Food Access Program Coordinator

Application Deadline: Wednesday, December 9, 2015

The NOFA/Mass Food Access Coordinator is responsible for making our education and advocacy resources readily available to traditionally underserved  populations throughout the Commonwealth. Currently, the Food Access Program is focused on providing capacity building for urban agriculture groups in order to improve their food production resources and operations.  This capacity building includes soil restoration guidance, on-site agricultural workshops, a farming mentor, and scholarships to conferences and educational events. 

Major Responsibilities Include:

• Act as Project Coordinator on a newly received Specialty Crop Block Grant where NOFA will be partnering with Groundwork Somerville and Trustees Boston Region focused on specialty crops on urban farms: trials for improved fertility and production in compost-based soils.  This work will include research, partner organization advisement, overseeing comprehensive record keeping for all aspects of the program, from soil testing to workshop attendance to surveying and making growing recommendations; reporting results and statistics to the NOFA/Mass team, MDAR, USDA and the public.
• Maintain and develop current NOFA/Mass relationships with urban agriculture partners including Gardening the Community in Springfield and Project Bread in Boston; connecting groups with workshop leaders, mentors, scheduling and organizing on-site trainings, and coordinating attendance and distributing scholarships to NOFA/Mass conferences and educational events according to the needs of the particular farming program.
• Develops and cultivates relationships with other groups that are interested in agricultural training, offering NOFA/Mass services when and where appropriate.
• Documents and reports program work through NOFA/Mass Communications channels regularly; writing articles for the newsletter, putting announcements in e-blasts, providing the story of the work for our membership and others.
• Connects with and attends local urban agriculture conferences and workshops and tables at these events in order to provide a NOFA/Mass presence in this setting and create relationships for further collaborative work.

Qualifications include:

• A strong commitment to organic farming.
• A strong understanding of food access issues, food justice principles, and the politics of food among under served populations.
• Experience with urban agriculture practices, techniques, systems and programs.
• Experience working with diverse populations.
• Strong project management skills
• Ability to do outreach, manage partner relationships, and keep accurate records.
• Great communicator, strong writer, and ability to inspire others into action.
• Ability to work collegially as a team member as well as independently from home, with minimal supervision;
• Basic office management and computer software skills.

Position Details:

• 15 hours per week with generally flexible schedule
• Starting pay: $13-$18 per hour, dependent on experience, with no health insurance benefits
• Employee must maintain a current NOFA/Mass membership
• Employee must attend NOFA/Mass retreats and staff meetings, the winter and summer conferences, and education department conference calls and meet other regular reporting responsibilities
• Flexible work schedule, employee must provide appropriate basic office equipment to facilitate working from home

Application procedure:

By Wednesday, December 9 send resume and three references to Glenn Oliveira, Education Director, glenn@nofamass.org. If you have questions, email glenn@nofamass.org or call (774) 678-9644.

NOFA/Mass is an equal opportunity employer who does not discriminate in employment and contracting practices based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability.