Position Summary
The Community Agricultural Specialist is responsible for building and maintain relationships with various community groups, organizations, and individuals. These relationships are made for the purpose of engaging and educating the community around nutrition and the role agricultural in community health. This position provides specialized gardening nutrition education and assists in starting and maintaining community gardens strategically throughout our service area using the provided curriculum of SNAP-Ed, a grant funded nutrition education program. This position is responsible for establishing, growing, and maintaining our internal gleaning program, ‘Trees That Feed’, and is the staff liaison for our Lott’s Community Garden Program and very new Honeybee Project. This position with be frontward facing and coordinate our involvement at Farmer’s Market activities in the service area. This position works in a variety of community settings and environments cultivating community partnerships and is responsible for tracking and reporting data as required by grants, contracts, and other governing bodies which monitor our work. You will uphold our mission to advance change by feeding the hungry and educating and engaging the community in the fight to end hunger.
Position Responsibilities
1. Administer the food bank’s ‘Trees That Feed’ gleaning program and communicate program needs to other departments as needed.
2. Act as a liaison between Lott’s Community Garden volunteers and the Volunteer Coordinator.
3. Provide nutrition education classes and assist in starting and maintaining community gardens in compliance with SNAP-Ed guidelines and evidence-based resources.
4. Utilize Lott’s Community Garden as an educational tool and coordinate educational field trips with community schools.
5. Assist in the identification, recruitment, and maintenance of community partners and target audiences, effectively communicating the program mission and goals.
6. Coordinate with Communications staff to recognize and honor local growers/producers (i.e. social media posts, newsletters, media coverage, etc.).
7. Create and maintain strong relationships with the local Work-Study programs and University internship opportunities. This position is expected to host interns each semester to assist in the expansion of various projects.
8. Maintain professional relationships, providing exceptional customer service both internally and externally.
9. Represent Second Harvest of the Big Bend at community meetings, events, and presentations.
10. Participate in program improvement and strategic planning activities as assigned.
11. Ensure timely and accurate tracking and reporting, which includes, but is not limited to dashboards, weekly reports, compliance with grant guidelines, and narratives.
12. Maintain a positive work attitude by acting and communicating in a manner conducive to good interpersonal relations (e.g., helpful, courteous, pleasant) with customers, all public, co-workers and managers, in accordance with the spirit of Second Harvest of the Big Bend’s mission.
13. Ensure all communications are returned as expeditiously as possible, preferably in the same day.
14. Read, understand, and assist in meeting all SNAP-Ed program requirements.
15. Attend required training outside of Second Harvest of the Big Bend.
16. Must be able to travel throughout the Big Bend Region area if company car is not available.
17. Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications (knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies)
1. 4 years of work experience that demonstrate your capacity to manage these responsibilities.
2. Ability to work constructively with individuals from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds in culturally diverse work environments.
3. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
4. Time management skills.
5. Strong public speaking skills, including presenting to large audiences.
6. Work ethic and ability to be a self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision.
7. Pleasant, courteous, professional and positive demeanor.
8. Computer proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
9. The ability to learn and use various software programs dealing with databases and inventory systems.
10. Must pass a level two background check as required by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
11. Must be flexible with schedule when issues or emergencies arise.
12. Must be willing to assist in disaster response (i.e. Hurricanes, floods, pandemics, etc.).
13. Must be willing to work some late afternoon, night, and weekend hours as needed
Compensation
The Community Agricultural Specialist is a Non-Exempt role with an annualized salary range of $40,000-$50,000 commensurate upon experience. Second Harvest also provides a generous benefits package inclusive of paid health, dental, and life insurance for the employee. Employees may elect to participate in the Supplemental Insurance and the Simple IRA program. SHBB recognizes 12 paid holidays each year, and employees receive a generous PTO allotment.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop; kneel, crouch, and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust and focus.
Work Environment
The work environment described here is representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
How To Apply
Qualified applicants may submit your resume and cover letter to HR@fightinghunger.org