Job: Just Food seeks Farm School NYC Program Director

Application Deadline: October 15, 2010 THE ORGANIZATION: Just Food is a non-profit organization that works to develop a just and sustainable food system in the New York City region. Our programs help keep local farms in business and build access to fresh, affordable, healthy food for New York City communities, including low income neighborhoods. We train local residents to share their skills with their neighbors in order to develop markets, grow food, and build awareness about the connections between environmental sustainability, healthy farms and healthy communities. BACKGROUND: Farm School NYC is a project of Just Food, created and managed in partnership with a network of urban farmers and community gardeners, and anti-hunger and food justice advocates in New York City.  The mission of Farm School NYC: The NYC School of Urban Agriculture, is to provide comprehensive professional training in urban agriculture and food production.  As a community-created and managed school, it will be a unique, locally-based agriculture training program accessible to people of all educational backgrounds and income levels.  Admission will be open to all, with a focus on New York City residents who might otherwise not have the opportunity to study in a more traditional rural environment.  Our goal is to offer a broad range of programs that will teach methods of sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship and food systems management.  In so doing, we will share and build knowledge within our communities, improve local access to healthy food, address issues of social and racial justice, develop leadership, and contribute to our local economies.

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As a collaborative project created by individuals and organizations involved in NYC’s greening, botanical and agriculture work, we will leverage our collective resources throughout diverse neighborhoods.  We will rely on educators primarily from within NYC, building on the rich knowledge of our local community gardeners and urban agriculture practitioners.  In order to keep our costs low and fees accessible, work-study initiatives will be an important component of the program.  In addition, the school will partner with local and regional food-related businesses to create professional internships and provide potential sources of future employment for our students.

Farm_School_Director_description
The Farm School NYC Program Director will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of daily operations of the school, and will be the spokesperson and lead advocate for Farm School NYC. The Program Director will work with and support the Executive Board, Advisory Council and its committees in order to:
•       Pursue and safeguard the mission and vision of Farm School NYC
•       Recruit, oversee and support the faculty
•       Manage student recruitment and enrollment
•       Build relationships with current and potential partner organizations and apprenticeship placements
•       Manage volunteers, interns and support staff, including coordinating the volunteer program and apprenticeship placements
•       Work with Just Food staff to support fundraising and administrative functions
•       Ensure the Farm School’s direction is in line with the Farm School vision
•       Coordinate program development and logistics with organizational partners
•       Develop marketing materials and actively promote the school
•       Research and pursue accreditation options for Farm School NYC
•       Fulfill reporting requirements for NIFA grant including submitting weekly updates and monthly reports and maintaining consistent communication with contract manager
•       Facilitate on-going program evaluation.

QUALIFICATIONS:
•       Dedication to issues related to food justice and urban agriculture
•       Hands-on agricultural experience strongly desired
•       Detail-oriented, with an ability to multi-task and prioritize projects
•       Strong writing, editing, budgeting and grant management skills
•       Strong interpersonal communication, public speaking and participatory facilitation skills
•       Capacity for collaborative project development
•       Supervisory and program development experience
•       Ability to work well in teams with diverse groups across race, class and urban/rural divides
•       A desire to work with low-income community members and experience in doing so.
•       Flexibility and a great sense of humor
•       Experience with the New York City urban agriculture community strongly preferred
•       Working knowledge of Spanish preferred
•       Knowledge of educational certification and curriculum development preferred
•       Extensive travel throughout NYC required
•       Some evenings and weekends required

This is a full time position that reports to the Executive Director of Just Food and the Farm School NYC Executive Board.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
For this full-time position is $47,000-$51,000. Just Food offers excellent health, vision, life, and dental insurance, flexible holidays, vacation, and sick leave benefits.

This position is funded until August 31, 2013, with the possibility of continuing employment as funding becomes available.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Just Food is committed to creating a workplace that respects and values a diversity of cultural, ethnic and experiential backgrounds.

HOW TO APPLY:
Send resume, cover letter, salary history, and contact information for three references to Jacquie Berger at jacquie@justfood.org

Please place “Farm School Program Director” in subject line of the email.

Deadline for applications is October 15, 2010. Open until filled.