Farm Manager at NCSU’s Center for Environmental Farming Systems

Job Opening
Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS)
Farm Manager:  Small Farm Unit

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (www.cefs.ncsu.edu),  is a partnership between North Carolina State University (NCSU), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T SU) and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS). Its mission is to develop and promote food and farming systems that protect the environment, strengthen local communities and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond.  CEFS includes a 2000 acre field research, extension, and education facility in Goldsboro, NC.  At the CEFS field facility, research extension, and education activities are integrated in several different ongoing projects.  An important component of CEFS is a 15-acre small farm unit that is used to teach and demonstrate organic and sustainable production practices to a wide variety of audience.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

This position of Farm Manager is to plan and manage the implementation of production, research, education, demonstrations and extension outreach activities at the Small Farm Unit of CEFS. The position is under the direct supervision of the SFU Coordinator at CEFS, Dr. John O’Sullivan, NC A&T State University. The Farm Manager provides management, coordination, and support on-site at the SFU. Coordination includes maintaining adequate communication between NCDA&CS farm staff, apprentices, graduate students, extension personnel, and faculty.  Support includes planning and preparing fields, equipment, and facilities for successful research, outreach and education. It also means preparing the farm over the entire year in terms of planned growing of crops, cover crops, integration of animals (at this time goats and poultry), bed and field preparation, maintenance of the SFU as an attractive educational and research center.  Primary responsibilities of the SFU Manager are:
§          Oversee research, extension and education efforts and delegation of activities to other members of the Small Farm Unit team (staff, apprentices and interns).
§          Maintain the design and production of the SFU such that it functions as a whole farm system, providing the base of education and outreach activities.
§          Provide management leadership of the SFU so that it fits into the overall CEFS program in terms of resource allocations and organizational structure.
§          Demonstrate various production techniques for field demonstrations and evaluations.
§          Develop and use a SFU record keeping system of inputs and outputs that is compatible with the records being used elsewhere in CEFS.
§          Facilitate ongoing research so that the research fits into the ongoing SFU whole farm system and provides educational and outreach benefits to farms and communities in eastern North Carolina.
§          Coordinate the demonstration aspects of the SFU so that the Season’s of Sustainable Agriculture workshop series (see the CEFS website) responds to local agriculture and community needs. Provide the educational leadership for at least one workshop per year in a topic area of interest and relevant to the needs of agriculture.
§          Work with the internship program and farm apprentice program as their work and interests relate to Small Farm Unit.

Additional JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Interface with the Goldsboro community and provide support for developing community outreach projects.

MINIMUM EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
BS in Crop Science, Soil Science or Horticulture, or related field of study required, MS degree preferred.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
Experience in sustainable and organic production that may include horticultural crops, grains, cover crops, greenhouses, and livestock as all are components on the Small Farm Unit. Being a strong communicator as the SFU hosts tours, workshops, meetings and community programs, is a must; as is the ability to work with diverse audiences including farmers, community leaders, youth, researchers, extension personnel, students and others. A self- starter who enjoys tackling the challenges of both production agriculture and informal teaching is required. Ability to prioritize tasks is necessary, while considering input from multiple participants and availability of labor and equipment. Management experience is required for organizing and supervising numerous individuals and enterprises.

EOE: Women and minorities encouraged to apply.
CONTACT INFO:  Applicants need to apply on-line on the NCSU job application website: http://www.ncsu.edu/human_resources/employment/jobseekers.php .

Applications accepted through September 30, 2011 or until a suitable candidate is found.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. John O’Sullivan
NCSARE Co-Coordinator
Cooperative Extension Program
CEFS Director
NCA&TSU
Greensboro, NC 27420
Tel 336.285.4683
Cell 919.270.9494

 

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