Job Overview: The Farmer Education Manager is responsible for implementing PIFs 2501 Program project through September of 2025. The objective of the position is to ensure that New American farmers in the PIF network are equipped with the resources, knowledge, and skills needed to successfully operate an independent small farm. This person will be flexible, motivated, proactive, organized, hard-working, and patient. You will work with a small group of equally dedicated staff who are committed to empowering farmers and enhancing Houstons foodways through sustainable agriculture and local food.
Key job duties include planning and coordinating hands-on agricultural and business training to PIF farmers and in collaboration with project partners, providing follow-up coaching to farmers, coordinate activities related to creating an educational website for farmers, and assisting the Program Director with implementation of activities related to the PIF Farmland Access Initiative.
Key Job DutiesImplement PIF 2501 Project, in accordance with grant agreement (95% FTE)
Coordinate and/or deliver technical workshops for farmers on specialty crop production, livestock management, agribusiness, and relevant USDA programming and resources
Provide technical assistance (i.e. coaching, mentoring) and education to network of ~70 new American farmers in topics related to agricultural production and business management
Coordinate creation of farmer-facing educational website
Assist Program Director in implementing the Farmland Access Initiative, including by providing training and technical assistance to both landowners and farmers
Assist Program Director to manage project budget and complete monitoring & evaluation activities
Conduct outreach activities to identify additional farmers eligible to receive training as part of PIFs project
Conduct other activities to ensure completion of 2501 activities and fulfillment of project objectives, as needed
Support the PIF Urban Farming Program (5% FTE)
Ensure that the look and feel (appearance) of the farms are meeting or exceeding the neighborhood expectations so that the farms are a vital part of the neighborhood, to include trash pickup, habitat gardens, and infrastructure management.
Maintain and troubleshoot the infrastructure, including irrigation, port-a-johns, hand-washing stations, shelter, fencing, composting, plant support and farm stands.
Assist farmers with ordering seeds and supplies, on as as-needed basis.
Participate in creating and implementing Farm Improvement Plans on an as-needed basis.
Assist with on-farm events, including service-learning events with schools, as-needed.
People Management
Manage service contractors as necessary
Supervise interns and volunteers as needed
Special Requirements
Able to work on the farms and office, including hard repetitive physical work (lift and carry 40 pounds)
Willingness to work outside in the elements, year-round
Ability to independently get to farm sites throughout Houston region
Comfortable operating mechanized farm equipment
Qualifications
Minimum of 3 years of experience in at least two of the following areas: 1) mentoring and/or teaching; 2) project management; 3) farming and sustainable agriculture; 4) providing services to refugees/immigrants
Strong interest in farming, including willingness to participate in physical labor and learn about best-practices in vegetable farming within the Gulf Coast
Strong project management and writing skills
Demonstrated ability to work with a multi-cultural team
Ability to work autonomously and prioritize tasks with minimal daily supervision
Preferred Qualifications
Significant experience with sustainable agriculture; in particular, in-field experience with small-scale vegetable farming in the Gulf Coast
Experience with small business management/entrepreneurship
Job Type: Full-time