Farm Aid, Inc. Seeks Farmer Hotline Operator

Job Classification: Exempt / Full-time employee. Grant-funded position through the Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP), part of the USDA’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistant Network (FRSAN).

 

Location: Office is in Cambridge, MA, open to hybrid or remote work arrangements for candidates based in the Western region. Position requires some national travel with a focus on conferences/events/farmer support in the Western region (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY).

 

Position Date: Posted May 2023 for immediate employment

 

As a member of the Farm Aid Hotline Team, the Farmer Hotline Operator supports Farm Aid’s Farmer Services program by operating the Farm Aid Hotline on an ongoing basis, providing a listening ear to farmers and connecting them to the resources they need. The Hotline Operator serves as a critical bridge to farmers and rural communities throughout the country and assists in advancing Farm Aid’s assessment of the needs of farmers nationwide and the availability of services to meet those needs. The Hotline Operator collaborates with the Hotline Team in the development of reports that translate Hotline activities and inquiries into actionable knowledge for internal and external use in support of Farm Aid’s mission.

 

The Farmer Hotline Operator is expected to:

 

• Serve as a member of the Hotline Team by helping to operate Farm Aid’s 1-800 Farmer Hotline and Online Request for Assistance service.

• Ensure effective recordkeeping and timely tracking of Hotline contacts.

• Updating the Farmer Resource Network (FRN) database with the current, appropriate and accessible resources, with a particular focus on building out resources in the Western region of the US.

• Occasionally represent Farm Aid and the Hotline Program at farmer-facing conferences.

 

 

● Minimum of 3 years of experience in the food and agriculture sector, working directly with farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and/or rural communities.

 

● Familiarity with issues facing farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and rural communities in crisis, including knowledge of issues for BIPOC farming community members and tribal farmers and ranchers.

 

● Knowledge of programs and services needed for farmers in crisis, including federal farm loan programs, federal disaster programs, legal needs and culturally appropriate mental health practices.

 

● Familiarity with the above issues and programs in the Western region of the U.S. especially desired.

 

● Training in agricultural mediation or other training critical to effective farm advocacy is a plus, including any prior mental health and crisis training (such as QPR, mental health first aid, etc.).

 

● Demonstrated ability to maintain effective relationships with people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

 

● Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, particularly active listening, with ability to demonstrate compassion for people dealing with challenging situations and to problem solve with them.

 

● Sound judgment in maintaining professional boundaries and confidential information.

 

● Interest and desire to serve farmers through direct, one-on-one engagement, and demonstrated excellence in providing supportive services.

 

● English fluency with speaking, reading and writing required. Proficiency in Spanish or other languages desired.

 

● Demonstrated team player, with initiative and ability to work both independently and with others.

 

● Experience and demonstrated proficiency with data documentation and tracking, and technical proficiency with Microsoft Office required (Word and Excel), proficiency with CRM/database management system preferred (Salesforce), and/or demonstrated interest and aptitude to learn.

 

● Integrity and the ability to be flexible within the Team and changing responses to emerging farm crises.