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New Roots Youth Agriculture Specialist

Salt Lake City

  • Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
  • Location: Salt Lake City
  • Grade: Mid level - Mid level
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Youth
    • Agriculture and Forestry
  • Closing Date: Closed

IRC Background:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities helping people to survive, regain control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC in Salt Lake City (IRC SLC) opened in 1994 and provides resettlement services through extended case management to newly arrived refugees for up to 24-months as well as over twenty different programs to educate and empower refugees.

Job Overview: 
New Roots in Salt Lake City (New Roots SLC) is an innovative agriculture and food access program that provides opportunities for refugees to garden, start farm-based businesses, and access healthy, local, culturally appropriate produce. New Roots’ Y’ALL Program is a youth agriculture, animal husbandry, and leadership program for new American participants ages 14-17, launched in 2021. Under the supervision and direction of the New Roots Farm Coordinator, the Youth Agriculture Specialist will support the development, facilitation, implementation, and execution of program activities and will collect and track program data. This individual will also work directly with the Youth Agriculture Specialist and New Roots Program Manager, as well as interns and volunteers. This position will be primarily on-site at the New Roots SLC Redwood Farm facilitating youth program cohorts, as well as planning and organizing off-site project activities such as service learning in the community and selling at the New Roots SLC Sunnyvale Farmers Markets on Saturdays.  

Major Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 
Youth Agriculture & Animal Husbandry Program Activities
Support Y’ALL activities including outreach, enrollment and working directly with youth participants, executing project activities, and managing interns and volunteers. 
Coordinate with Y’ALL team to deliver educational workshops and facilitate agriculture fieldwork, goat rearing, marketing and sales, food access, community service and other program activities.
Participate in all Y’ALL program meetings and development activities.
Schedule and coordinate interpreters and support as needed for program activities. 
Collaborate with Y’ALL team to develop and implement curriculum and training materials on organic and sustainable agricultural production, leadership development, food justice, and food access topics.
Coordinate goat care, vegetable production, and produce harvesting, packing, post-harvest handling activities with Y’ALL participants on-site.
Regularly communicate with Y’ALL participants to coordinate participation in activities.
Other related duties as assigned.

Land Management & Infrastructure Maintenance
Collaborate in implementation of land management plans for New Roots Redwood Farm including soil remediation, infrastructure development and installation, and land development and preparation specifically for goat ranching operations and Y’ALL agriculture production.
Maintain farming equipment and vehicles, including tools, irrigation systems, wash station, and post-harvest handling equipment, including working with New Roots Program Manager to purchase and replace tools and equipment as needed and tracking inventory. 
Implement farm and food safety plans, including maintaining GAP Compliance with Y’ALL participants.
Participate in market planning for Y’ALL participant emergency food assistance and farmers market sales and coordinate on crop and market planning with New Roots team to fill orders.
Develop and maintain strong community partner relations; liaise with partners including Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, Roots Charter High School, USU Extension 4-H, the Refugee Goat Project, and volunteers.

Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Facilitate Y’ALL program data collection and required reporting including program evaluation and collecting program input from youth participants.
Keep accurate case files and participant records for all program participants; monitor and record skill acquisition with Y’ALL participants. 
Record production data, including Y’ALL farm planting plans and harvest data for produce sales.

Community Relations and Resource Acquisition/Development
Represent New Roots and Y’ALL in the larger community including attending outreach events, and planning and executing events and volunteer days.  
Recruit and supervise volunteers including individuals and groups.
Work with New Roots Program Manager in fund raising, development activities, and resource acquisition of in-kind and monetary donations. 

Additional Responsibilities 
Support New Roots SLC team through collaboration and participation in various New Roots SLC events and projects, including seasonal farmers markets, produce deliveries, and community gardening activities.
Maintain professionalism, customer service, and IRC Way ideals when working with the community;
Participate in program meetings, weekly staff meetings, staff development activities and national skills building trainings, calls, and communities of practice, while fully engaging as a member of the team;
Support general office logistics, such as office support and front desk, as applicable and feasible;
Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the organization;
Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:
Education: Undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience in Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Social Work, Community Development, Social Science, or related field preferred.

Work Experience:
Minimum of 1 year of related work experience in agriculture, youth education, food access, food justice, local food systems, or related field.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:
Demonstrated understanding of small-scale sustainable agricultural methods and food justice. 
Motivated, flexible, and able to work independently.
Strong organizational skills including: multi-tasking, prioritizing, planning, and effective time management.
Ability to safely lift approximately 50 pounds.
Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
Fluent in English, both spoken and written; proficiency in language(s) spoken by client group is desired (Arabic, Kirundi, Kiswahili, Burmese).
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.
Valid driver’s license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.

Working Environment: 
A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities.
Occasional domestic (non-local) travel required; up to 10%.
Availability on Saturdays and occasional evenings.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions.  All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits.  In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. 
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This vacancy is now closed.
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