Mission: Future Harvest’s mission is to advance agriculture that sustains farmers, communities, and the environment. We provide education, networking, advocacy, and research to help build a sustainable Chesapeake foodshed, where food flows from farm and fishery to table in ways that strengthen farming and the regional food economy; protect our land, water, and air; and provide healthy, nutritious food that sustains the region’s communities.

Position overview: We are seeking a full-time, experienced, self-motivated, highly organized, and visionary manager for our Beginner Farmer Training Program (BFTP). The BFTP is a 12-year-old signature program of Future Harvest’s, offering a 12-month immersive training experience that combines a comprehensive classroom curriculum with hands-on learning at some of the region’s leading sustainable farms.  The Beginner Farmer Training Program Manager will report directly to FH’s Executive Director but will also work closely with the Future Harvest Field School Director and Manager, Communications Manager, and Conference Manager when developing programs.

The BFTP manager would work from home, but, if interested, can work out of FH’s office in Cockeysville, MD. This is a highly flexible, dynamic position that requires regular regional travel, and some travel outside our region. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the outreach, application, interview, and selection process for each year’s cohort of ~80 new farmer trainees
• Conduct outreach and coordination with farmer trainers and consultants
• Oversee mentor matching process, connecting trainees with on-farm training and remote consulting
• Oversee all aspects of BFTP classroom curriculum, which will have both online and in-person components
• Coordinate with FH Field School staff to plan field days and hands-on learning days for trainees
• Oversee coordination with partner organizations on grant projects serving beginning farmers across the region
• Moderate online networking platforms (email lists, Facebook group, Discord) for trainees and graduates
• Provide ongoing individualized support to trainees throughout the year
• Conduct periodic farm visits and other outreach activities to trainee and trainer farms
• Use FH platforms to create registration pages and conduct surveys and interviews
• Participation in grant writing and other fundraising responsibilities, including the annual Tipper-Gurley Fund for New Farmer Training campaign
• Review, analyze, and report on progress toward goals, including grant reports, annual reports, and strategic planning
• Timely and consistent communication with Field School Director, Communications Manager, Grants Manager, and Executive Director
• General organizational duties such as: keeping work and important organizational papers organized in Google Drive, attending weekly staff calls, annual conference, and other major meetings
• Supervise part-time FH contractors who interface with BFTP
• Additional tasks and responsibilities as needed

Qualifications: 

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in agriculture or education, or relevant work experience (e.g. two years’ work experience in food and farming systems, in the non-profit, farming, research, or government sectors)
• Proven track record of managing a large, multifaceted program
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Organized, detail-oriented, punctual
• Able to work independently and with a team
• Proven track record working with diverse stakeholders in the regional food economy – from farmers to retailers, wholesalers, food system workers, ag researchers, chefs, and consumers
• Knowledge of and contacts in the farming community for the following regions: Central, Western, and Southern Maryland, Northern Virginia, Eastern West Virginia, and Washington DC., contacts in the BIPOC farming community a strong plus
• Skilled at relationship building and networking
• Demonstrated commitment and ability to advance organizational racial equity goals
• Creative problem solver and able to juggle multiple projects at a time
• Demonstrated ability to strategically implement field school vision and programming, step-by-step
• Able to work remotely and travel, which includes access to good wifi, car in good working condition, smartphone with unlimited data plan, laptop computer with adequate memory, and color printer all kept in good working condition
• Skilled with multiple types of online platforms and/or ability to learn them quickly
• Willingness to travel and do some weekend work
• Fundraising and grant writing experience a strong plus
• Sustainable farming experience, knowledge, and/or research a strong plus

Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried position with a starting salary of $45,500-$50,000 and a 7.35%-of-gross-salary benefits/equipment maintenance stipend.

How to apply: Upload application materials, which should include resume, cover letter, two writing samples and references, to https://forms.gle/bb628XbLGarha1bo9. Position open until it is filled. The anticipated start date for this position is August 1, 2021 or earlier.