Learn about our open positions:

Farmer Training Program Manager  - Year-round, fully benefited position!  Applications close October 19, 2018 or until a qualified applicant is selected.

The Farmer Training Program Manager will provide year-round technical assistance (TA), mentoring, and training to small-scale direct market beginning farmers, and serve as the manager for New Entry’s Beginning Farmer Training Programs.  This person will also have programmatic duties to conduct intake and case management (mentoring and technical assistance) for new farmers, teach hands-on and classroom training courses, lead our statewide Beginning Farmer Network, support national outreach and information sharing among national beginning farmer programs, and oversee New Entry’s Incubator Training Farm campus and related programs.  This is a full-time, year-round position with competitive salary and generous benefits.  Apply here.

Essential Job Functions
Technical Assistance and Training for Beginning Farmers (70% of time)

• Provide technical assistance to farmers on a “case management” basis by conducting site visits with farmers in the field, establishing a farmer assessment, and learning plan protocol through initial intake to life cycle of learning goals. Facilitate effective referrals and address ongoing technical assistance support;
• Track progress of farmers through contact database records, annual program evaluations and surveys, and analysis of case management trends and topics;
• Manage the Massachusetts Beginning Farmer Network, including coordinating service provider and beginning farmer gatherings/mixers, facilitating research projects, updating bfnmass.org website with current content and promote, and other statewide programming for beginning producers;
• Support and assist teaching courses/developing new curriculum for New Entry’s Explore Farming!, Crop / Livestock Production, Business Planning, and Distance Learning programs, including new programming that may be developed in the future.
• Share programmatic learnings among national land-based farmer training programs and integrate best practices of national programs into New Entry’s farmer training programs.
• Attend conferences and events to conduct outreach and present on our work;
• Assist with other projects as needed.

Management of Farmer Training Programs (30% of time)

• Provide organizational leadership to develop strategic vision, goals, and metrics associated with beginning farmer education and training at local and national levels;
• Provide leadership to staff members to develop implementable strategies to achieve strategic objectives;
• Provide supervision, oversight, and support for farmer training staff members. Conduct annual performance reviews of farmer training program staff;
• Design integrated approaches to organizational priorities that cross programmatic boundaries;
• Oversee stewardship of New Entry’s Incubator Farm Training campus, equipment, infrastructure, programs, and partner relationships;
• Responsible for developing program budgets and identifying resources needed to complete strategic objectives;
• Support development of grant proposals, revenue generation strategies, corporate sponsorships, individual donor asks, or any other revenue generation strategies to support the funding of program activities;
• Responsible for grants management of program grants, including: proposal development (as applicable), project management, oversight of project spending and budgets, and project reporting;
• Report key management challenges to the project leadership (regular communication of successes and challenges) through regular supervisory sessions;
• Participate in regular meetings with other program staff.

Special requirements

• Access to reliable private transportation necessary;
• Knowledge of safe farm equipment operations and ability to supervise agricultural production and facilitate sustainable farmland stewardship practices;
• Willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Qualifications
• Agricultural training and experience in multiple aspects of farming and farm enterprise is essential. Prior farm management/farm business ownership experience preferred;
• Advanced degree or at least 5 years’ experience in delivering technical assistance to farmers in the areas of crop production, marketing, financial management, farm infrastructure management, and business planning;
• Experience managing land-based farmer training and educational programming via farm site management, equipment use and maintenance, and farmland/soil stewardship;
• Experience in adult education and teaching to diverse learning styles;
• Experience accessing and/or working with local, state and national service provider networks a plus;
• Proficiency in grants management, financial management, and budgeting;
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail;
• Demonstrated success in roles requiring execution of multiple tasks, while responding to multiple competing priorities and deadlines. Ability to lead and work under pressure;
• Strong leadership, diplomacy, and case management and social skills;
• Experienced supervisor, mentor, and ability to bring out the best in others; ability to motivate a team and manage large groups of volunteers;
• Outstanding communication (written, verbal), interpersonal skills, and ability to show empathy is essential; excellent public speaking skills;
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships with a wide array of people from extremely diverse backgrounds and cultures;
• Community organizing and cross-cultural experience helpful; comfort and skill in building relationships with beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmer participants;
• Ability to self-motivate and self-direct; preference for working within a rapidly-changing high performance environment;
• Demonstrated skills using various computer software and programs (Salesforce, Microsoft Office/Excel, email marketing, Social Media).

To Apply
We strongly encourage online applications. Please attach your resume and cover letter.  Apply online here through our fiscal sponsor, TSNE MissionWorks.  As an EOE/AA employer, TSNE MissionWorks and New Entry will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identification, veteran, or disability status.

TerraCorps Members

• TerraCorps Community Engagement Coordinator-Outreach
• TerraCorps Land Stewardship Coordinator
• TerraCorps Community Engagment Coordinator-Food Hub

New Entry is looking for three TerraCorps service members to join our team. TerraCorps is an innovative national service program helping communities conserve and secure land for the health and well-being of people and nature. Using the AmeriCorps national service model, TerraCorps prepares and mobilizes emerging leaders to help strengthen community-based nonprofits working to meet these goals.

Members will serve in full-time, 11-month terms (August 27th, 2018-July 26th, 2019) in which they complete at least 1700 hours of service with one of our partner organizations. Members receive a living allowance, education award, and additional AmeriCorps benefits. Read below for details about the three positions.

TerraCorps Community Engagement Coordinator

Community Engagement Coordinators (CEC) build the long-term capacity of their service sites by developing culturally inclusive systems, programing, partnerships, and events. By collaborating with community groups, CEC’s demonstrate how the sustainable use and conservation of land can help address community needs related to education, public health, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, homelessness, poverty, hunger, and cultural decline. By helping a broader cross-section of people experience the benefits of open space, CECs build connections between land and people that increase public support for land access, revitalization, and conservation initiatives.

TerraCorps members engage with their supervisors to develop and carry out three or more capacity building projects over the course of the service year. Some of these projects will involve recruiting, training, and/or managing community volunteers. New Entry has proposed the following potential project for their Community Engagement Coordinator:

1) Expand the community we serve by creating more inclusive and effective outreach, communications, and volunteer recruitment for events related to New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. In FY 2018, examples of activities that will require outreach and communications support include:

a. Our twentieth anniversary fall dinner and related activities

b. Two fall conferences for our incubator farm network and our agricultural apprenticeship network

c. Our annual series of NESFP courses - Explore Farming, Crop Production, Business Planning, etc…

d. Our Food Hub CSA Farm Shares and Food Access Shares Sales

e. Volunteer recruitment for many NESFP on-farm activities

f. Feature articles about NESFP impact, including for farmer-clients, food recipients, Technical Assistance recipients, course attendees, and stories of graduate impact

g. Organizing at least a few “impact tours” for interested parties to learn more about NESFP impact through tour of farm/food hub/ farmer graduate spaces.

Development of these and other projects will occur during the first two months of service and consider the member’s interests and skills.

Essential Qualifications
• high school diploma and relevant experience
• a strong interest in serving with diverse community groups, landowners, and municipalities
• comfortable presenting in front of groups
• strong writing, communication, and networking skills
• able to serve both independently and as a member of a team
• familiarity with Microsoft Office programs
• access to a reliable vehicle for daily transportation
• ability to serve inside and outside and through variable weather conditions
• strong presentation skills

Desired Qualifications
• experience with diversity and inclusion issues
• fluent Khmer speaker/ability to provide translation services
• event planning experience
• degree in graphic design, communications, marketing or other advanced degree that has instilled effective communication skills with diverse audiences
• experience soliciting scholarship support for diverse audiences to participate in events
• experience in community needs assessment
• experience training and managing volunteers
• marketing experience/ experience developing public informational materials
• experience with Salesforce
• experience with sustainable agriculture/ organic gardening
• experience supporting networking opportunities for diverse audiences

TerraCorps Land Stewardship Coordinator

Land Stewardship Coordinators (LSC) Build the long-term capacity of their service sites by creating networks of volunteers to support hands-on stewardship of community lands. They organize, train, and collaborate with municipal boards, neighborhood and civic associations, community members, youth groups, and schools to care for, improve access to, and support the long-term resiliency and sustainable use of community lands. This position will support land conservation through food access support.

New Entry has proposed the following potential project for their Land Stewardship Coordinator:

1) Support the New Entry farmer training program to provide direct technical assistance to beginning farmers at our Food Hub, in our course trainings, and in our incubator farm fields by working as an intermediary to help farmers with crop availability forecasting, invoicing, and recordkeeping when they drop off produce, as well as providing educational information about beneficial opportunities including land access opportunities and other agricultural events and service providers that can assist beginning farmers with benefits.

2) Provide education of best practices in soil building, nutrient management, recordkeeping, harvest and post-harvest handling, food safety, and organic pest, weed and disease prevention, and control using a case management model.

3) Build relationships with beginning farmers and engage as an active listener to learn and document farm needs to relay to New Entry staff.

4) Host listening sessions and one on one conversations with New Entry farmers to understand their challenges and needs as well as their successes and support for the food system. With this understanding, promote New Entry farmers to landowners, conservation groups, and other community groups that are frequently looking for responsible farmers to steward their land. This will be done through implementation of education at speaker bureaus, community outreach and engagement at local community events, agricultural conferences, and other opportunities that promote farmer needs and better support.

5) Support volunteer engagement across New Entry programs to better support our beginning farmer success.

Development of these and other projects will occur during the first two months of service and consider the member’s interests and skills.

Essential Qualifications
• high school diploma and relevant experience
• comfortable serving independently in both an office and field setting
• able to be active outside in a range of weather conditions, and navigate uneven terrain
• comfortable utilizing computer programs such as Microsoft Office and able to quickly learn new programs
• experience giving presentations and/or trainings to a diverse audience
• experience training and/or managing volunteers
• access to your own vehicle/reliable transportation
• valid driver’s license

Desired Qualifications
• additional relevant educational experience
• ability to read, interpret and manipulate various maps, such as surveys, aerial photos, USGS topos, Advanced Google Maps functions
• experience with natural systems: farming, gardening, and/or identifying plant and wildlife species
• experience with diversity and inclusion issues
• experience with Salesforce
• fluent Khmer speaker/ability to provide translation services
• experience with sustainable agriculture/ organic gardening
• experience with produce purchasing/harvest and post-harvest handling

TerraCorps Community Engagement Coordinator-Food Hub

Community Engagement Coordinators (CEC) build the long-term capacity of their service sites by developing culturally inclusive systems, programing, partnerships, and events. By collaborating with community groups, CEC’s demonstrate how the sustainable use and conservation of land can help address community needs related to education, public health, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, homelessness, poverty, hunger, and cultural decline. By helping a broader cross-section of people experience the benefits of open space, CECs build connections between land and people that increase public support for land access, revitalization, and conservation initiatives.

New Entry has proposed the following potential project for their Community Engagement Coordinator:

1. Support all aspects of the New Entry Food Hub program to:

a. Engage in meaningful and compassionate food access projects through support for farmers and for our food access share program,

b. Help beginning farmers access solid markets for their crops while they work to grow their businesses,

c. Document the needs of beginning farmers through listening sessions and communicate those needs with our technical assistance providers, and

d. Serve directly each week with farmers at the Food Hub to discuss their land access needs and to collaborate with strategic partners to educate them about land ownership/access opportunities and other technical assistance opportunities.

Development of these and other projects will occur during the first two months of service and consider the member’s interests and skills.

Essential Qualifications
• high school diploma and relevant experience
• a strong interest in serving with diverse community groups, landowners, and municipalities
• comfortable presenting in front of groups
• strong writing, communication, and networking skills
• able to serve both independently and as a member of a team
• familiarity with Microsoft Office programs
• access to a reliable vehicle for daily transportation
• valid driver’s license and clean record
• ability to serve inside and outside and through variable weather conditions

Desired Qualifications
• additional relevant educational experience
• experience in community needs assessment
• experience with diversity and inclusion issues
• experience training and managing volunteers
• marketing experience/ experience developing public informational materials
• familiarity with land conservation in Massachusetts
• experience with Salesforce
• fluent Khmer speaker/ability to provide translation services
• experience with sustainable agriculture/ organic gardening
• experience with produce food safety, harvest and post-harvest handling practices
• experience supporting networking opportunities for diverse audiences

For questions about New Entry’s TerraCorps positions, contact Lisa Mosca: lisa.mosca@tufts.edu.

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AmeriCorps Member Eligibility Requirements

This year’s TerraCorps members will serve from August 27th, 2018-July 26th, 2019. All members are expected to serve full-time, commit to serve for the entire 11-month term, and complete at least 1700 hours of service, including time spent in trainings and service with the full TerraCorps team. Weekly service averages 37 hours and commonly includes some night and/or weekend activities.

As a program of AmeriCorps, TerraCorps applicants must also meet the following AmeriCorps requirements:

• A US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the U.S.
• At least 18 years old
• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED
• No more than three previous terms as an AmeriCorps member
• Pass a criminal history background check, including an FBI check

AmeriCorps programs provide equal opportunities. TerraCorps will recruit and select persons in all positions to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, color, political affiliation, creed, national origin, marital status, or any other status as protected by federal, state, and local laws. We encourage applications from individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations for interviews and service upon request.

Member Compensation and Benefits
• TerraCorps members will receive a living allowance of up to $14,000 (pre-tax) over the 11-month term of service, which is $583.33 per 24 biweekly pay periods.
• TerraCorps assists members in obtaining health insurance coverage through healthcare.gov. Reimbursement of costs may be available.
• Childcare assistance may be provided in cases of financial need.
• Upon successful completion of a term of service, AmeriCorps members receive a taxable $5,920 education award that can be used for future education or to pay off existing school loans. See nationalservice.gov/resources/edaward for info and restrictions.
• TerraCorps members are eligible for forbearance of most federally-guaranteed student loans, as well as payment of interest accrued during service.
• TerraCorps members will receive mentorship, training, and career development opportunities while serving directly with community-based nonprofits.
• TerraCorps members experience the personal rewards of national service and community engagement.

Note: TerraCorps members are responsible for their own housing and must have access to reliable transportation.

How to Apply

2018-2019 Service Site organizations, service positions, and application procedures are described at terracorps.org.

A complete member application includes a 1-page cover letter, a resume, three references, and an application form. Member application and detailed instructions can be found at https://terracorps.org/become-a-member-2/.
Member applications will be available for viewing by all our service sites. Do not send applications directly to a service site.

We strongly encourage interested individuals to apply as early as possible. Position offers and acceptances will begin in mid to late-April. The program aims to fill all positions by mid-July, but service sites will continue interviews as needed until all positions are filled.

For questions about TerraCorps, contact Hanna Mogensen, who manages TerraCorps’ recruitment process. Email admin@terracorps.org or call 978-248-2043.

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To Apply for all New Entry open positions:  We strongly encourage online applications per instructions above and provision of a writing sample as needed. We also accept applications by mail or fax. Apply by mail to: TSNE MissionWorks, Attn: Employment Manager, NonProfit Center, 89 South Street Suite 700, Boston, MA  02111; or send by fax to: 617.523.2070.