Farm Beginnings Organizer

Overview

Job Title: Farm Beginnings Organizer

Reports To: Programs Director

FLSA Status: Exempt or Nonexempt depending on offer salary

Hours: 100% FTE or negotiable but no less than 85% FTE; including evenings and weekends

Salary Range & Benefits: $45,000 – $65,000 annually (beginning organizers should expect to land on the lower part of the range between $45,000 – $55,000). To determine salary, we use a salary calculation system which takes into consideration nontraditional backgrounds, lived experience, community involvement, work experience, training, degrees, certifications, and more.

Go to: https://landstewardshipproject.org/opportunities/ – “LSP Benefits Package” for additional information.

Location: Based out of one of three LSP offices along with hybrid work from home. This position will require an employee’s home base to be within a reasonable distance to one of three LSP offices.

Note: This is a union-eligible position with bargaining unit OPEIU Local 12.

Description updated: October 2023

Mission: LSP is an organization grounded in its mission and membership. We seek to do work that ensures that people impacted by climate change and systemic oppression are driving solutions on the land, in communities and through our democracy.  The mission of the Land Stewardship Project is to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture, and to develop healthy communities.  Farm Beginnings provides farmer-to-farmer training and networking and organizes to change the conditions impacting farmers and food systems.

Job Summary: As a Farm Beginnings Organizer, you play a key role in fulfilling our mission by building and strengthening the support network for beginning farmers and providing farmer-led education and leadership development opportunities.  You achieve this through relationship building, organizing and training with farmers and community members.  This fulltime position will focus on Farm Beginnings and Land Access work with time on farms and in communities in the Driftless Region (covering SE Minnesota, western Wisconsin and NE Iowa) and in the Prairie Region (covering SW and West Central Minnesota).

What you bring to the position:

·        You have zeal for the organization’s mission and understand that developing relationships, building community and organizing for change are essential to achieving success.

·        You understand the importance of setting goals and you consistently achieve or exceed your goals.

·        You can take the initiative to carry out your job duties and see what needs to be done.

·        You embody and align with our vision and mission and appreciate the strength and stability that comes from working with a values-based organization.

·        You embrace change and have the resilience required to continually improve yourself. You can think creatively and can adapt to evolving situations.

·        You understand the need to collaborate with your team members and other departments and that synergy comes from everyone rowing in the same direction.

·        You do your work with a courteous, cooperative and helpful mindset, with a positive attitude and in the spirit of teamwork to ensure the success of our organization.

Essential Functions:

You will lead RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND FACILITATION SKILLS to:

·        Lead LSP’s beginning farmer training opportunities, specifically Farm Beginnings.

·        Develop and implement training for farmers to prepare them for farming and owning land.

·        Connect beginning farmers with mentors and peers to assist with skill building and learning.

·        Develop beginning farmers into movement leaders for roles within and beyond LSP.

·        Design and implement participatory evaluation with beginning farmers to adapt approaches to better respond to emerging needs and opportunities.

You will use your UNDERSTANDING and EXPERIENCE with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities to:

·        Recruit a diverse audience of beginning farmers into LSP’s training and networking opportunities.

·        Support BIPOC farmers along their educational path and in their efforts to navigate barriers and access training and resources including land.

·        Adapt, design and implement culturally appropriate and relevant farmer training and land access workshops.

·        Work collaboratively with allied organizations led by BIPOC individuals to remove barriers to farming and connect BIPOC farmers to emerging opportunities.

You will use your COLLABORATIVE SKILLS to:

·        Address racism in the food and farming system within the context beginning farmer training and land access.

·        Coordinate with staff and members across LSP to make the food and farming system more equitable.

·        Work with the Farm Beginnings team and the Program Department staff to improve approaches to farmer training and to strengthen regional networks.

Skills:

• Superior interpersonal skills and all-around communicator.
• Strong sense of personal initiative; excellent personal accountability and follow through.
• Skills in navigating and fostering healthy multi-racial interactions/spaces.
• Critical analysis of power and privilege along the intersection of gender, race and class.
• Strong commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and progressive political change. Commitment to the mission and values of LSP.
• Strong in relationship building, cultivating trust, responding to feedback, and thriving in a collaborative environment.
• Desire to promote LSP’s goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures.

Qualifications (required):

·        Experience working in an immersive environment with BIPOC individuals and/or communities.

·        Experience having conversations about anti-racism with white and BIPOC people.

·        Group facilitation skills and experience, both in-person and on-line.

·        Proven track record of project planning and management skills.

·        High proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and familiarity with on-line training platforms like Zoom, Google Drive, Google Classroom, etc.

·        Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings, as needed.

Travel: Expected to travel for events, one-to-ones and work meetings. Must have a valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, active registration and insurance, and be willing to travel on the job. This role may also require overnight stays in the Driftless and Prairie regions. Mileage reimbursement is compensated at the federal standard.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Work Environment: This is a hybrid work position and will require working from one of three LSP offices, work in the field, and work from home. You must have a dedicated workspace where you are able to maintain work hours reflective of office hours (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). We will provide you with or support the technology necessary to complete your job duties. We have staff in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Our physical offices are in Lewiston, Minneapolis, and Montevideo, Minn. Candidates based in rural southeastern Minnesota are strongly encouraged to apply.

Physical Demands: This is a computer/office work-based role which requires extended periods of stationary positions such as sitting or standing. This job also requires public speaking and the ability to communicate with the public, LSP members and other staff frequently through text and spoken words. Occasional physical demands could include setting up events, food hauling and preparation, loading and unloading materials for training, setting up tables and chairs, tabling at outreach events and filing. This would require the ability to carry 20-60lbs, lift files, and open filing cabinets

To APPLY: In one PDF document, send resume, references and their contact information and cover letter to jobs@landstewardshipproject.org, with “Farm Beginnings Organizer: YOUR NAME” in the subject line. Attn: Natalia Espina, HR & Operations Director. Accepting application on a rolling basis until filled. Phone calls will not be accepted.

Land Stewardship Project (LSP)/Land Stewardship Action Fund (LSAF) is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions.

Applicants with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. If you seek accommodation, please advise in writing at the time you apply.

Women, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ candidates, people with disabilities, as well as rural and urban farmers are strongly encouraged to apply.

*This job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.