Employment Opportunities

Beginning Farmer Project Associate

Vacancy Type: Temporary

Work Schedule: 10-20 hours per week, additional hours depending on skill, performance and funding. Work from your home, current funding ends in 3 months, but there is possibility for continued employment depending on performance and through other funding sources.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $18-$25/hr based on experience

Essential Job Duties: The Center for Environmental Farming Systems' Incubator Farm Project is supporting a number of communities/organizations across NC, providing resources and facilitation support for project planning and implementation of new community-based incubator farms. Part-time, temporary help is required to assist with coordination and management of the project. Hours will be variable, between 5 and 20 per week. Duties will include interfacing with incubator farm leadership teams and community stakeholders, leadership team and community input meeting planning and implementation, facilitating project communication and information sharing, and administrative duties such as maintaining accurate and efficient program records (i.e., meeting notes, contact records, etc.), and assistance with report writing and program evaluation. Project Associate will also work on ensuring the sustainability of the program via identification and application to appropriate funding sources.

Minimum Experience/Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent in agriculture field or discipline related to community-based food systems.

Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education: Master's preferred. Proven record of successful grant writing for federal/USDA programs preferred. Project experience that is at the intersection of sustainable local food systems, local government, policy development, and project planning is desirable. Excellent oral and written communication and the ability to positively interact with a wide variety of types of groups (including government officials, policy makers, Extension agents, and aspiring/beginning farmers); proficiency and comfort with public speaking; excellent computer skills, including, PowerPoint, word processing, excel; good organization and time management skills; and the ability to work both independently and with a team will be vital. Experience with meeting planning/facilitation and evaluation a plus.

Special Instructions: Apply online, here. You will be prompted to upload a resume, cover letter, 3 references, and a summary of successfully funded grant proposals and amounts funded (if available).

CEFS Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program Assistant

SUPERVISOR: Lisa Forehand, CEFS Extension and Outreach Coordinator (919-513-0954;lisa_forehand@ncsu.edu)

JOB DESCRIPTION: This position of the Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program Assistant (PA) is to assist in carrying out activities associated with the Sustainable Agriculture Internship summer program located at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) in Goldsboro, NC from approximately May 27 – August 2, 2013. The PA will provide an important point of contact for the 14 course participants that will live on-site near the Small Farm Unit at CEFS. It is essential that the PA possess a positive attitude, ability to work and communicate with a diversity of people and is able to provide a safe environment for building community and cohesion among intern participants. It is required that the PA live on-site with the interns and have a valid driver’s license in order to transport students among the related internship activities. The PA position is under the shared supervision of the CEFS Assistant Director of Educational Programs and the CEFS Extension and Outreach Coordinator.

Coordination of interns and internship activities during the 8 week program (June 3- July 26) may include: coordinating living conditions for interns, driving interns to field or community visits, assisting with setting up related activities or discussions with faculty and providing information about Goldsboro events and town services for interns all related to the success of the CEFS Sustainable Agriculture Summer Internship Program.

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday to Friday 8am-5pm and other times as needed.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION: B.S. degree in or from a related field of either agronomy, agroecology, horticulture, ecology, soil science, agriculture extension/education, or animal science OR equivalent job experience. Previous experience coordinating educational programs helpful.

REQUIRED SKILLS: Being a strong communicator, highly organized, motivated, and ability to work with a wide variety of audiences is a must. Position will require a valid driver’s license and the ability to operate a 15-passenger van. Ability to prioritize tasks is necessary, while considering input from the multiple teaching team of faculty and staff at CEFS is required. Good problem-solver .

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Some experience with gardening, farming or food systems helpful. Familiarity with Goldsboro and Wayne County community are a plus. Previous experience coordinating educational or other programs helpful.

Anticipated Hiring Range is $11.50 per hour and includes housing.

TO APPLY: Apply online, here. You will also be prompted to upload a resume, cover letter, and 3 references.

Position number: 11ASO113

AA/EEO

In addition, NC State welcomes all persons without regard to sexual orientation or genetic information. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (919) 515-3148. Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. If highest degree is from an institution outside of the U.S., final candidates are required to have their degree verified at www.wes.org. Degree must be obtained prior to start date.