Job description: The Farm Services Director at RAFI ensures the alignment of farmer services initiatives with the organization’s goals, values, and priorities. This role includes supervising key program staff, overseeing program planning and evaluation, managing grants, fostering collaboration, and coordinating with regranting efforts to support farming communities effectively. The Director is responsible for ensuring high-quality and consistent service delivery, identifying staff training needs, managing complaints, incorporating community feedback into program development, and ensuring data from grant applications informs program strategy. The Farm Services Director leads RAFI's Farm Advocacy and Farm Sustainability programs and works closely with other managers and directors to provide cohesive and responsive program delivery across all activities, including overseeing technical assistance delivery, intake processes, and improvements in case management and service linkages.

Primary Position Responsibilities

Program Management:

• Oversees farmer services programming across the organization, including the Farm Advocacy and Farm Sustainability program areas, and supports other programs that involve farmer service delivery, such as the Farmers of Color Network (FOCN). Actively participates in FOCN team meetings and other team meetings as needed.

• Supervises Farm Advocacy and Farm Sustainability program staff and supports program staff with high-priority tasks and projects as needed.

• Maintain a strong understanding of the current state of agriculture and the evolving needs of farmers, using this knowledge to inform program development and strategic planning and contribute to RAFI policy advocacy efforts.

• Coordinates with RAFI’s regranting efforts to ensure farmers and organizations know available services and are appropriately linked to other programs. 

• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement and learning.

• Collaborates with communications and program staff to identify and create content for Living Roots, RAFI’s farmer print magazine.

Quality Assurance and Community Engagement

• Ensures consistent and high-quality delivery of farmer services by regularly reviewing program practices, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing necessary changes.

• Ensures community engagement and feedback are solicited and incorporated into program development and service delivery and identifies emerging trends, needs, and opportunities. 

• Addresses and tracks service delivery complaints and makes recommendations. 

• Serves as point of contact for strategic partners where appropriate. 

Case Management and Technical Assistance:

• Provides high-level oversight of RAFI’s technical assistance services to farmers, ensuring effective intake processes, streamlined case management, and seamless linkages between programs to deliver comprehensive support to farming communities. 

• Supports staff in utilizing RAFI’s Salesforce database for case management and collaborates with them to identify and address any issues, to develop and implement standard procedures for RAFI case management, and to ensure all data is accurately collected, stored, and utilized for program planning and evaluation.

• Identifies necessary improvements to RAFI’s database systems and tools to streamline technical assistance delivery and case management processes.

• Ensures effective coordination and linkages between various RAFI services, programs, and external resources to provide a comprehensive support network for farmers.

Development & Grants Management:

• Collaborates with the Development Director to ensure program funding needs are met and funding requirements are adhered to, including overseeing grant writing, program development, budget management, and compliance with federal and USDA cooperative agreements.

• Works with program staff to create grant and program budgets and revisions based on actual awards, ensuring accurate inclusion in RAFI’s overall budget.

• Oversees budget development and management for designated programs and projects, including reviewing and approving expenses, monitoring financial reports, and ensuring budget compliance.

Required skills, knowledge, and abilities: 

• Managing High-Functioning Teams: Demonstrated ability to manage, motivate, and support high-functioning teams. Skilled in creating a supportive work environment for staff engaged in challenging and emotionally taxing work and addressing burnout while maintaining high service delivery standards.

• Experience in Human Services and Case Management: Significant experience running programs that serve people in stress or crisis, with a strong background in human services. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement case management practices, ensuring accurate and consistent data tracking and impact reporting. Familiarity with Salesforce a plus.

• Genuine Commitment to Serving Farmers and Farming Communities: A deep and authentic commitment to serving farmers and farming communities. A strong sense of accountability to these communities, demonstrating integrity, empathy, and responsiveness in all interactions and decisions.

Desired skills, knowledge, and abilities: 

• Program Improvement and Service Delivery Efficiency: Demonstrated experience identifying gaps and implementing enhancements to better serve individuals and communities in stress, particularly within agricultural, nonprofit, or human services contexts.

• Program Evaluation and Continuous Improvement: Strong skills in program evaluation, monitoring, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Experience using logic models, quality assurance tools, and impact assessment methods to evaluate programs that support people in distress.

• Knowledge of Agriculture, Farm Advocacy, and Human Services: In-depth understanding of farming and human services approaches to supporting distressed individuals and communities. Experience working with diverse farming communities, including communities of color.

Compensation: Full-time salaried, exempt position. Annual starting salary of $76,468 based on 40 hours/week. Generous benefits package includes paid time off, 401k, medical, dental, life insurance, and long/short-term disability insurance plans.

Location: This position is open to remote applicants based in North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Virginia, or Mississippi. Preference will be given to candidates in the Triangle or Triad regions of North Carolina. Triangle and Triad, NC-area based employees based in NC are expected to work from RAFI’s Pittsboro office 1 day per week.

How to Apply: Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and professional references. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. In your cover letter, please explain why you are interested in working for RAFI and highlight any skills or experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this position. Please do not call or email regarding this position. We expect to start first round interviews the week of October 14, 2024. 

About RAFI:  RAFI challenges the root causes of unjust food systems, supporting and advocating for economically, racially, and ecologically just farm communities. We envision a thriving, sustainable, and equitable food system where farmers and farmworkers have dignity and agency; where they are supported by just agricultural policies, and where corporations and institutions are accountable to their community. To learn more, visit rafiusa.org. 

RAFI’s Salary Policy: RAFI’s salary policy is designed to ensure fair, clear, and transparent criteria for setting salaries, with standards that minimize the impact of negotiation skills or preferences. Salaries are determined based on the responsibility level of the position. Therefore, RAFI does not negotiate salary rates.

COVID-19: RAFI requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless medical or religious exemptions exist.

Equal Opportunity Employer: RAFI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental handicap, matriculation, or political affiliation.

Work Authorization: RAFI does not sponsor work visas; this position requires authorization to work in the United States.

Inclusive Workplace: RAFI values an equitable and inclusive workplace. We are deeply committed to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, LGBTQ persons, and other individuals from diverse backgrounds. Research shows that often, women and people from underrepresented groups only apply to jobs for which they meet 100% of the qualifications. RAFI is interested in attracting a diverse pool of candidates who want to contribute to a dedicated, hard-working, collaborative team driven by equity. You need not check every box. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.