Farmer Mobilization: Apprenticeship & Seed Grant Lead

Position Description:

Agroecology Commons seeks a new collective member to lead our Farmer Mobilization Apprenticeships and Seed Grant Programs and support our educational programming. Through experiential learning, mentorship, mutual care, and resource redistribution, we cultivate relationship-based networks for agroecology, food sovereignty, and land-based healing.

Responsibilities:

Farmer Mobilization Apprenticeships: This role is responsible for facilitating the match-making of apprenticeship applicants from Bay Area Farmer-to-Farmer Training Program (BAFFT) with our network of experienced farm partners and to support ongoing relationship building with and between AC’s farmer network. This includes planning and facilitate orientations for farm mentors and apprentices, visiting apprenticeship farm sites to check-in with farmer mentors and apprentices, support mentor/apprentice relationships and serve as mediator if needed and conduct program evaluations with farm mentors and apprentices. This program seeks to balance apprentices’ learning goals with farmers' operational needs.

Seed Grants and Advisory Network: This role also leads the Seed Grant Program and Advisory Network, which provides funding and advisory support to farmers for projects aimed at advancing regional food sovereignty, agroecology, urban farming, and land justice. This includes designing and implementing program outreach strategies to reach a diverse pool of applicants and serving as the primary point of contact for grantees to ensure they have the support needed throughout the grant period. Additional responsibilities include setting up a peer-led participatory network for Bay Area urban farmers, supporting the financial tracking of expenses for accurate grant reporting with the finance lead, and gathering impact data to showcase the program’s contribution to community-scale agroecology and food sovereignty. The Advisor Network is an emerging group of experienced farmers and cooperative organizers committed to guiding the next generation of land stewards. The new position will help identify and build relationships with new advisors who can offer support in agroecology, food sovereignty, and cooperative farming practices and coordinate technical assistance to help grantees strengthen their resilience.

Collective Governance: The role requires a deep commitment to collective governance, emphasizing collaborative decision-making and active participation in Agroecology Commons' circles, which include Collective Organizing, Land Stewardship and Food Sovereignty, Community Education, and Networks and Solidarity. Responsibilities include fostering relationships, building trust, giving and receiving direct feedback, and engaging in conflict resolution, all essential for contributing effectively within the organization’s collective governance structure. The position involves participating in core meetings, one three-day off-site retreat, wellness days, organizational events, and occasional in-person conferences. Key tasks include project record-keeping, providing evaluation support, and contributing to grant reporting and proposal development to support the incubator farm. The role also involves documenting and collecting data to track organizational impact, monitoring project finances, and supporting engagement on social media channels.

Ongoing Educational Programming Support: At Agroecology Commons, some of our core educational programs run on a biannual schedule. In years when the apprenticeship program or seed grants are not taking place, this role may include co-facilitating the Bay Area Farmer-to-Farmer Training Program and/or coordinating Farmer-to-Farmer Skillshares. Responsibilities during these periods might include program coordination, workshop facilitation, participant support, and collaboration amongst our farmer network.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Past and ongoing commitment to organizing on behalf of food sovereignty, agroecology, cooperation, and land justice
• At least three years experience in adult education and teaching diverse learning styles ideally through critical pedagogy and popular education
• Background in agroecological land stewardship and project management, with at least three years of farming experience
• At least three years of experience in project management, preferably within agricultural or nonprofit realms
• Experience coordinating on-farm learning and apprenticeship/fellowship/or internship models
• Strong group communication, organization, and coordination skills, with the ability to strategize, vision, and cooperate effectively in a team environment.
• Intrinsically motivated, collectively minded, and learning-oriented
• Skilled in direct feedback and conflict mediation, with a commitment to restorative justice and loving accountability practices that support collective conflict resilience.
• Experience with multiple group decision-making models and a commitment to organizational wellness and equity.
• Strong detail orientation and organizational skills to manage relationships with partner farms, apprenticeships, and various projects simultaneously.
• Experience working with farming communities with a focus on agroecology, food sovereignty, and land justice
• Possess an intersectional analysis of the food system with perspective on power structures e.g. race, gender, class, ability, nationality, language etc
• Financial management experience, especially in tracking project expenses and grant reporting.
• Access to reliable transportation
• Proficiency in online and cloud-based applications (e.g., Google Drive) and experience in online communications.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bilingual (English, Spanish, and/or other)
• Experience in cooperatives or worker-self-directed governance structures
• Experience with movement work and community/grassroots organizing
• Experience with popular education and facilitation
• Familiarity with the campesinx-a-campesinx methodology

Employment Details:

• Time commitment: 32 hours per week; ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and weekends
• Compensation and benefits: $80,000 annual salary, medical insurance, 4-day average work week; 3 weeks annual office closure for collective rest, 3 weeks paid vacation, flexible wellness and menstrual leave; an annual wellness and tool/tech stipend; a personal and professional growth stipend.
• Location: El Sobrante, California with the potential to work remotely most days

Anticipated start date: February 2025

To Apply:

Please submit this google form application . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email collective@agroecologycommons.org and we will respond within 4 business days.