SPRING CREEK FOOD HUB DESCRIPTION

An emerging local food system non-profit serving the Northwest Arkansas region seeks a Farmer Relations Manager to provide educational services, production planning and technical assistance to produce growers.

Production Planning, Education, and Technical Assistance

• Establish and maintain strong, trusting relationships with farmers

• Work closely with Spring Creek leadership team and farmers to develop annual production plan

• Work closely with farmers to coordinate their production for Spring Creek Food Hub, including establishment of purchase price with growers and regular communication with farmers throughout the growing season

• Connect farmers seeking new markets to Spring Creek Food Hub

• Provide educational workshops and 1:1 technical assistance to farmers in the areas of production planning, business planning, healthy soils, integrated pest management, USDA Organic and Certified Naturally Grown

• Attend regional farmer networks including events at/by the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food and NWA Farmlink

• Identify farmer needs and food system gaps (e.g. land access, seed/starter plants, aggregation space, sales outlets, etc.)

• Support Executive Director in other tasks as needed

Food Safety Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance

• Establish and maintain strong, trusting relationships with farmers

• Work closely with Spring Creek Food Hub staff to provide feedback to farmers on produce safety, quality, packing standards

• Work closely with Spring Creek leadership team to review and revise food safety plan annually or as needed

• Provide educational workshops and 1:1 technical assistance to farmers in the areas of food safety practices, policies, and procedures; food safety federal, state, and local regulations

• Identify farmer needs and food system gaps related to food safety (e.g. equipment and infrastructure, delivery and distribution gaps, water testing, etc.)

• With Executive Director and Warehouse Manager, develop, implement, and oversee SOPs to ensure respectful and professional farmer communications, food safety compliance, and quality control

• Support Executive Director in other tasks as needed

Required Qualifications

• BS in horticulture or related education or experience

• Passion for local food and farming

• Ability to communicate complex information to a wide variety of audiences in 1:1 and group settings

• Knowledge of farm enterprise budgets, production planning, USDA Organic and Certified Naturally Grown standards

• Knowledge of fruit and vegetable varieties

• Deep understanding and passion for practices that develop healthy soil • Knowledge of FSMA and GAP standards

• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel

• Ability to drive large delivery vehicles, operate forklifts and pallet jacks and achieve operator certificate within 30 days of employment

• Ability to repeatedly lift and move products (up to 50 lbs)

• Driver’s license, ability and willingness to drive delivery vehicles, as needed

• Collaborate with translators to provide services to farmers in a variety of languages

COMPENSATION

Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with similar positions nationally.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please send a resume and cover letter to info@springcreekfoodhub.org with the title of the position in the subject line.

Spring Creek Food Hub works to increase access to local products through aggregation and distribution to wholesale markets and directly to community members, educates farmers and buyers, and improves economic, environmental, and community health of our region’s food system. This multi-faceted organization requires a knowledgeable farmer to provide educational services, production planning and technical assistance to local produce growers.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment practices shall not be influenced or unlawfully affected by virtue of any applicant’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history), as defined by the EEOC.