Job: Farmland Matching Service Coordinator, Massachusetts

Help Link Farmers to Landowners to Expand Farm Activity in Massachusetts! The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project assists beginning farmers, many of whom are socially and economically disadvantaged, to establish successful farm business enterprises. New Entry is seeking a Farmland Matching Service Coordinator to coordinate its statewide farmland identification, access, and matching service project. This position will be based in our Lowell, MA office with periodic supervisory responsibilities on the Tufts Boston campus.  We are seeking a creative, self-starter to expand our farmland matching service to link farmers who are seeking land, to landowners with available land statewide and more broadly within the Northeast region. The Farmland Matching Service Coordinator is responsible for leading a team to expand the existing farmland match program, and develop/lead a new working collaboration of land match service providers in Massachusetts. A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in delivering technical assistance to farmers in the areas of production, business planning, farmland assessment and/or access to capital/credit is required. Detailed information on how to apply and a job description and application can be viewed below. We encourage individuals from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds to apply. The deadline for application is Friday, April 22^nd , 2011.

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COMMUNITY TEAMWORK, INC.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

FARMLAND MATCHING SERVICE COORDINATOR

 

DEPARTMENT/DIVISION: Workforce Development – New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, see https://www.nesfp.org

REPORTS TO: Project Director and Technical Assistance Coordinator

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Manage New Entry’s Farmland Matching Service

• Identify available farmland by working closely with immigrant and beginning farmers in Dracut MA, and other farmers and partners / service providers in the region to assess land suitability and determine leasing and/or purchasing options
• Coordinate New Entry’s farmland “team” to follow up on farming sites previously identified to help resolve their potential use by the project
• Evaluate producer needs and match goals with available parcels; facilitate relationships between farmers and landowners to result in secure land tenure relationship
• Provide individual technical assistance to farmers during the farmland matching process
• Provide follow-up technical assistance services to producers related to ongoing farmland access and tenure
• Promote the Farmland Matching Service to land owners and land seekers throughout Massachusetts

Establish and Manage a Massachusetts Statewide Farmland Matching Service

• Develop relationships with service provider organizations offering farmland services in Massachusetts for potential collaboration and development of regional land matching programs.
• Facilitate networking and resource sharing among organizations offering farmland services and organize a strategic planning session to develop a regionalized statewide farmland matching program.
• Pursue collaborative funding opportunities with partners to launch regional farmland services and build long-term financial and human resource sustainability in all statewide land matching efforts.
• Coordinate with regional farmland service providers to share best practices.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

¨     This position has supervisory responsibility. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field.  Five years experience may substitute for degree.
• At least 3 years experience in delivering technical assistance to farmers in the areas of production, business planning, farmland assessment and/or access to capital/credit.
• Minimum of 3 – 5 years supervisory experience required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Community organizing and cross-cultural experience helpful; prepared to build relationships with broad partner base and immigrant and refugee participants and community members
• Experience in agronomy, soil science, real estate, and/or business planning helpful
• Self-motivated, and self-directed; works well within in a rapidly-changing environment
• Strong proven leadership and decision making abilities
• Ability to maintain confidentiality within the workplace
• Appropriate computer skills, effective communications and writing ability
• Access to reliable private transportation necessary
• Flexible schedule needed, including some evenings and weekends – with a willingness to “do what it takes” to get the job done
• a CORI background check is performed for all employees

 

LOCATION: Position based in Lowell at New Entry Sustainable Farming Projects’ Community Teamwork, Inc. office. Travel between Lowell, Dracut, Boston (New Entry’s Tufts Chinatown office) and surrounding communities, with statewide travel necessary. Must have reliable transportation.

 

COMPENSATION: Full or Part-time position (20 – 40 hours per week) with benefits. Compensation is related to experience, with job-related travel reimbursement.  Grant funded position.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 22nd  or until filled.  Start Date of May 1st, 2011.

 

TO APPLY:  Email a cover letter and resume to:  New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, c/o Community Teamwork, Inc., 155 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852  at nesfp@tufts.edu and copy McK

For more information about the position, contact McKenzie Boekholder, New Entry Technical Assistance Coordinator, at mboekholder@comteam.org.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job.  The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Community Teamwork, Inc. Employment Application “Opportunity through Community Action”