Position Information
Job Title: Farmer Support Specialist
Program/Dept: Big River Farms
Location: Marine on St. Croix, MN
Manager: Associate Farm Director
This is a salaried position with a competitive benefits package. The salary range is $55,000 – $58,000 per year.
Job Summary
This role delivers production, operations, and market education for small-scale vegetable farms through classroom sessions, one-on-one assistance, and hands-on training. The position also provides direct support for farm operations by assisting with tractor work, packshed management, and greenhouse management. The primary focus of this role is implementing the first year training program and conducting regular check-ins with incubator farm teams.
Core Job Functions
1. Farmer Education Program – Approx. 70% of time
- Coordinate and deliver all aspects of the 1st-year curriculum, including scheduling classes, reserving spaces, teaching, and coordinating guest teachers.
- Schedule and coordinate farm tours for 1st-year participants and incubator farm teams
- Assist participants in creating farm management plans, fertility plans, and crop planning.
- Conduct regular one-on-one support for incubator farm teams, including field walks, mid-season and end-of-season check-ins
- Manage and provide training for packshed operations; serving as Food Safety point person.
- Coordinate farm safety and food safety trainings for farmers at Agrisolar, Microfarm, Big River Farms locations.
- Manage and provide training for greenhouse operations.
- Assist with general farm operations such as tractor work as needed.
- Identify and share educational resources for farmers.
- Assist in land and resource stewardship with farmers and staff.
- Design and track program evaluation metrics to highlight successes and identify areas for improvement.
2. Events & Community Education – Approx. 20% of time
- Participate in the Emerging Farmers Conference planning committee, including assisting with content development, event logistics, outreach, and evaluation.
- Assist with planning and executing on-farm events such as the Harvest Party, volunteer days, and farm tours, meeting attendance and financial goals.
3. Management & Administration – Approx. 10% of time
- Assist in scheduling interpretation and translation support for farmers and programs.
- Represent The Food Group in the community and develop strong working relationships with key partners.
- Attend team meetings, respond to emails, and support the team in achieving shared goals.
- Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
· Must be coachable, open and receptive to feedback
· Must be able to work effectively with partners who are significantly diverse with respect to age, race, ethnicity, gender orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, and religion
· Must be able to work effectively in an organization that has recognized its own issues related to equity, and is seeking to be more representative of the community
· Strong understanding of growing mixed vegetables
· Basic knowledge of pests and disease management
· Basic understanding of soil health
· Strong interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication across various cultures
· Strong organizational, planning, and administrative skills, with great attention to detail
· Ability to work independently and prioritize many competing demands and responsibilities
· Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
· Ability to manage a project within a budget
· Basic computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google and Excel on PCs, and emails
Minimum Education and Experience
· Bachelor’s Degree or at least 4 years of professional experience required
· Experience managing programs, projects or events
· Experience teaching and designing classes
· Experience in organizational skills
· Two seasons of farming experiences
· General knowledge of food systems
· Knowledge of or experience in sustainable agriculture
· Ability to perform regular field work and equipment operations (demonstrating growing techniques and tools to growers, tractor work) and work in varied weather conditions.
· Fluency in a language other than English (especially Hmong, Somali, Spanish, Karen) is a plus
Working Conditions and Environment
This position will work from Big River Farms in Marine on St. Croix, MN. This location is accessible and smoke free. This position regularly works during evenings and weekends. Specific work schedules are flexible to adjust to the needs of the right candidate.
All employees must be able to work effectively in a mission-driven agency whose clients and staff exhibit significant diversity with respect to race, ethnicity, gender orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, and religion.
People of Color and LGBTQ people are strongly encouraged to apply. The Food Group is an equal opportunity employer.
Organization Overview
The Food Group (TFG) is a local food equity nonprofit. For more than 45 years we have worked to provide nutritious food to those who need it most in our community. We work at the intersection of food access, equity, and nutrition issues related to food and hunger in Minnesota. We work across the food system and our programs include anti-hunger initiatives, affordable grocery, advocacy, and sustainable farming.
Our culture and environment can be described as high-trust, cooperative, collaborative, open, and fun. We are team of approximately 60 people with three locations in New Hope, St. Paul, and Marine on St. Croix.
We are a workplace that is full of people who genuinely appreciate each other and work best when tackling big ideas as a team. We value individuals who bring their life experiences to their work, knowing that the ways that they have experienced racial, economic, or gender injustice drive their passion to create change. We are a team of passionate, dedicated people who work alongside each other.
Equity is fundamental to our mission to fight hunger and nourish our community. Where we live, how much money we make, or the color of our skin currently influences access to healthy and culturally connected foods. We must address the roots of these inequities so everyone in our community has the opportunity to live their best life. We believe in working with our community and organizations to improve food access and make systemic changes. To do so, equity is a part of all aspects of our work. We invite individuals from different abilities, ethnicities, genders, races, religions, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds to take part in and shape the work in the community.
Benefits
1. Medical & Dental
2. 401k Employer Contribution
3. Employer-paid life insurance/AD&D up to 2x the employee’s annual salary
4. 16 days of Paid Holidays
5. Up to 18 days of Paid Time Off
6. Volunteer Time Off
7. Paid Parental Leave
8. Employee Assistance Program
How to apply
Interested parties should send a cover letter and current resume via the organization’s website at Job Opportunities - The Food Group (thefoodgroupmn.org).
