Farmer Training Sr Program Administrator

Full-time, Exempt position, 35 hours/week; Salary budget $62,200 - $70,000/year.  Reports to:  Jennifer Hashley, New Entry Director

Job Summary: We are seeking an entrepreneurial individual who is excited to lead our farmer training team to build programs that will guide beginning farmers from “dreaming about farming” to actualizing their plans and following an agricultural career pathway to become economically viable farmers in New England.

Essential Job Functions: In collaboration with staff, regional partners, and farmer communities, the Farm Training Senior Program Administrator develops goals and strategies to continually develop, implement, review, and evaluate our farmer training programs. The Farmer Training Senior Program Administrator will handle the below duties:

Management of Farmer Training Programs

Provide organizational leadership to develop strategic vision, goals, and metrics associated with beginning farmer education and training at local and national levels;
Provide leadership to staff members to develop implementable strategies to achieve strategic objectives; implements and evaluates progress and recommends and implements changes as needed;
Develop, oversee and evaluate marketing and advertising for farmer training program. Write and design program materials for website and social media; evaluate outreach effectiveness and implement changes as necessary;
Provide supervision, oversight, and support for farmer training staff members. Assist in managing the hiring and training of staff, evaluates workflow and productivity and participates in employee performance reviews.  Supervises student and temporary employees;
Design integrated approaches to organizational priorities that cross programmatic boundaries;
Oversee stewardship of New Entry’s Incubator Farm Training campus, equipment, infrastructure, and partner relationships;
Responsible for developing program budgets, including analyzing and recommending budgets, preparing and presenting reports and projections.  Identifies resources needed to complete strategic objectives;
Participate in the development of grant proposals, revenue generation strategies, corporate sponsorships, individual donor asks, or any other revenue generation strategies to support the funding of program activities;
Responsible for grants management of program grants, including: proposal development (as applicable), project management, oversight of project spending and budgets, and project reporting;
Report key management challenges to the project leadership (regular communication of successes and challenges) through regular supervisory sessions; and
Provide ideas and content for meetings, workshops, and other special events. Participate in presentation of seminars, lectures and other special events.
Technical Assistance and Training for Beginning Farmers

Expand curriculum for core New Entry programs (farm business planning course, crop production course and experiential training, online learning programs, and other specialty crop production workshops);
Participate in  teaching courses/curriculum for New Entry’s Explore Farming!, Crop Production, Business Planning, and specialty workshop series, including new experiential/practicum programming that may be developed in the future. Oversee  and teach courses and workshops in collaboration with other farming organizations in the region, including partnerships with urban agriculture programs;
Coach and mentor beginning farmers and incubator graduates by conducting site visits with farmers in the field, establishing a farmer assessment, and learning plan protocol across a spectrum of milestones and learning objectives through initial intake to life cycle of learning goals. Facilitate effective referrals and address ongoing technical assistance support; and
Oversee  progress of farmers through contact database records, annual program evaluations and surveys, and analysis of coaching/mentoring trends and topics.
Build stakeholder and institutional awareness to enhance beginning farmer support

Independently conducts research and drafts outcome reports and results. Participates in the presentation of information and results to key stakeholders.
Oversee the Beginning Farmer Network of Massachusetts website, referrals, and provide timely and relevant content updates;
Share programmatic learnings among national land-based farmer training programs and integrate best practices of national programs into New Entry’s farmer training programs;
Attend conferences and events to assess innovative program development approaches, conduct outreach, and present on our work and integrate innovative ideas into New Entry programming; and
Identify policy solutions and opportunities to bolster farmer success in the food system.
Basic Qualifications:

Knowledge and skills as typically acquired by an Agricultural training and experience in multiple aspects of farming and farm enterprise is essential
Prior farm management/farm business ownership/entrepreneurial experience is preferred
Ability to think strategically and as an entrepreneur to assess client needs and develop new programming
The following required knowledge and skills as typically acquired by completing an Advanced degree or at least 5 years’ experience in delivering training and technical assistance to farmers in the areas of crop production, marketing, financial management, farm infrastructure management, and business planning
Experience developing and delivering curricula for adult learners from a diversity of backgrounds
Experience managing multi-user/share land-based farmer training and educational programming via farm site management, equipment use and maintenance, and farmland/soil stewardship
Demonstrated success in roles requiring execution of multiple tasks, while responding to multiple competing priorities and deadlines. Ability to lead and work under pressure
Strong leadership, diplomacy, mentoring/coaching, and social skills
Experienced supervisor, mentor, and ability to bring out the best in others; ability to motivate a team and manage large groups of volunteers
Ability to self-motivate and self-direct; preference for working within a rapidly-changing high performance environment
Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail
Proficiency in grants management, financial management, and budgeting
Preferred Qualifications:

    Outstanding communication (written, verbal), interpersonal skills, and ability to show empathy
    Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships with a wide array of people from extremely diverse backgrounds and cultures
    Excellent public speaking skills
    Demonstrated skills using various computer software and programs (Salesforce, Microsoft Office/Excel, Canvas online course management, Social Media)
    Community organizing and cross-cultural experience helpful; comfort and skill in building relationships with beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmer participants
    Fluency in languages other than English a plus
Special Work Schedule Requirements:  Access to reliable private transportation necessary to conduct farm visits in the region; willingness to travel nationally; willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends; willingness to work outside in all weather conditions on a farm.

To Apply for this open position, please submit a cover letter and a resume through the Tufts HR portal for this position.