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15. Communications Director – Organic Farming Research Foundation. Santa Cruz, CA
Background
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), based in Santa Cruz, CA, is recruiting a Communications Director. OFRF’s mission is the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. OFRF’s staff and farmer-led board value the social and environmental benefits to society that organic farming contributes, thus OFRF works to secure and sustain the livelihood of organic farm families and individuals. To achieve this mission, OFRF sponsors and conducts research, education, outreach, and analysis on organic farming systems, and promotes federal- and state-level policies that support organic farming.
The Communications Director is a newly created professional position reporting to the Executive Director. The Communications Director will supervise OFRF’s Communications Project Manager and work closely and collaboratively with the Deputy Executive Director and with other OFRF
program staff and Board committee members. The Communications Director will also provide organizational and technical leadership for OFRF to achieve OFRF’s strategic communications objectives, as follows:
- Meet the growing demand for organic farming systems research and practical information
- Create a better-informed public and policy community on organic farming issues.
- Provide information to other organizations who work on organic farming issues.
- Raise awareness about OFRF’s programs among strategic audiences.
Professional Duties
The Communication Director will bring high-quality writing and editing skills to OFRF, the highest priority for this position. Working in partnership with program staff, and coordinating a portfolio of external consultants, the Communications Director will manage OFRF’s communications processes and products. This means that the Communications Director will perform the following principal duties:
- Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive communication plan that includes public relations strategies and tactics for the various program activities of OFRF.
- Direct OFRF’s Communications Program including the supervision of other staff whose primary role is the production of specialized information products related to OFRF-supported research.
- Develop and implement an on-going assessment of OFRF’s information products and processes.
- Design, edit, and contribute to the writing of OFRF’s information products using basic content input from program staff.
- Craft, write, and edit media messages to reach OFRF’s various audiences.
- Identify op-ed placement opportunities and write or edit the pieces themselves.
- Develop and manage OFRF’s capability to respond quickly to breaking news items and stories
- Provide creative and technical guidance for OFRF’s web and email messaging and including changes to OFRF’s intranet and external websites’ form and content.
- Maintain relationships with media professionals, arranging interviews when such opportunities arise
- Oversee and manage OFRF’s media and image archives
- Ensure that OFRF uses professionally-recognized communications standards and best practices
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Required
- Excellent writing, editing, proofreading listening, and leadership skills as demonstrated by professional experiences and achievements. The writing and editing skills are a top priority and these will be specifically evaluated during the hiring process at the interview stage.
- Knowledge of the broad field of communications gained from at least five years of professional experience and responsibility for the design, implementation, and management of communications strategies in the non-profit or for-profit world
- Proven capability to effectively communicate with culturally and economically diverse audiences particularly those involved in farming and public policy.
- Demonstrated capability and understanding of new communications technologies, strategies, and tactics that respond to the internal and external needs of a medium-scale organization.
- Proven experience and skills in time management, budgeting, and program effectiveness.
- Demonstrated ability to generate and deliver persuasive and clear verbal and written communications in a variety of media forms and channels.
- Ability to communicate effectively with farmers and farming advocates.
- Experience working with graphic designers, printers, and website developers.
- Ability to meet deadlines, problem-solve, and work well with management and consultants.
- Ability to work in a high-energy environment and manage multiple tasks and priorities.
- University degree or recognized professional training in a field related to communications, marketing, or a related field of expertise and study.
Desired
- Experience in the professional world of communications related to organic farming.
- Experience working with or for non-profit environmental or agricultural organizations.
- Knowledge of environmental or agricultural issues and affiliated public advocacy issues.
- Experience working collaboratively in a team environment with success.
- Demonstrated superior supervisory skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work and produce creative quality material independently.
- Advanced proficiency with a range of computer software.
- Ability and will to work some weekends, evening, and occasionally travel on short notice.
- Professional, friendly, and enthusiastic personality.
- Superior attention to detail.
- U.S. citizen or legal right to work in the U.S.
- Fluency in Spanish as a second language
Compensation and Benefits
Health and retirement benefits and compensation commensurate with experience. The posted salary for this position is $55,000. This is a full-time, exempt position located in Santa Cruz, CA.
Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and writing and/or graphics design samples via email to:
Jonathon Landeck, Deputy Executive Director, [log in to unmask] by May 1, 2008.
For related inquiries, call Jonathon Landeck @ 831-426-6606.
OFRF is committed to providing equal opportunity employment opportunities to candidates and employees without regard to race, religion, creed, age, sex, or national origin citizenship. OFRF encourages women and minorities to apply for employment opportunities with our organization.
16. Wallace Research Intern – Arlington, VA
Effective with the release of this position announcement, Winrock International will be recruiting applicants for an internship with the Wallace Center. The responsibilities, duties and qualifications are described in the attached position description.
GENERAL:
Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. Winrock matches innovative approaches in agriculture, natural resources management, clean energy, and leadership development with the unique needs of its partners. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world.
The Wallace Center at Winrock International has been a key organization in fostering a more sustainable food and agricultural system in the U.S. since 1983. During this time it has employed research, policy analysis and education in order to drive change that benefits farmers, urban and rural communities, our natural resources and the health of our citizens. Today, the Center continues to provide leadership to further the development of sustainable and equitable agriculture and food systems through national and regional program design and implementation, policy analysis, research and technical assistance. Current focus is on developing market-based solutions that link a larger number people and communities to healthy and sustainably produced food that supports a viable farm community, development of capacity among non-profits to facilitate enterprise development, building capacity for community-based food systems and expanding marketing channels to link urban and rural communities. In support of this work, the Center hosts national conferences and convenes regional working groups and networks.
SALARY: Winrock is able to offer a stipend to cover living expenses.
APPLICATIONS: Applicants should send current resume and cover letter (maximum of 2 pages total) referencing HRM/Wallace-Intern by May 2, 2008 to: [log in to unmask]
POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE: Intern
LOCATION: Arlington, VA
UNIT: Wallace Center
REPORTS TO: Director, Wallace Center
BACKGROUND:
The Wallace Center currently leads a collaborative effort of nearly 20 farmers’ market leaders and practitioners from around the country. This geographically and organizationally diverse group is actively engaged in the development of resources that benefit direct-marketing farmers and farmers’ market managers. In 2007 this consensus effort produced a pair of handbooks that use plain language and abundant photography to help farmers and market managers succeed and an ongoing series of regional farmers’ market conferences for market managers and direct-marketing farmers.
The Wallace Center will continue its collaborative development of resources with a Risk Mitigation Tool-Kit for direct-marketing farmers that will include information on liability insurance, food safety, marketing and crop insurance. The Wallace Center is also researching case studies on successful direct-marketing entrepreneurs who have used farmers’ markets to scale up their agricultural enterprises.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The intern would assist with research and collecting of materials for the Risk Mitigation Tool-Kit and the case study series. This would include constructing a document library of currently available materials developed by farmers’ markets at a local, state and regional level across the country for review and evaluation. This will involve contacting and networking with state organizations, regional market networks and local market managers. In addition to building the document library, the intern will assist with the research for the case study interviews and writing. Finally the intern would assist with some data entry for a 2007 farmers’ market survey that was conducted by the Wallace Center as part of the first year of the project.
QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:
• Fast and accurate research skills. Research will include Internet, phone calls, in-person interviews and possibly library and on-line database sources.
• Excellent writing skills, including ability to distill large amounts of information into concise memos.
• Organization skills, including ability to catalogue and store large numbers of files accurately.
• Interest in farmers’ markets, sustainable agriculture/environment issues, and/or community development demonstrated by undergraduate or graduate study.
• Must not require sponsorship to work in the U.S.
END
Vicki Morrone
Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist
Michigan State University
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems
303 Natural Resources Bldg.
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542
517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (fax)
For information on organic agriculture production please visit: http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/
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