Portland Chapter Coordinator
Reports to: Farmer Training Manager
Employment Type / Hours: Part-time, hourly; 0.65 – 0.75 FTE (26-30 hours/week)
Location: Portland, OR area (work from home and at area locations)
Start date: Early January 2025
Timeline: Application deadline December 1, 2024
Compensation: $24.64/hour. Benefits include flexible work schedule, paid vacation/holiday/sick leave policy, employer-paid health & dental insurance, home office stipend, and 2% IRA retirement account match. Monthly phone and internet stipend provided. Requires the use of your own personal vehicle (mileage reimbursed) and cell phone. RFC laptop provided.
Our organization is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color.
Organization Background
Mission: Rogue Farm Corps (RFC) is an Oregon non-profit that trains and equips the next generation of farmers and ranchers through hands-on educational programs and the preservation of farmland.
Vision: RFC envisions a world in which land is deeply cared for, power is equitably shared, and farms, ranches, and the people who work them flourish.
Values:
- Stewardship – protecting farmland and promoting agricultural practices that restore water, soil and biodiversity.
- Mentorship – sharing knowledge and experience across generations through hands-on, experiential education and learning.
- Collaboration – joining forces with partners and allies to advance shared goals and act together for a livable future.
- Systemic change – addressing disparities in the food system to achieve equitable access to education, training, land, and capital, and building diverse, adaptable communities able to thrive in a changing climate.
Position Description
The Portland Chapter Coordinator facilitates RFC’s beginning farmer training programs in the Portland, Oregon region and beyond. The Coordinator helps train and equip new farmers via the Apprenticeship and Beginning Farmer Educational Event Series (BFEES) programming. They build relationships with participants, Host Farmers, event instructors, and other organizations. They promote a just, sustainable local agricultural system by collaborating with partners. The Portland Chapter Coordinator will support some distanced Host Farms, program participants, and events outside of the Portland Chapter in addition to local Portland Chapter work. The Coordinator works closely with the RFC Farmer Training Program team and collaborates with RFC staff across programs and teams.
Responsibilities
- Recruit Host Farmers that meet RFC’s guidelines.
- Support Host Farmers in developing their on-farm curricula and on-farm agreements
- Conduct program outreach efforts online and in-person
- Evaluate written applications to the farmer training programs.
- Help plan and facilitate orientations for new participants. Co-facilitate annual Host Farmer orientation and debrief meetings.
- Plan educational events using RFC’s class and discussion topic outlines in collaboration with farmers, agricultural professionals, and other partners as guest instructors to create a local educational event series and other program events.
- Organize and facilitate classes, farm tours and other participant events in the chapter in collaboration with instructors/leaders, including leading introductions, keeping track of time, leading certain educational activities, creating and reminding participants of group agreements, checking for understanding, making program announcements, and gathering evaluations.
- Keep up-to-date records for participants and Host Farms. Send weekly program updates to current participants and Host Farmers.
- Provide one-on-one support to Host Farmers and participants throughout the program season. Act as a resource for all Host Farmers and participants.
- Support Farmer Training Program Manager in arranging ongoing professional development for Host Farmers.
- Contribute to ongoing program and organizational communication, development, and improvement.
- Attend occasional conferences, trainings, meetings, and retreats. Support additional organizational events as needed.
- Coordinate and collaborate with other agriculture and food systems partners in the region, e.g. serving on the planning committee for the annual Portland area Small Farm School. Engage in relationship building and solidarity work with BIPOC-led and other allied food system organizations.
Required Competencies
- Commitment to RFC mission, vision, and values
- At least two full seasons of farm experience in the realm of sustainable crop production, market gardening, or equivalent
- Ability to foster a positive, equitable group learning environment and attend to the needs and goals of a learning group
- Ability to use online applications including email, calendar, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Sheets and willingness to learn new online tools as needed
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative remote team
- Good organization and time management skills including self-motivation to work remotely and complete tasks in a timely manner
- Excellent attention to detail
- Able to connect with and develop trusting relationships with people and communities of various backgrounds and identities
- Basic understanding of social justice concepts and commitment to applying them to the Chapter Coordinator role
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
Preferred Qualifications
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Spanish
- Experience teaching or training people in sustainable farming skills and concepts, especially as relates to organic mixed vegetable production
- Commitment to and understanding of soil health and soil biology as well as agricultural practices that foster them
- Knowledge of or experience with local food systems
- Strong connections to Black, Indigenous, Latinx, or other communities of color and other underserved populations
- Commitment to continuous learning
- Experience coordinating programs and relationships with partners
Working Conditions
- The Portland Chapter Coordinator can expect a flexible working schedule that includes some evenings and weekends. Requires approximately 26-30 hours/week.
- All staff work remotely. A good internet connection is necessary. A home office is highly recommended as no office is provided.
- Requires regular travel within and near the Portland Metro region and occasional out of local area travel (travel reimbursements provided).
- Must confirm monthly schedule with Farmer Training Program Manager.
- Approximate activity breakdown by percentage of time: 40% working independently, 30% in meetings, 30% traveling and facilitating events or activities. Percentages vary greatly depending on week and season.
Rogue Farm Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.