Project Manager, Ecosystem Building - Kitchen Table Advisors

Kitchen Table Advisors (KTA) fuels the economic viability of sustainable small farms and ranches through practical business advising and trusted relationships. Our vision is that regenerative farmers and ranchers are thriving leaders of a vibrant, community-based economy that is rooted in equitable distribution of power and resources. Kitchen Table Advisors’ work aims to both directly support farmers and ranchers, as well as shift the ecosystem in which they operate, to be more supportive of their agricultural practices and their lived experiences. We focus our efforts on land, markets and capital, which we see as key levers of change as small sustainable farms and ranches strive towards long-term economic viability.

Job Title: Project Manager, Ecosystem Building

Classification: Exempt, Full Time

Salary Range: $86,000-$94,000

Total Rewards Include: Professional development stipend, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and employer-matched 401k. Flexible working schedule, generous vacation, and leave policies.

KTA's salaries are guided by our value of equity and are set in accordance with our compensation philosophy, which includes a commitment that the salary ratio between the lowest-paid and the highest-paid staff members will not exceed 1:2.5.

Work Location: Hybrid, serving Northern and Central California’s surrounding counties including, but not limited to: Yolo, Solano, Sacramento, Sonoma, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Santa Clara, Madera, Stanislaus and surrounding areas. This role requires regular travel to active project regions and occasional work from KTA’s Salinas and Berkeley offices. Candidates must reside in one of the regions we serve.

Post Date: 07/01/24

First Review: 07/22/24

Job Overview

As the Project Manager for Ecosystem Building, you will provide project management and subject expertise to support KTA’s mission. The Ecosystem Building program complements our bilingual 1-on-1 farm Business Advising program, working at a systems level to help farmers and ranchers equitably access land, capital, and markets. You will collaborate with values-aligned partners to shape institutions toward greater farmer power, governance, and ownership.

In this role, you will manage projects that center on Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, low-income, immigrant, and LGBTQ communities, developing new models for farmland acquisition, influencing financial institutions, and creating new market channels. You will work closely with internal teams and external colleagues to implement, assess, and develop our Ecosystem Building work, unlocking opportunities for our clients and their communities. You will embody our organizational values of equity, empathy, transformative leadership, ecological responsibility, and resilience.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to:

1. Project Management (60%)

• Plan, implement, and monitor projects to enhance access to land, capital, and markets.
• Provide in-depth project management support for strategic projects, collaborating with team members, farmers, partners, and supporters.
• Assess and plan new project opportunities that meet the needs of our sustainable farmer and rancher clients.
• Support ongoing initiatives and new projects, ensuring tasks are completed according to plan. Existing projects include, for example: transitioning land ownership to immigrant organic farmers; a Latina peer-based lending network; and establishing a farmer-owned food hub.
• Develop detailed project plans, including scope, objectives, timelines, and resource allocation.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to define project requirements and deliverables.
• Monitor progress, manage changes to project scopes, schedules, or budgets, and ensure projects are on time, on budget, and within scope.
• Conduct regular status meetings to monitor progress, provide project updates and address any issues.
• Document project activities, decisions, and lessons learned, ensuring proper project closure.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, community members, and supporting organizations.

2. Program Management (20%)

• Support the development and management of a portfolio of Ecosystem Building projects and strategic partnerships.
• Support the development, management, and training of project management tools.
• Assist with managing the project portfolio, ensuring projects meet impact criteria and point towards institutional change.
• Participate in partnerships and networking events for Ecosystem Building efforts.
• Collaborate with Development and Communications teams to provide information necessary for fundraising and storytelling.
• Ensure that project activities are culturally relevant and sensitive to the needs of the served communities.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for project stakeholders, including community members, partners, and funding agencies.

3. Resource and Risk Management (20%)

• Manage project resources effectively, including budget allocation and optimization.
• Secure and manage necessary equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks, developing and implementing contingency plans as needed, to ensure project success.

Ideal Candidate

You possess superb interpersonal, communication, and project management skills and are bilingual in English and Spanish. You are a highly motivated individual who excels in building relationships and collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders. An inspiring colleague and ambassador, you possess the ability to collaborate and manage in a way that fosters creativity, teamwork, a commitment to excellence, and mutual respect. You have strong networks with farmers and organizations working on regenerative agriculture, social justice, and community-controlled capital and. You have a reputation for being a leader, an excellent listener and relationship builder. Also known for your integrity, creativity, and optimism, you are proactive, able to work independently, and comfortable navigating change.

Qualifications

We recognize that each applicant will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to this position. We welcome diverse experiences and perspectives in our applicant pool, and will be looking for candidates who possess many, but not necessarily all, of the following qualifications and experience:

• 5+ years of relevant experience working with farmers to access land, capital, and markets
• Deep knowledge and experience in agricultural real estate, integrated capital, or farm supply chains
• 3+ years of project management experience, including planning, delivery, problem solving, and evaluation
• Understanding of sustainable food and agriculture systems and social change
• Familiarity with systems thinking and evaluating system change
• Strong business and financial understanding of farm businesses
• Proven ability to build relationships with sustainable farmers/ranchers and partners in Northern and Central CA
• Excellent listening and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to see the big picture and connect the dots, as well as get into the weeds on implementation
• Ability to stay organized, move multiple projects and priorities forward simultaneously, and constantly reprioritize
• Experience working with communities of color and BIPOC-led organizations, building trust and navigating traditional power structures
• Preferred lived experience or cultural competency that enables understanding of diverse clients needs
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Travel and Schedule Considerations

• Valid driver's license and access to a vehicle for travel throughout Northern and Central California
• Occasional evening and weekend work responsibilities

Total Rewards Include: Professional development stipend, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and employer-matched 401k. Flexible working schedule, generous vacation, and leave policies.