Food & Farm Business Resource Manager

Position Title: Food & Farm Business Resource Manager

Reports To: Director of Programs and Community Impact

Work Unit: Programs

Supervision Requirements: None

Location: San Rafael, CA with regular work throughout the Bay Area and occasional travel to the Salinas Valley

Status: Full-time, Salaried, Exempt

Work Schedules: Alternating 5-day, 4-day work weeks, with occasional weekend work

Starting Salary Range: $68,640 - $75,504

BACKGROUND

The Agricultural Institute of Marin is an educational 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Rafael, California. AIM’s mission is to educate, inspire, and connect communities, farmers, and producers to create a healthy, Earth-friendly, equitable local and regional food and agricultural system envision a responsible food and farming system that is environmentally beneficial, economically viable, and socially just. AIM serves 400+ farmers, food purveyors, and artisans from 40 California counties who participate in AIM’s Certified Farmers Markets in the cities of Hayward, Newark, Oakland, Point Reyes, San Rafael, and San Francisco. AIM also provides hands-on and virtual education programs to thousands of children and adults, operates a farm audit program, runs a mobile market for older adults and underserved communities, and operates CalFresh/EBT and Market Match services to create a healthier, equitable food system across the San Francisco Bay Area.

DESCRIPTION

The Food & Farm Business Resource Manager will manage a suite of training and technical assistance projects to address the different needs of small business owners, including people who are in early stages of their business. The Manager will work with a network of ecosystem partners to ensure local producers can thrive at the farmers markets as both a sales outlet and an opportunity for expansion and success. This position requires a strong background in small business technical assistance, particularly within the food service and agricultural industries.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Training and Technical Assistance

• Develop and deliver training and business resource development programs tailored to the needs of small business owners in food and agriculture.

• Design farmers market training curriculum to support beginning and established farmers market participants, with a focus on permitting, marketing, and sales.

• Deliver one-on-one assistance and referrals for small-scale and BIPOC producers to partner organizations and maintain systems for tracking technical assistance and linkages.

• Design and deliver training workshops in person and virtually on a variety of topics in English and Spanish.

• Curate a library of training resources on the AIM website and social media platforms.

Project Management

• Organize and run in-person resource fairs to support small businesses in the Northern California region seeking access to mentorship, small business advising, capital, marketing support, and financial assistance.

• Oversee the recruitment and selection process for participants getting started at farmers markets, including application management, awarding stipends, securing market equipment, working with market managers for onboarding and permitting, and referrals to the Small Business Development Center or peer mentors.

• Provide support with tracking grant-related budgets, deliverables, and evaluation data, ensuring compliance with grant requirements and reporting deadlines.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of programs through participant feedback, surveys, and assessments, and make recommendations for program improvement and expansion.

• Complete monthly and quarterly impact data reports and share program testimonials.

Community Building and Partner Engagement

• Collaborate with farmers, small businesses, agricultural organizations, local government agencies, and other food ecosystem service providers to develop partnerships, leverage resources, and expand the reach of our small business and entrepreneurship initiatives.

• Represent the organization at conferences, workshops, outreach and public events to raise awareness about our mission and promote collaboration with stakeholders.

• Stay informed about emerging support opportunities, research findings, grant opportunities, and best practices in small business support, and integrate relevant information into program development and delivery.

• Attend county and community meetings and support with outreach efforts to bring awareness to programs.

• Work closely with the team to build team cohesion, establish clear lines of communication, and set clear goals and objectives for the programs.

• Attend annual AIM’s Gather for the Planet fundraisers and fundraising/ outreach opportunities to support the Development team.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience and strong knowledge in technical assistance and training for small-to-mid-size farmers and food entrepreneurs.

• Project management skills with the ability to oversee activities from start to completion.

• Experience organizing and leading training workshops, event planning and outreach events.

• Excellent skills in building and maintaining partnerships with other service providers and food/agricultural organizations.

• Excellent problem solving and organizational skills

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences through written materials, presentations, and interpersonal interactions.

• Experience with writing grant narratives and grant reporting with government agencies, foundations, or other funding sources.

• Experience with computer systems, such as Microsoft Office, Teams, and Asana.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment, with a track record of building and maintaining positive relationships with partners and stakeholders.

• Passion for environmental stewardship, food justice, and community empowerment.

• Have or obtain Food Safety Management Certificate within first 6 months of implementation.

STRONGLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual in English/Spanish

• Direct experience with operating a food business.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/DEMANDS

• This position requires the employee to work in an office environment
• This position requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer

• This position requires prolonged periods of driving

• This position requires the ability to be on your feet on working landscapes of farms and ranches.

• This position requires the employee to be a licensed driver with a safe driving record.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

AIM embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

FULL-TIME BENEFITS:

• Four Kaiser Plan options with AIM covering 100% of employee premium for Gold, 90% for Platinum, 100% + employer paid H.S.A Contribution of $233/month for Silver HDHP or Bronze HDHP.

• Employer paid $25,000 Life/AD&D coverage

• Voluntary Principal dental & vision; Spot Pet wellness & Insurance plan discount

• Paid sick leave

• Paid vacation

• 12 paid holidays per year

• Hybrid work schedules permitted after completion of 90-day introductory period

• Employee assistance program

• 401K with 2% employer match

• Professional training opportunities

• Dog-friendly office, fun and dynamic team environment.