Assistant Farm Manager

About the Opportunity

Job Summary

Under the banner of Northeastern’s Climate Justice & Sustainability Hub, this position will report to the Oakland campus’ Farm Director. They will be responsible for assisting the Farm Director in the operation and community engagement of the Mills Community Farm (MCF).

This position will assist the Farm Director in the daily, weekly, and season-long management of a two-acre diversified vegetable, fruit, flower and herb operation. This position leverages the joys and hard work of growing real food to build student’s practical skills, leadership capacities, and desire to be part of a sustainable food system broadly conceived.

With direction from the Farm Director, the Assistant Farm Manager will support and lead activities related to the farm including but not limited to:

• Assisting with on-farm production including physical weeding, bed preparation, transplanting and direct sowing, propagation, irrigation, harvesting and related activities.
• Assisting the management of event scheduling with campus faculty and staff to use the farm as a resource and outdoor laboratory.
• Assisting in managing student employees including developing their work schedule, training, and conducting performance evaluations with support from the Farm Director.
• Facilitating and supporting farm and related sustainability events for the campus community.

They should be a skilled grower, able to confidently support a small-scale CSA market-garden, be collaborative in their approach to getting things done and solving problems, passionate about food systems education and highly motivated to teach and inspire others about sustainable food systems.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Sustainable agricultural practices
• Event coordination and planning
• Student/Community Engagement
• Computer software (Microsoft Suite and Google Apps)

Skills/Abilities: ​

• Notable experience on an organic / sustainable farm, having played strategic, operational, and management roles. Familiar with practices like diversified crop rotations, no/low-tillage, IPM, etc
• Experience leading teams of people in farming tasks
• Experience and ability to coordinate and educate students, volunteers and interns
• A range of knowledge in and a commitment to learn regenerative and sustainable farming practices
• A demonstrated background and commitment to equity and inclusion · Excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills and problem-solving ability
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions and willingness to seek guidance as needed
• Ability to work individually in a self-directed manner and as part of a team
• Excellent organizational skills, initiative and attention to detail
• Ability to maintain professional, courteous and positive relationships with people of all ages from a variety of racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, with various lifestyles and sexual orientations
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible 40-hour work week that can include evening/weekend events
• Must be willing and capable of physically demanding work including lifting, carrying, pruning, planting, harvesting, and weeding for several hours in all kinds of weather
• Must have excellent hearing and speech and the ability to lift 50 lbs. unassisted
• Excellent time management, organizational and planning skills

​Preferred:

• Experience and enjoyment working with and mentoring young adults, and the ability to work with a wide array of personalities in a complex environment
• Experience working on a college farm, similar collegiate program, or community agriculture setting
• Experience in assisting community engagement programming and event planning
• Degree in food, food systems, agriculture, soil science, environmental science, land management, sustainable agriculture, horticulture, botany or related field, or similar equivalent life experience
• Excellent communication skills including making public presentations or leading public workshops and tours Position requires employee to lift/carry 35-50 pounds occasionally and 15-30 pounds frequently.

Position requires frequent pushing and pulling of a wheelbarrow between 15-100 lbs. Position has the ability to sit/stand as needed. Using a stepladder, walking on uneven ground, kneeling, reaching, bending from the waist, bending from the knees, reaching overhead and straight ahead are required while gardening. Gripping strength and agility required for handling tools and carrying with both arms is also required. Occasional use of campus vehicles might be needed to transport goods, as such, the assistant manager will need an active and valid driver’s