Company description

Growing Food, Building Community. Allegheny Mountain Institute is a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit whose mission is to cultivate healthy communities through food and education.

AMI hosts a fully-sponsored 18-month Farm and Food Fellowship prepares individuals to become advocates for a food system that is socially, environmentally, and economically just. Selected Fellows spend six months in experiential, residential Farm and Food Study at AMI’s Allegheny Farm Campus, followed by a Community Action Year applying their training in partnership with regional non-profit organizations.

In addition, AMI supports schools, hospitals, and organizations to grow food and reach their unique goals of integrating food, agriculture, and education into their programs and operations.

Job description

AMI seeks a farm manager to oversee day-to-day operations of production gardens and livestock operations on the Allegheny Farm in Highland County, VA while supporting educational experiences. The farm serves as the campus for our Farm and Food Fellowship, an experiential and residential program in which Fellows deepen their farming skills while connecting with nature, building community, and exploring critical issues related to the food system. The farm manager should possess strong, practical knowledge of agricultural methods that improve soil health and preserve the watershed and be an energetic problem-solver and multitasker who has a demonstrated ability to work on diverse, remote, and in-person teams. This full-time and exempt position will supervise two Fellows and will report to the executive director. Work hours may fluctuate and are dependent on seasonal and organizational needs.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Garden:

• Responsible for the organic, sustainable management of a 1-acre vegetable garden with greenhouse and high tunnel growing spaces, including seed ordering, plant propagation and cultivation, irrigation, pest, and nutrient management, harvesting, processing, and relevant record keeping

• Manage produce distribution, including storage, sales, and donations

• Build garden soil health, including garden rotations, soil testing, composting systems, and input materials.

• Manage and expand small orchard and perennial crops, including pest protection, mulching, and plant selection

• Maintain garden grounds through grass cutting and weed removal

• Provide regular maintenance of tools and fences as well as refuse removal for all occupied dwellings and farm operations

 

Animal:

• Manage and maintain healthy pastures including grazing rotations, animal care, grass cutting and weed removal, fence and gate maintenance, and water management to prevent nitrogen leaching into the watershed

• Manage and integrate poultry operations into pasture and garden rotations, including a bird laying flock, broilers, and ducks

 

Administrative/General Management:

• Maintain procedures and systems for the upkeep of pantries, cold storage, root cellars, and feed rooms to ensure optimal temperature/humidity, and the vitality, safety, and quantities of foodstuffs

• Manage the budget for farm expenditures and ordering, purchasing, and maintaining records of expenses

• Maintain a system of record-keeping of operations management

• Instruct, supervise, guide, and mentor Fellows on farm-related work

• Contribute to staff meetings, report writing, strategic planning, and educational outreach

• Coordinate with Allegheny Farm Caretaker and Fellowship Director for operational and program needs
   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of and commitment to building a resilient, collaborative, and equitable food system that is grounded in organic and regenerative agriculture practices

• Two years of experience in full-season organic vegetable production and management, post-handling, and processing for sale and storage

• Experience in rotational, multi-species grazing

• Experience with operating, maintaining, and conducting basic repairs on equipment

• Exceptional multi-tasking, organizational, and time management skills

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively

• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills

• Demonstrated ability to connect with racially, ethnically, socioeconomically, and politically diverse communities

• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and Google documents

• A valid driver’s license with a good driving record
   

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent amount of training and work experience

• Two years of experience with rotational grazing

• Carpentry, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical skills

• Two or more years operating a tractor, snow plow, and power tools

• Mentorship, teaching, or supervision experience

• Experience in apiary management

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION

This position requires working outside in physically demanding environments, including climate fluctuations, extreme hot and cold weather, and snowy winters. The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
 

COMPENSATION
This is a full-time, exempt, year-round position. Salary range is $37,000 - $40,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include health insurance benefits, workers’ compensation coverage, earned vacation, wellness leave, holidays, a farm-grown food share, and accommodation. Housing includes the 2nd story of the farmhouse while the main floor is shared with the AMI community in season.  

This position could be combined with the Allegheny Farm Caretaker position if skills permit.

 

Compensation

this position is: salaried, less than 50k

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline