Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY Seeks Organic Educator
Position Title
Organic Educator (Long Island)
Position Summary
Founded in 1983, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) is the only statewide organization dedicated to organic agriculture. NOFA-NY provides education and outreach to farmers, gardeners and consumers; advocates for a fair food system at the state and federal levels; and is the largest USDA-accredited organic certifier in New York State. NOFA-NY is seeking a part-time Organic Educator to lead the organization’s outreach, technical assistance, and programming in order to grow the number of certified organic operations on Long Island.
The Organic Educator position requires a creative and organized self-starter with experience in organic
farming. The person must be passionate and knowledgeable about organic agriculture, possess effective
communications skills, and have project management experience.
The Organic Educator reports to the NOFA-NY Executive Director. This is a half-time position (20 hours/
week). This position is grant-funded, and is fully remote at this time.
Responsibilities
Program Management:
o Create comprehensive training program for farmers transitioning to organic management,
including helping farmers navigate the application for organic certification
o Conduct outreach for program participation
o Share overall program accomplishments with greater organic community
Education and Technical Assistance:
o Provide phone, online, and in-person technical assistance to transitioning organic farmers
o Develop educational materials for program
o Facilitate a farmer-to-farmer mentorship program
Data Management and Reporting:
o Keep a program management log to communicate goals, deliverables, and results
o Manage records for LI certification and education support program
o Conduct annual evaluations and provide required reporting on program activities
Desired Qualifications:
Strong interest in and commitment to organic and sustainable farming
Program development, project management, and reporting experience
Practical farming experience and knowledge of organic management practices
Experience navigating organic certification process
Ability to lead an advisory group of organic farmers and coordinate effective and well-attended educational events
Strong written and oral communication skills, and attention to detail
Computer skills including Microsoft Office suite
Ability to work well with a wide range of people with energy and enthusiasm, and adapt to changing situations
Ability to work remotely with travel to main office as needed
Valid driver’s license required
Computer skills including Microsoft Office suite
Ability to work well with a wide range of people with energy and enthusiasm, and adapt to changing situations
Ability to work remotely with travel to main office as needed
Valid driver’s license required
Compensation: Compensation for this position is $25/hour, 50% FTE. Benefits include health, dental, vacation and personal time, and life insurance. Retirement plan is available for employee contributions.
Working Conditions:
This position requires the ability to:
Work within a standard week with the occasional weekend/evening assignments.
Be exposed to farm environments during meetings or field days, which may include:
Walking various distances on uneven ground
Exposure to animal/plant/dust allergens
Working in unpredictable weather conditions with minimal shelter
Standing for long periods of time at NOFA-NY-hosted events
This position requires the ability to:
Work within a standard week with the occasional weekend/evening assignments.
Be exposed to farm environments during meetings or field days, which may include:
Walking various distances on uneven ground
Exposure to animal/plant/dust allergens
Working in unpredictable weather conditions with minimal shelter
Standing for long periods of time at NOFA-NY-hosted events
NOFA-NY encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. NOFA-NY is an Equal Opportunity Employer,
drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to email a resume and cover letter to: hr@nofany.org. For information regarding our organization, please visit www.nofany.org