Project Co-Coordinator

Program Overview:

Since 2012, UConn Extension has worked to develop tools and trainings tailored for new and beginning farmers in Connecticut. The Solid Ground Farmer Training Program implements a constantly evolving calendar of learning opportunities. The 2021-2022 program year includes agriculture mechanic trainings, agroecology field days, mental health & wellness webinars, launch of a new online soil and climate adaptation course, and production of educational videos. We are collaborating with the I Got Next Coalition to deliver training in urban farming. Our program partners with New CT Farmer Alliance and CT NOFA to offer peer-to-peer learning through Farmer Circles and partners with Land For Good to implement Farmland Mixers.  In addition, the program is able to provide free one-on-one consultations to beginning farmers on conservation practices, fruit and vegetable IPM, and livestock management.
 

Responsibilities

As a team project, the right candidate will be versatile enough to help shape overall program implementation while taking the lead on a subset of our training activities and/or development of new educational tools. The candidate will often serve as project representative at public events (farmer conferences, webinars, state agency meetings). Responsibilities will also include working closely with some of our program partners to successfully craft and co-host learning opportunities. We are looking for someone with the capacity to work steadily year-round -- including summer months -- at 16-20 hours/week, starting in early March.
 

Supervision

The position would report to Jiff Martin who directs several public outreach and education programs in the field of sustainable food systems. Other team members include Nancy Barrett, Project Co-Coordinator, and Becca Toms, Communications Specialist.  

Required Qualifications:  

• Past work demonstrates high degree of reliability and excellent organization skills
• Past work demonstrates ability to work independently and as part of team
• Experience organizing events – including scheduling speakers/trainers, arranging for refreshments, managing attendee list, conducting post-evaluation, and follow up
• Experience in public speaking, presenting, speaking in front of diverse audiences
• Experience in small scale farming (this can be demonstrated by past apprenticeships or farm jobs, as well as growing up on a farm or coming from a farm family)
• Demonstrates commitment to racial equity through continuous development and modeling inclusive behaviors and proactively managing one’s bias  
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, empathize, and collaborate in teams and work toward shared goals
• Comfortable and proficient with digital platforms (Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Drive)
• Comfortable taking photography and video for communication needs
• Familiarity with function and role of agriculture service providers, including CT Department of Agriculture, USDA Natural Resource and Conservation Services, USDA Farm Service Agency, New CT Farmer Alliance, Land For Good, and CT Northeast Organic Farming Association
• Willing and able to commute to UConn Extension office in Vernon or across state for training events

Preferred:

• Bilingual Spanish a plus
• Competency with Canva, Adobe Illustrator, Wix, Mailchimp, and/or Qualtrics  
• Strong photography skills
• Experience with basic film editing, comfortable producing short video content
• Familiar with cooperative models of work/business
• Familiar with garden bed construction and management
• Demonstrates awareness of the history of racial discrimination in agriculture
• Demonstrates understanding of the urgency of conservation of natural resources, including maintaining soil health and responding to climate impacts on farm operation
• Demonstrates understanding of different dimensions of farming in urban, suburban, and rural communities

How to apply:

Send a resume and cover letter to jiff.martin@uconn.edu by February 11th at 5:00 pm.  In the subject line of your email, please use: APPLICANT FOR SOLID GROUND PROJECT CO-COORDINATOR