Interested in helping on a small permaculture farm? 

You can! 
This Sunday, October 21, join our friends at Woodland Harvest Mountain Farm in West Jefferson for a fun day of work.

The afternoon will include foundational preparation for a bioshelter project and winter preparation for their garden. They'll also have their pipe bender out to show how easy it is to make hoop houses or row covers. 

Also plan to do a little yoga with Karma Krew.

You bring the work gloves and closed-toed shoes, they'll provide the snacks and kombucha.
 
To learn more, please see the flyer or email [email protected].

Click here to go to the positing on Heifer's Website

Post Date 10/3/2012
Closing Date 10/23/2012
Posting Title: USCP Project Manager-Appalachia Region




Function:
 
As part of Heifer International’s United States Country Program (USCP) development strategy, this position is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction in the development and coordination of a large, integrated, and impactful regional program, identifying and collaborating with multiple internal (other Heifer divisions) and external local, regional and national stakeholders to promote food sovereignty and strengthen local (and regional) food systems through integrated programming in sustainable livelihoods, education and advocacy.

Responsibilities:

1. Develop and direct a large-scale regional program through organizing, participatory planning, and ongoing support of the implementation of multi-year, multi-partner projects that respond to an approved regional strategy (as part of USCP strategy and Americas Development Model).
   
2. Analyze, build capacity of and work alongside intermediary organizations at community, state, regional and national levels and build and support coalitions of diverse, common-purpose organizations.
   
3. Develop partnerships with and among organizations such as like-minded civil society, private sector stakeholders, educational institutions and Heifer divisions to promote sustainable small- and medium-scale agriculture and sustainable local consumption in support of food sovereignty and local and regional food systems.
   
4. Facilitate and direct a community-based participatory organizing and planning processes.
   
5. Maintain a working knowledge of Heifer International’s mission and philosophy and participate with Heifer staff and partners to continually shape the strategic direction of the region, country program and organizational focus.
   
6. In collaboration with other Heifer divisions work closely to actively advance Heifer International’s work within the region and elsewhere.
   
7. Work in collaboration with the country program managers, operations manager and country director to ensure operational transparency and accountability.
   
8. Work in collaboration with country program managers, operations manager and country director to continuously inform, define and regionally implement a coherent USCP regional programming strategy.
   
9. Help to ensure proper support, monitoring and evaluation of Heifer regional programming and collecting and sharing lessons learned, both within the country program and across the Americas area program.
   
10. In coordination with USCP office and the Marketing and Resource Development Division, submit proposals and implement grants and other activities related to supporting organizational fundraising efforts.
    
11. Prepare and manage a large regional budget including submission of reports, as required by the USCP office.
    
12. Assist and ensure that project partners submit accurate, timely and complete project progress and financial reports as required.
    
13. Submit monthly progress and planning reports to the country program manager.
    
14. May perform other job-related responsibilities as assigned.
    

Minimum Requirements: 

Bachelor’s degree plus seven (7) years of related experience.



Preferred Requirements:

• Master’s degree preferred.
  
• Experience in grant writing, fundraising and proposal development.
  
• Knowledge of the non-profit sector with awareness of the context in which non-profit organizations operate.
  
• Experience with organizational development and capacity building, including leadership development, training of trainers, networking, staff development and conflict resolution.
  
• Experience in organizing and maintaining relationships and networks between multiple organizations.
  
• Experience with the project development cycle, including project development, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
  
• Proficiency in speaking and writing Spanish.
  

Most Critical Proficiencies:

• Knowledge and experience in learner-centered education, training design and facilitation.
  
• Knowledge of and experience in food system work, including bringing multiple food system stakeholders to the table considering complex multi-stakeholder perspectives. 
  
• Knowledge of and experience in participatory community development.
  
• Ability and experience to develop, monitor, and revise detailed personal workplans as defined by USCP guidelines.
  
• Knowledge of developing and managing a large complex budget and project portfolio, as well as annual operations plans and a multidisciplinary team.
  
• Knowledge of diversity and race in the food system, sensitivity in working with multiple cultures and belief systems.
  
• Computer skills in standard office productivity software (word processor, spreadsheet, multi-media presentations, etc.) and electronic communication technology.
  
• Excellent presentation, organizational and budgeting skills.
  
• Working knowledge of sustainable agriculture movement, practices, challenges and opportunities.
  
• Solid knowledge base of federal, state and local initiatives and policies that impact farm and food systems, and sustainable agriculture.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to diverse individuals diplomatically and tactfully.
  
• Ability to write clearly and effectively both for proposal/grant development and for reporting.
  
• Proven ability to be a clear, effective, and timely communicator using various electronic communication technologies, as well as face-to-face and via telephone.
  
• Self-starter and proven ability to work with remote teams.
  
• Strong engagement in teamwork with the ability to adapt to change easily. 
  
• Preparing and presenting documents in a well-designed and attractive format with impeccable attention to detail.
  
• Willingness to cooperate effectively with all staff, other field personnel, project partners and collaborating organizations.
  
• Ability and willingness to work flexible schedule with extensive travel.
  
• Willingness to live in the region worked.
  
• Physical ability to travel to and walk around project and program sites and to lift/carry as much as 30 pounds (14 kilograms).
  

The FIG Farm is now accepting applications for the 2013 cohort. The application can be found at www.fig-farm.com and the deadline to apply is November 15. And for all those interested in learning more about the program, seeing the farm, and tasting some of its bounty from this year, they are planning a fundraiser pig pickin at the farm on October 12. The fundraiser event will be an excellent opportunity to meet FIG Farmers as well as mentor farmers and program directors Hillary Wilson and Matt Cooper. 

The FIG Farm seeks to provide the necessary resources for aspiring, landless farmers to start their farm enterprise, by providing low-cost land leases for vegetable, cut flower, herb, and pasture-based animal farm ventures as well as a shared equipment pool and mentorship opportunities for beginning farmers. The new FIG Farm is located in the heart of Valle Crucis, on the site of the former ASU Teaching & Research Farm, on land owned by the Valle Crucis Conference Center. 

The pig pickin fundraiser will be held at the FIG Farm and will feature Tamsworth hogs, winter squash, salad greens, potatoes, cooking greens all grown by FIG Farmers and mentors. They will also have music and beer for those who just may not want to indulge in the pig pickin. Suggested donation price of $20 per person for food and $5 for beer. For more information regarding the fundraiser, check out www.fig-farm.com or call Hillary Wilson at 828 963 4645 or email hillary@maverickfarms.com