Job Description: Distribution Support & Community Farmer
Position: Distribution Support & Community Farmer
Status: Regular, Full‐Time, Non-exempt
Hours: 40 hours per week, Sunday-Thursday weekends, and holidays on occasion.
Reports to: Impact and Evaluation Manager
Position Overview
Coastal Roots Farm is seeking a full‐time, year‐round Distribution Support and Community Farmer to support our efforts to grow and share fresh fruits and vegetables with the community. The Distribution Support and Community Farmer will be responsible for supporting all distribution tasks, while also playing a key role in our Farm vegetable production operations. This position will report to the Impact and Evaluation Manager, but work closely with the Farm Manager, Post-Harvest and Distribution Coordinator, and the Vegetable Production Coordinator to support both production and distribution efforts. As a key “face” of Coastal Roots Farm, this role requires a radically welcoming and outgoing individual, with a passion for food and sustainable farming, in addition to technical farming and administrative skills.
About Coastal Roots Farm
Coastal Roots Farm (CRF) is a nonprofit community farm and education center. We cultivate healthy, connected communities by integrating sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom.
Since our inception in 2014, Coastal Roots Farm has provided dignified access to fresh food for those who need it most. Inspired by Jewish agricultural practices, we raise organic crops and share the harvest with our community through pay-what-you-can farm stands, donation-based Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, and direct donations to food insecure communities in North County San Diego as well as local hunger relief organizations. Through volunteering, school visits, agricultural festivals, and other community programs, we offer hands-on education and invite our neighbors to connect to the land and each other.
Coastal Roots Farm is located in Encinitas, CA on approximately 20 acres of land. Our Farm consists of vegetable gardens, greenhouses, a food forest, animal pastures, compost systems, and a vineyard. Coastal Roots Farm was incubated by the Leichtag Foundation and received 501(c)(3) public charity status in 2015.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:
Distribution (65% of role)
- Implementing distribution efforts, including market setup/breakdown, produce deliveries, sales and operations, customer service and relations
- Assisting the Impact and Evaluation Manager with Distribution related data entry, including in Square and Salesforce
- Assisting with the implementation of quality control SOP’s for produce and food distribution areas/vehicles, including the cleaning and organizing all distribution vehicles and spaces
- Assisting the Post-Harvest and Distribution Coordinator at the post-harvest wash station, in preparation for the distributions
- Other Farm programs, events and communication support as needed at the discretion of supervisors
Production (35% of role)
- Assisting the production team with production tasks, including harvests in all production areas.
- Support pest management, greenhouse propagation, transplanting, weeding watering and harvesting
- Support chicken run upkeep, care and, when time permits, processing of eggs on market days
- Irrigation infrastructure repair and operations
- Collect data and support organized record keeping
- Support resource development for different departments as needed
- Incorporate Jewish agricultural practices into the development and management of the departments
- Participate in regular staff meetings
- Host guests and lead occasional tours, highlighting our practices
Required Qualifications and Experiences
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Outstanding communication skills
- Superb internal and external customer service abilities
- Impeccable interpersonal skills and ability to create authentic relationships with people
- Knowledge and passion for Jewish community farming, food justice, or food systems development, etc.
- High level of responsibility, reliability, motivation and a willingness to learn
- Flexibility and willingness to take on a variety of tasks along with an ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, team environment
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong eye for visual design and presentation
- Strong computer skills, proficient in Microsoft Office
- Ability to lift heavy boxes
- A valid and clean driver’s license, experience driving a delivery truck preferred
- Must be available to work as scheduled, with some seasonal fluctuation, as needed
- At least 2-3 years of relevant agricultural work experience and or relevant college degree in organic vegetable production, agroforestry, or viticulture
- Passion for interacting with, educating and leading a diversity of community participants, volunteers and staff of varied ages and backgrounds.
- Strong knowledge related to safe use of agricultural tools and equipment
- Flexibility and willingness to take on a verity of tasks along with an ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative team environment
- Strong work ethic and ability to perform strenuous repetitive physical labor tasks in inclement weather
Preferred Qualifications and Experience
- Two or more years of experience working at an organic vegetable farm, CSA and farm market
- Two or more years of retail or customer service experience, food retail or farmers markets
- Bilingual (English/Spanish)
- Food safety training
- Understanding of recordkeeping related to Organic certification and ecological agriculture
- Technical knowledge and familiarity of irrigation construction, troubleshooting and repair
- Knowledge of species and climate specific to Southern California
- Project management experience
- Understanding of working within nonprofit organizations
- Familiarity with Jewish agricultural or arboreal concepts, texts, and traditions
- Training in active listening and constructive communication techniques such as Non-Violent Communication, meeting facilitation, etc.
Reporting Relationship
Reports directly to the Impact and Evaluation Manager
Compensation
Wage is commensurate with experience. Coastal Roots Farm offers a competitive benefits package
Typical Working Conditions
The Distribution Support and Community Farmer will work indoors and outdoors. The position must be capable of moving objects and vehicles as needed. There will be exposure to Southern California outside temperatures, chemicals used in the agricultural industry, and loud noises.
Essential Physical Tasks
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Continual walking, standing, climbing, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting and pushing/pulling up to 50 lbs., cutting and carrying
Equipment Used
Delivery van, Kubota RTV, farm truck, hand tools (for harvest work), Post-harvest packing line, Pressure washer, Pallet jacks and carts, computer/laptop, and tablet/iPad
Application Process
Please go to https://coastalrootsfarm.org/the-farm/#job-opportunities and click on the View and Apply for Open Positions link to apply online
Coastal Roots Farm is an equal opportunity employer.
City:
Encinitas