Project Description:

The Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP) is an educational urban farming program, located on Buffalo’s east side, that provides adult refugees adaptive farming and marketing skills. By engaging newly arrived refugees in familiar agricultural practice, Brewster Street Farm seeks to hasten their path toward self-sufficiency by providing a supplemental income, increasing their access to healthy foods, and enhancing community integration. The Brewster Street Farm Program Manager, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, Grassroots Gardens WNY and other local partners will train participants on best practices for urban farming in Buffalo, NY.

Job Description:

The Brewster Street Farm Program Manager is responsible for successfully implementing the work plan detailed in the Office for Refugee Resettlement RAPP grant. RAPP is a three-year, federally funded program, created to encourage U.S. refugee engagement in the agricultural sector.

In addition to the seasonal activities involved in running an urban farm, the program includes, but is not limited to, running a CSA program, participation in local farmers markets, and operating the Grassroots Gardens WNY Community and Market Gardens. The Program Manager will be responsible for recruiting and supervising program participants from the refugee community in WNY, working with community-based partners, providing training and technical assistance to the refugee farmers, and carrying out the requirements of the RAPP grant. The Program Manager will administer, monitor, and report on the RAPP program as funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

The Brewster Street Farm Program Manager must exemplify Journey’s End’s core values in their work. These values include intercultural responsiveness, integrity, person-centered, empowerment, and exemplary service.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Recruit and supervise program participants
• Network and collaborate with community partners
• Develop and implement marketing and outreach strategies for the CSA program, and other initiatives
• Timely implementation of all aspects of the RAPP farm program, adhering to a high standard of excellence in program delivery
• Quarterly reporting to the project funder
• Judicious oversight of all expenditures contained in the RAPP budget
• Curriculum development for and delivery of classroom instruction
• Documentation of client participation
• Development of business and community partners
• Other programming around the farm, including Volunteer Days and other public education events
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in agricultural science, agriculture education, agricultural economics or equivalent degree in a related field. Substantial field experience may be considered in lieu of educational requirements
• At least two years of program management experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience in responsibly and successfully implementing program guidelines and budgets, preferably related to grants
• Knowledge about agricultural processes, equipment, and operations strongly preferred
• Experience working with a diverse population and urban farming strongly preferred
• Demonstrated organizational and managerial skills
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through on projects big and small
• A passion for resolving challenging problems and thinking outside of the box
• Strong ability to work as a member of a team, willingness to take initiative, and commitment to supporting both the refugee community and urban farming community
• Valid driver’s license and access to an insured vehicle
• Ability to lift 40+ pounds
• Fluent English with additional language preferred
• Strong communication, marketing, and social media skills preferred
• Grant writing experience preferred