Program Coordinator

Native Roots Farm Foundation (NRFF) is looking for an experienced, detail-oriented professional to serve as Program Coordinator and support the organization’s community engagement efforts. The Program Coordinator is a full-time, exempt position (an average of 40 hours per week) paying $50,000 annually. This role reports to the President/Executive Director.

In-person and online programming are critically important to helping NRFF fulfill its mission and uplift local Indigenous communities, share Indigenous ecological knowledge, and further peoples’ relationships with the natural world.

We are looking for someone who’s excited to roll-up their sleeves, stick their hands in the soil, engage with the community, and join a grassroots organization as it grows its reach and resources. Candidates must be self-starters, dependable, and have the capacity to learn, collaborate, and work independently. This is a new position, and we welcome and appreciate new ideas and perspectives.

Established in 2020, Native Roots Farm Foundation (NRFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This is our mission: We are reclaiming, cultivating, and celebrating Native relationships with land, plants, and community for the next Seven Generations. NRFF is a relatively new nonprofit organization and intentional about operating sustainably, ethically, and equitably.

Key Responsibilities (include but are not limited to)

Percentages indicate the approximate time and capacity to be devoted to each area

• (50%) Steward the Three Sisters Garden to reconnect culturally significant varieties of The Three Sisters - Lenape and Nanticoke Corn, Beans, and Squash - with local Lenape and Nanticoke people. During the growing season (roughly May-October) the Program Coordinator will perform daily garden maintenance and organize and lead programming at the site that supports tribal members, community partners, volunteers, and members of the NRFF team as we work alongside each other to sow, tend, and harvest the plants.
• (25%) Interface with large groups of diverse people to share NRFF’s mission at NRFF programs and events throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. For programs, the Program Coordinator will assist the President/Executive Director in developing, leading, and facilitating original, hands-on, educational workshops. For events, the Program Coordinator will represent NRFF and share NRFF’s mission and info cards while tabling at community events.
• (25%) Support the President/Executive Director with communications including writing social media posts and newsletters, creating flyers for programs, and helping write grants.
• Administrative duties include updating NRFF’s mailing list, tracking NRFF’s engagement and materials distribution, and providing staff support to NRFF committees.
• The Program Coordinator will be expected to participate in at least one relevant professional development opportunity each quarter.
• Other relevant duties as assigned, based on the needs of the organization and the skills of the Program Coordinator.
• Occasional weekend and evening work is required.
• This is a physically active and demanding role. Responsibilities include planting, watering, weeding, weed whacking, harvesting, and carrying baskets of produce; lifting and loading tables, coolers, tents, and boxes into vehicles; setting up tents and tables; and standing. To successfully perform the essential functions of this job, the Program Coordinator must be able and willing to carry 50-pounds on uneven ground, work outdoors in variable weather conditions, and perform gardening work with frequent bending and kneeling on the ground.
• The Program Coordinator will report to NRFF’s President/Executive Director, Courtney Streett

Our ideal candidate brings the following competencies, values, and qualifications:

Competencies

• Experience in gardening, horticulture, or farming; community and/or educational programming; communications; or project management.
• A high level of proficiency in Google Suite, Canva, and social media platforms.
• The ability to distill complex information into understandable messages.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, listening skills, and organizational skills.
• Experience with initiating, cultivating, and managing relationships.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• The ability to efficiently manage and prioritize multiple tasks or projects.
• The ability to think creatively and outside of the box.

Values

• A love of nature, cultures, diversity, and community.
• A commitment to racial, social, economic, and environmental justice.
• Respect for people of all communities and backgrounds.
• Experience living in or working with communities of color, especially Indigenous communities.
• A passion to learn and grow alongside a growing organization.
• Alignment with NRFF’s mission, vision, and values.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalency
• 3 years of work experience. This could include positions in horticulture, farming, programming, event planning, or communications.
• A valid driver’s license, reliable access to a vehicle, and the willingness and ability to travel to programs and events (NRFF will reimburse tolls and mileage at the IRS’ standard mileage rate)
• Due to NRFF’s occasional work with minors, a background check may be required

Work Location

NRFF is currently based in Wilmington, DE and its work is hybrid. From approximately May through October, the Program Coordinator will regularly work at the Three Sisters Garden (Middletown, DE). Work will, otherwise, occur remotely except on days with in-person meetings, events, programs, preparations, or other duties. Most NRFF programs and events occur in Delaware, but occasional travel is required in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Compensation and Benefits

The Program Coordinator is a full-time, exempt position (an average of 40 hours per week) paying $50,000 annually. This position is grant-funded with funding guaranteed for the first year, a second year is dependent on funding availability. NRFF is pursuing additional, long-term funding sources to sustain this position for the future.

The Program Coordinator receives 11-paid federal holidays and 15 paid time off (PTO) days per year. NRFF is closed over the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, and this time does not count toward PTO.

Scheduling is flexible depending on the season and the needs of the organization. As a small, grassroots nonprofit, NRFF is currently unable to offer additional benefits at this time but we look forward to expanding the benefits package as we grow.

How to Apply

• To be considered for this position: We invite you to complete NRFF’s Program Coordinator Application form where you will answer a questionnaire and upload your resume.
• Applications will be accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis:
  • This Program Coordinator posting will remain open until the position is filled.
  • Applications submitted before April 7 will be prioritized.
  • The anticipated start date for this position is June 1, 2025 (or sooner if practical).