Job description

Organization Summary:
The mission of the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) is to nurture the growth of a diverse and equitable community food system to promote local economic opportunities, access to affordable nutritious food and social change education. MAP’s Growing Green Program is a year-round youth development initiative that involves youth in solving Buffalo’s challenges related to nutrition and healthy food access. The program trains urban youth in urban agriculture, food systems issues, microenterprise development and leadership.
MAP farms using permaculture and other sustainable practices on 1.5 acres, producing fruits vegetables herbs, chicken, eggs and tilapia. The farm includes an aquaponics and produce hoophouses, a chicken coop, rainwater catchment, compost, an outdoor harvesting and washing station and a farm stand. MAP’s on-site farmhouse will be renovated in 2016 to include improved farm facilities and greater capacity for farm produce storage and packaging. MAP also serves as a year round urban distribution site for a local CSA farm. MAP values creativity and cooperative principles and team problem solving.

Position Summary:
As a key member of our team, the Farm Manager will be primarily responsible for the management, planning and oversight of diversified and chemical-free produce and poultry production on MAP’s urban farm, for sales to customers at farm stands and through a CSA, and to local restaurants and businesses. This includes planning and managing all aspects of the farm, such as seed starting and plant propagation, soil building and creation, harvest and packaging, farm staff management, supply purchasing, and repairs and maintenance of the farm infrastructure. . In close coordination with MAP’s Aquaponics Manager and MAP’s Market Director, the Farm Manager has primary responsibility for developing and managing the farm enterprises. The Farm Manager position requires a strong practical knowledge of agricultural skills and farm management, as well as a broad understanding of community food security, and a passionate commitment to food justice

Essential Functions:
The farm manager will be responsible for:

• Developing annual farm plan and calendar cooperatively with other farm and markets staff
• Seedling propagation and field cultivation
• Compost operations
• Integrated pest and weed management
• Harvesting farm products for market
• Supervisinghoophouse operations, in non-aquaponicshoophouses, including overwintering, and construction of additional hoophouses as needed
• Inventory and replacement/repair of farm tools and equipment as needed
• Supervise farm interns and volunteers at farm sites
• Assist other staff to plan and implement educational activities for youth and tours for the general public
• Work with Markets Director to coordinate harvest and sales
• Work with other farm and markets staff to periodically revise Farm Business Plan

Required Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years of commercial farm management experience, preferably at an organic or chemical free farm.
• Experience planning and managing farm production, including budgeting
• Ability to manage and mentor a diverse assortment of staff and volunteers, including teenagers, interns, and other co-workers.
• Knowledge of and experience with no-till/permaculture methods

Additional preferred qualifications:

• Experience farming in Greenhouses and using other season extension methods
• Ability to communicate and educate community on agricultural subjects
• Creative thinker and problem solver
• Market Garden style growing experience
• Knowledge of issues relating to local food, food access, and sustainable agriculture, and a genuine appreciation of the urban environment.
• Strong organizational and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in all MS office applications required.
• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, natural resources, plant science, horticulture or a related field is preferred, but not required.

Salary: $28,000 plus full health and other benefits

Compensation

this position is:

Application instructions

Deadline

April 18, 2015