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quivira coalition seeks coordinator for their beloved new agrarian program

Posted: January 21 2017
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Photo from the Quivira Coalition.

The Quivira Coalition, a Santa Fe-based nonprofit that builds resilience by fostering ecological, economic and social health on Western landscapes, seeks a coordinator for their New Agrarian Program (NAP). Now, we can't even tell you how awesome the Quivira coalition is in less than 500 words, so we'll just like to some of the other times we've told you, like here, and here, and here, to name a few. Or just take our word for it. They're hiring for a part-time coordinator, a position that requires living in sunny Santa Fe, and which offers excellent benefits.
Full position description below!

NAP offers apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture in partnership with mentor ranchers and farmers who are part of the Quivira community in the West. It aims to provide the next generation of food producers with hands-on, on-the-ground mentoring from seasoned mentors who are dedicated stewards of the land; practice beyond organic, regenerative methods of food production; provide excellent animal care; and are skilled and dedicated teachers.

The NAP coordinator is a people-oriented facilitator who has worked with agricultural producers and/or in experiential education. An ideal candidate enjoys working mentoring young professionals and is passionate about solving current food production and farming challenges. This person should also live in or near Santa Fe, New Mexico (or be willing to relocate), have the flexibility to travel to farms and ranches, and be computer literate.
This position requires some travel to mentor operations and occasional travel to other diverse locations for conferences, presentations, and other work obligations. The NAP coordinator will work closely with mentor operations to help guide them through the apprentice application and hiring processes. Further, this person will facilitate and provide guidance for both apprentices and mentors through their year together. He or she will be responsible for helping mentors schedule and execute activities associated with their apprenticeships.
The NAP coordinator is responsible for management and implementation of Quivira’s apprenticeship program. Specific duties and responsibilities include:
Coordination
  • Provide support with mentor/apprentice relationships as needed; foster professional development.
  • Implement application process for potential new program mentors; continually seek out new and prospective mentors to design and develop new apprenticeship opportunities.
  • Ensure good mentor rapport and successful apprenticeships at each mentor location
  • Conduct in-depth annual check-ins with mentors to debrief most recent apprenticeship and discuss program components, successes and challenges.
  • Help design and implement necessary changes to ensure ongoing success in apprenticeship program.
  • Oversee marketing, advertising, outreach and public relations for NAP.
  • Facilitate program growth while maintaining high quality standards and regenerative agriculture criteria for prospective mentors.
  • Help design and develop new and creative ways to advance program goals (e.g. job fairs, newsletters, local outreach and collaboration, etc…).
  • Maintain a growing network of new agrarians and established producers; help facilitate connections between current and future generations of food producers and land stewards.
Outreach
  • Regularly engage local, regional and national agrarian communities by conducting site visits to potential host ranches and farms, and to other agricultural apprenticeship programs and agricultural advocacy organizations.
  • Conduct site visits and outreach with aim to recruit new mentor operations into the New Agrarian Program.
  • Actively work to build a collaborative, “win-win” network of regenerative agricultural operations and organizations nationwide through regular outreach efforts and travel as needed.
  • Foster a dialogue among agricultural apprenticeship programs nationwide with the objective of raising standards for training and education of new agrarians and increasing capacity for individual programs to expand and thrive.
Development
  • In cooperation with the executive director, expand the reach of the New Agrarian Program by designing, funding, and implementing new ideas that provide leadership training, networking, and capacity-building support for new agrarians.
  • In cooperation with the executive director, build rapport with existing and potential major donors for the New Agrarian Program. Strive to secure multi-year funding.
  • With the help of the business manager, create and manage the program budget to ensure financial sustainability and longevity.
  • Represent Quivira and the New Agrarian Program by occasionally attending relevant events in the community and by actively seeking opportunities to present at relevant events and conferences.
Additional Tasks
  • Represent Quivira at various functions, conferences, workshops, etc. Work with collaborative community partners to achieve common goals (e.g. LandLink, Farm to Table, National Young Farmers Coalition, Santa Fe Community College Center for Sustainable Technologies, University of New Mexico Sustainability Studies, Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute, and others).
  • Collaborate with other staff members and engage with other Quivira program areas as needed.
  • Attend and actively participate in the annual Quivira Conference as the representative for NAP.
  • Participate in Board and Staff meetings, retreats, and strategic planning meetings.

 

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree or comparable experience
  • Experience working one-on-one with students in an experiential learning context
  • Experience working with agricultural producers
  • Experience working in a nonprofit environment
  • Ability and desire to work outdoors, lift 50 pounds, and pitch in on ranching or farming operations occasionally
  • Exceptional organizational, writing, and other communication skills
  • Comfort and familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet, and other office software (facility with G Suite particularly desirable)
  • Must live in or near Santa Fe, New Mexico (or be willing to relocate)
Terms of Employment
  • Half-time, hourly ($20 - $25/hr DOE) with flexible work schedule and potential to become full-time over the next year
  • Benefits after three months including health, 401K, holidays, vacation, and sick leave
To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to [email protected]. This position will remain open until filled.