create research and other materials for outreach, including blog posts and website pages
• Write grant reports and proposals

Risk Management Education

• Execute farmer workshops for fall 2016 and spring 2017 on recordkeeping for crop insurance

Qualifications

Minimum

• 3+ years experience working in agriculture and/or agriculture-related organizations
• Experience in oversight of project work plan development, execution and budget management
• Familiarity with federal farm programs, agencies, and services
• Familiarity with principles of community organizing
• Clear writing and communication skills
• Extremely organized and attentive to detail
• Ability to work both on a team and independently
• Ability to remain sensitive and clear-headed for crisis management situations
• Applicants must demonstrate a proven track record of cultural competency and power analysis, especially when working with people of color, low wealth communities, rural communities, people with limited English proficiency (LEP) and veterans. Must also demonstrate ability to work effectively with diverse communities and build coalition across unlikely partnerships.

Preferred

• 2+ years experience in community organizing and/or campaigning
• 2+ years experience in oversight of project work plan development, execution and budget management
• Programmatic experience working with farmers or rural communities
• History of successful grant writing

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, less than $50,000

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline