Project Coordinator, Farmer TA Network

Farm Aid is a national nonprofit whose mission is to cultivate a vibrant and just family farm-centered system of agriculture in the United States. Farm Aid catalyzes and offers creative ways to champion farmers, inspire civic engagement and leverage our cultural placement to influence positive change in our agricultural and cultural landscape. Through our annual music festival, grant funding, public education, activism, direct service, strategic partnerships, and offering opportunities to engage meaningfully, Farm Aid works to:

• Amplify the voice of family farmers to bring attention to the challenges they face and the benefits they bring.
• Connect farmers to resources and opportunity, connect farmers to eaters, and in general connect people so that they may cultivate community and power.
• Celebrate family farmers, good food and the culture of agriculture, in which we all can participate.
• Empower farmers and eaters to participate in a democratic, just and sustainable farm and food system.
• Invest talent, time and money in efforts that bring about positive change in the farm and food system.

The Project Coordinator, Farmer TA (Technical Assistance) Network, is a grant-funded, 3-year position designed to support Farm Aid's engagement in a multi-stakeholder cooperative agreement with FSA/USDA. This agreement aims to build and strengthen the capacity of TA Providers within nonprofits and land-grant institutions to provide expert, empathetic, and tailored technical support for farmers in distress, improving their financial position as well as their access to and experience with FSA financing and programs. Farm Aid's engagement will leverage a multi-million dollar budget over a three-year time span, and builds upon Farm Aid's established reputation for direct farmer service through its 1-800 hotline, farm advocacy, movement building, and community convening.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Administrative and Project Support: Collaborate closely with the Farmer TA Network Administrative Lead and Project Lead to provide comprehensive administrative and programmatic support for the initiative. Maintain meticulous project timelines, manage meeting logistics, and develop organizational systems to ensure accountability to deadlines. Assist with project and financial reporting by coordinating and generating necessary content and information for reporting requirements. Support the creation of detailed project documentation and maintain up-to-date records to facilitate smooth project execution.
• Project Communications: Enhance communications with project partners and team members by attending meetings and taking detailed notes. Work with the Project Team and Farm Aid staff to deliver project-related communication materials effectively. Ensure consistency in messaging and clarity in communications to foster strong relationships with stakeholders and promote the project's objectives.
• Event Planning and Implementation: In partnership with the Project Team, Farm Aid Staff, and key consultants, play a pivotal role in organizing two large-scale, in-person Network Summits and additional in-person and virtual training sessions throughout the project timeline. Manage timelines and coordinate logistics to ensure the seamless execution of events, including venue/vendor selection, scheduling, and coordination of participants.
• Project Materials/Data Management: Support the development and distribution of project-related materials. Establish and manage systems for digital file organization, ensuring easy access to materials. Support data management and tracking to maintain accurate and up-to-date information. Implement data analysis practices to provide insights and recommendations for project improvement and to track progress against key indicators.
• Project Ambassador: Demonstrate a steadfast commitment to Farm Aid’s mission, vision, and values, serving as an indispensable member of the Project Team. Act as a representative at events and engagements, promoting the project's goals and achievements. Foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within the team, and actively seek opportunities to advocate for the project's impact and significance in the broader community.

WHO YOU ARE

• You are a passionate advocate for Farm Aid’s mission and values. You are energized to build a system of agriculture that uplifts family farmers, good food, soil and water, and strong communities. You thrive on a team of advocates, organizers, and networkers who deeply value collaboration, community, and teamwork. 
• You are a mission-driven professional with experience supporting large-scale projects or programs. You bring at least 2 years of relevant work experience, ideally gained in a nonprofit setting with a connection to agriculture, rural communities, movement building, and/or grassroots organizing.
• You are detail-oriented and work well under pressure. You have strong organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize, multi-task, and work under deadlines. Experience with meeting and event planning is strongly preferred.
• You are a thoughtful communicator who conveys information clearly and concisely. You excel in written and in-person communication, with the ability to engage a variety of audiences and skill in analyzing, breaking down, and communicating ideas in simple ways.
• You are a supportive and reliable team member. You bring a “customer service” mentality to supporting internal and external stakeholders. You work well on teams and promote a cooperative and productive work environment.
• You are an analytical thinker with solid technology skills. You have a demonstrated ability to collect, track, and synthesize data from various sources. You enjoy building systems to organize and share information. Proficiency with MS Suite (Word, Excel, etc.) are expected; proficiency with project management tools such as Salesforce, Asana and Airtable are desired. Familiarly with grant reporting is a plus.
• You are committed to advancing equity and justice in rural farming communities. You are cognizant of (or curious about) the history of discrimination in American farming systems and are committed to working towards fair, anti-racist, and sustainable agricultural systems.