Job Opening:  Program Manager

Status: 40 hours a week (full-time)

Time Frame: Review begins November 8, 2021, position open until filled

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) is a nonprofit that strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy. We run the Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown^® marketing campaign, educate the public about buying local, offer technical assistance trainings and workshops for farmers, and support programs to increase access to local food in our region.

Our team has a range of skills and life experiences and is a mix of trainers, former farmers, communicators, and administrators. We work to build a diverse and resilient food economy with viable farms, fair and just working conditions, strong environmental stewardship, and accessible and available local food in all our communities. We are committed to understanding the history and current impacts of racism in the food system and actively work towards equity. We are committed to recruiting and retaining creative, ethical, smart, and innovative people.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Program Manager manages the Local Hero membership program and co-leads CISA’s farm and business support efforts in partnership with a strong team. This includes coordinating the activities for our technical assistance programs for farms, farmers’ markets, and local food businesses; collaborating with the management team and farm business support team to set strategic goals for our technical assistance and Local Hero programs; and supporting development of new programmatic strategies, areas, and activities. The Program Manager will also provide research, planning and technical assistance support for specific initiatives across the organization, and support grant writing and grant management.

Our ideal candidate enjoys providing leadership support to a dynamic team; networking farms and businesses to further their success; and aligning capacity to needs in support of CISA’s mission. The candidate is a capable project manager and can juggle and prioritize multiple projects and think strategically.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Co-manage CISA’s farm and business technical assistance programming
• Work with CISA’s farm business support team to develop technical assistance program objectives and work plans;
• Foster and support CISA’s farm business support team in providing technical assistance with an eye towards impact and effectiveness;
• Supervise, train, and evaluate staff, and provide structure for the team to coordinate their activities; and,
• Work with other CISA departments to implement objectives
• Manage CISA’s Local Hero campaign membership program
• Lead team to oversee Local Hero campaign membership program from enrollment to evaluation.
• Implement Local Hero activities including networking activities intended to connect businesses to peers, buyers, and to CISA.
• Coordinate across the organization to ensure members’ needs are considered; and,
• Lead strategic initiatives to build market demand for local agricultural products.
• Bring creative and strategic thinking about communications to further CISA’s mission.
• Represent CISA at public presentations and other venues as needed.

Other Duties

Perform other related duties as assigned by the Program Director.

REPORTING and SUPERVISION

This position reports to the Program Director and provides direct supervision to Program Coordinators and the Program Associate.

QUALIFICATIONS

Strong candidates for this job have team-building and networking or customer service experience, strong communication skills, the ability to manage multiple deadlines and tasks, and an interest in evaluation as tool for improvement. Specifically, we are looking for the following qualifications:

• Five to seven years combined experience as a team leader, supervisor and/or facilitator;
• Three to five years of experience or related education in the areas of customer service and member support or in agriculture, business management, and/or adult education;
• Ability to manage a collaborative team of professional program staff;
• Proven ability to communicate effectively through multiple channels;
• Excellent organizational skills;

• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups of people; and,
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent life and/or work experience.

 PREFERENCES

It’s a plus if you are comfortable with relational databases and grant writing. It’s also a plus if you speak Spanish or have other skills or experience that can help further CISA’s mission to more equitably serve those working in agriculture and local food businesses. You don’t have to already be tapped into how amazing local agriculture is but if you are, that’s great!

HOURS AND COMPENSATION
Salary is $57,500- 64,000, depending on experience. This is a full-time, exempt position. Health care, vision, dental, long-term disability, 401K matching, sick time, 10 paid holidays, 4 personal days, and 15 vacation days in the first year are offered. Access to a car and some weekend and evening availability are required.

CISA is currently operating with a hybrid office model with at least two days a week in the office and up to three days from home. We allow staff flexibility in their regular schedules and understand that flexibility can support a healthy work-life balance. Occasional travel within CISA’s service area (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, MA) for communications outreach and events will be required.

Writing samples and references may be requested.

CISA is an equal opportunity employer. Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which CISA is firmly bound. CISA will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with CISA on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.

Please complete applicant questions and attach your resume via our online application form. Questions can be directed to Jennifer Williams. Cover letters are not required and will not be reviewed.

Job Opening:  Communications Coordinator

Status:  40 hours a week (full-time)

Time Frame:  Review begins November 8, 2021, position open until filled

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) is a nonprofit that strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy. We run the Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown^® marketing campaign, educate the public about buying local, offer technical assistance trainings and workshops for farmers, and support programs to increase access to local food in our region.

Our team has a range of skills and life experiences and is a mix of trainers, former farmers, communicators, and administrators. We work to build a diverse and resilient food economy with viable farms, fair and just working conditions, strong environmental stewardship, and accessible and available local food in all our communities. We are committed to understanding the history and current impacts of racism in the food system and actively work towards equity. We are committed to recruiting and retaining creative, ethical, smart, and innovative people.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Communications Coordinator implements communications that support the mission of the organization. This includes: CISA’s online presence (website and social media); writing and creative development; creation and management of community events; and maintaining communications systems. The Communications Coordinator manages the day-to-day activities for this work and collaborates with the communications team to set strategic goals and develop new strategies and activities.

Our ideal candidate enjoys communicating effectively to different audiences and loves organizing and running events. You can connect ideas and individual stories to our mission and are inspired to share people’s stories through a variety of platforms. You are detail oriented and can see the big picture. You are a capable project coordinator and are tenacious when working towards a goal.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1) Implement CISA’s communications initiatives:

• Support development and execution of annual communications objectives as established through a work plan;
• Manage social media in coordination with CISA staff;
• Work with other CISA departments to implement objectives of organization and ensure that communications meet our standards of quality in terms of content, messaging, and outreach; and,
• Evaluate effectiveness of messaging and adapt communications in response.

2) Plan and execute community focused events connecting people to local food and farms. Including event support in implementing Field Notes, CISA’s premiere communications and public storytelling event.

3) Bring creative and strategic thinking about communications to further CISA’s mission.

4) Represent CISA at public presentations and other venues as needed.

 Other Duties

Perform other related duties as assigned by the Communications Manager.

REPORTING and SUPERVISION

This position reports to the Communications Manager. May include opportunities to supervise interns.

QUALIFICATIONS

You know how to tell a story through social media and capture people’s attention, and you enjoy getting people together to learn something new or have an experience that is meaningful. Ideally you will have had two or more years experience in communications and/or event management. You can hold details and prefer to be supported by your team rather than task managed. You are deadline focused and not intimidated by having a number of projects going at once. You like to evaluate the effectiveness of communications strategies, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and improve. And, you graduated from a four-year degree program or have equivalent life and work experience.

 PREFERENCES

It’s a plus if you have some graphic design experience and/or comfort with relational databases. It’s also a plus if you have skills or experience that can help further CISA’s mission to more equitably serve those working in agriculture and local food businesses. You don’t have to already be tapped into how amazing local agriculture is but if you are, that’s great!

Hours and compensation: $21-$24/hour, depending on experience. This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Health care, vision, dental, long-term disability, 401K matching, sick time, 10 paid holidays, 4 personal days, and 15 vacation days in the first year are offered. Access to a car and some weekend and evening availability are required.

CISA is currently operating with a hybrid office model with at least two days a week in the office and up to three days from home. We allow staff flexibility in their regular schedules and understand that flexibility can support a healthy work-life balance. Occasional travel within CISA’s service area (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, MA) for communications outreach and events will be required.

Writing samples and references may be requested.

CISA is an equal opportunity employer. Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which CISA is firmly bound. CISA will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with CISA on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.

Please complete applicant questions and attach your resume via our online application form.

Questions can be directed to Jennifer Williams. Cover letters are not required and will not be reviewed.