Agriculture Coordinator

Job Type: Part Time, 30 hours per week

Ciudad SWCD Overview

Ciudad SWCD is a special district, also known as a political subdivision, of the State of New Mexico organized under the Soil and Water Conservation District Act (73-20-25 et. seq. NMSA 1978). Ciudad SWCD promotes and is committed to the conservation, improvement, and responsible use of the natural resources on the rural and urban lands within its boundaries. Ciudad SWCD is largely funded by soft money, grants and cooperative agreements.  The District values collaborating with partners and aims to serve constituents and the environment with the highest quality of public service and education of best practices. Ciudad SWCD frequently works across jurisdictional boundaries, including on private lands, providing financial and technical assistance to land managers. The District is pleased to have a committed Board of Supervisors and a passionate team of Staff Members who are devoted to making a difference within our Watershed.

Position Overview

The Agriculture Coordinator will join Ciudad SWCD’s Agriculture Program team to assist with the implementation of two composting grants.This position is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about compost education, soil health, and strategically increasing food waste diversion to composting in our region through new community based projects. The major focus of this role will be establishing school-wide composting initiatives at three elementary schools in the APS system and continuing an initiative at a middle school. It is a good fit for someone interested in applying education for youth to soil health and composting knowledge and skills.

Duties and  Responsibilities: 

• Serves as a point of contact for APS schools working with the District on compost projects.
• Collects data, including but not limited to community engagement, measuring food diversion rates (volume), and contamination rates, analyzes data, and contributes findings to drafting case studies and reports.
• Assists with facilitating and implementing a variety of compost and soil health educational and outreach activities, including curriculum development, training sessions, and workshops to further community knowledge of composting and food waste reduction.
• Resolves routine problems independently, consulting with the Agriculture Program team as needed to develop plans for resolution of unusual or complex problems. Frequently makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment even when context or information is ambiguous.
• Works and communicates effectively with diverse groups of people, including school administrators, advisory and other boards of directors, partner organizations, the public, and all other Ciudad staff. Engages community support for local conservation efforts and negotiates complex and innovative solutions with partners. Works collaboratively with other District staff and partners to ensure information flow, coordination and synergy between the District’s core programs and community composting initiatives statewide.
• Expands Ciudad’s roles as a major conservation leader within District boundaries, namely the greater Albuquerque Area, through the buildout of the composting programs.
• Inspires others to act in furtherance of the District’s conservation goals, achieving results by building capacity through collaboration and partnerships.
• Maintains positive relationships using open communication between the District and its residents, and with representatives from other SWCDs, NRCS, NMACD, SWCC, and other appropriate affiliated groups.
• Responds to all emails, phone calls, and other correspondence in a timely manner.
• Maintains correspondence with project partners, develops and monitors program email lists, and maintains and organizes files in a timely manner.
• May work in variable weather conditions, remote locations, or on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. May require some travel within New Mexico, and on evening and weekend hours.
• Keeps an open line of communication with the Agriculture and District Managers, Board of Supervisors, Ciudad SWCD staff and contractors.
• Positively represents the Ciudad SWCD at all times.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Two years of experience in outdoor or environmental education, particularly working with youth.
• Demonstrated experience implementing agriculture or composting projects.
• Understands local agriculture, soil health principles, and food waste diversion.
• Experience with community education and outreach in conservation or sustainability initiatives.
• Experience with data collection, analysis and reporting, ideally related to food waste or resource conservation.
• Driving a personal vehicle to travel to multiple schools in the South Valley is an essential job function. There will be occasional travel to Martineztown Co-op and Indigenous Farm Hub (Corrales) to support community composting projects.
• Strong writing, communication, organizational skills, and professional attitude.
• Comfortable working with and leading groups – including public speaking, facilitating meetings and events, and coordinating volunteers and other team members.
• Able to communicate and work well with diverse communities. Background working with diverse cultures and peoples in NM, including engaging with sovereign and Indigenous Nations and with land-based or agricultural communities.
• Computer skills such as e-mailing, research, word processing, spreadsheets, and creating flyers.
• Must be able to effectively work collaboratively and independently.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Local residents from New Mexico are encouraged to apply.
• Previous experience working with Albuquerque Public School (APS) teachers or developing curriculum.