Director of Farm Worker Advocacy

The National Farm Worker Ministry is seeking a Director of Farm Worker Advocacy to join our team. This is a full-time leadership position for someone who demonstrates the ability to take initiative and work independently, as well as collaboratively with the Executive Director, staff, farm worker partners and farm worker organizing groups and allies. Additionally, essential candidate qualifications and traits include: strong advocacy skills; good written and oral communication skills, including public speaking; cultural sensitivity; a cooperative spirit; and a desire to create impactful, positive change alongside farm workers. The ideal candidate for this position would be a bilingual Spanish/English speaker who demonstrates strong written language skills in both languages. Salary range is $45,000-$50,000 plus benefits.

Position Summary: The Director of Farm Worker Advocacy will be responsible for working with the Executive Director to connect with farm worker organizing groups for advocacy and solidarity, creating education materials, promoting legislative efforts to support farm workers, assisting the Director of Communications in connecting to farm worker stories for news outlets as well as educational materials, and increase NFWM’s presence in farm worker networks, farm worker allies, and the wider consumer/advocate community.

Position Responsibilities:

Farm Worker Advocacy Focus (40%)

• With the Executive Director, design and implement an annual advocacy plan with an ongoing strategy to connect with farm worker organizing including visits to the fields, labor camps, and farm worker offices; coordination of farm worker campaigns and legislative support, status reporting to ED regularly and the Board of Directors at least twice a year
• Create a network of allies for press releases and/or farm worker campaign promotions as a strategy for mobilization; work with the Director of Communications to handle any news media and informational packets for public witness events
• Assist with farm worker advocacy training for staff, board, and supporters to maximize NFWM impact for farm workers

Education and Promotions (20%)

• With the staff team, help determine content for monthly e-news, Action Alerts and bi-annual printed newsletters and contribute articles, photos, and connections for effectively promoting farm worker support
• With ED and Director of Communications, help provide content for NFWM programs and events as well as resource publications, website content, and other materials
• Offer suggestions for the development of resources to assist with all farm worker support efforts
• Speak to faith based audiences about NFWM and opportunities for farm worker support

Development (20%)

• Include fundraising efforts in presentations
• Assist ED in grant writing by providing farm worker impact stories, program support, and sharing ideas about project-oriented grant possibilities

Organizational and Administrative (20%)

• With staff team, attend meetings, engage in group collaboration and participate in team planning retreats
• Attend board meetings, lead board advocacy opportunities; support any board committee working on program or farm worker advocacy; collaborate on farm worker support strategies in which the board can participate
• Work with all staff to integrate advocacy best practices into NFWM’s organizing work and assist with
• advocacy training for staff, interns, board, and supporters on networking and storytelling
• Produce and propose a farm worker advocacy/program/education budget to the ED each year that maintains a strong presence for NFWM with farm workers and accomplishes the mission of the organization

NFWM embraces the value of flexibility so there are likely to be other duties as assigned by the supervisor in order to accomplish the mission of the organization. If this position is remote, NFWM will expect consistent e-mail/phone communications, commitment to regular “office hours” availability and the maintenance of reliable internet connection for virtual meetings/presentations.

Essential/Required Skills, Knowledge, & Ability (SKAs):

• Undergraduate degree in public policy/social work or similar degree from a college/university or equivalent experience in social justice advocacy, farm worker-specific knowledge would be preferable
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Cultural sensitivity
• Ability to take initiative and work independently
• Ability to work with others and as part of a national team
• Passion for social justice issues and commitment to NFWM mission
• Ability to communicate effectively within the organization
• Able to adapt to changing work situations and needs; flexible, positive attitude
• Ability to travel
• Fluency in English and Spanish, both written and oral

Additional: Desired SKAs (Not Requirements for Candidate Application)

• Ability as a photographer
• Capacity for legislative advocacy
• Experience with faith communities

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

• Ability and willingness to travel, join in marches and rallies, and endure heat in fields during camp visits

To apply for the position, email a cover letter and a resume to admin@nfwm.org mail these to NFWM, P.O. Box 10645, Raleigh, NC 27605. References are not necessary unless contacted. NFWM is based in Raleigh, NC but this position may be done remotely. Hours are flexible but traditional business hours are preferred (8:00-4:00 or 9:00-5:00 or 10:00-6:00).

National Farm Worker Ministry is a faith-based organization committed to getting people of faith and conscience involved in the farm worker movement. NFWM seeks to create a diverse workplace and encourages all interested individuals to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, NFWM will consider any person qualified for this position without regard to the person’s race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental ability, or physical ability although travel in rural areas and capacity to participate in public marches will be necessary. Preference may be given to applicants who have experience in faith-based settings.

Position will be filled when an appropriate candidate is found.