Program Coordinator

About Organic Growers School (OGS):

Through accessible, peer-to-peer education and collaborative networks, Organic Growers School empowers individuals and communities in Southern Appalachia to advance organic growing practices, strengthen local food systems, and promote food sovereignty in ways that nourish both people and the planet. We envision a thriving local food community that protects the environment and ensures abundance, food sovereignty, and climate resilience.

We value:

• Organic growing and believe that it benefits the grower, the community, the consumer, and the earth.
• Ensuring quality, integrity, and equity in our organization and programming.
• Providing accessible, affordable, practical, and regionally appropriate education on organic and sustainable farming, gardening, eating, and living.
• Building community and strengthening connections among people, healthy food, and land.

About the Role:

This Program Coordinator position works in collaboration with the Director of Programs and other OGS staff. This position is responsible for providing program support, administration, planning, development, implementation of educational workshops, training, partner outreach, and resource creation. 

The Program Coordinator works with the Director of Programs to support the following programs: Farm Beginnings, Journeyperson, Farm Dreams, WNC CRAFT Farmer Network, Forest Farming and any additional programs like Organic Crop Management and Climate Resiliency Training program annually. This person will also support curriculum, resource and relationship building in the Organic Growing and Living mission area, coordinating with the Spring Conference, Marketing, and Development teams.  

Core Responsibilities: 

Program Administration and Coordination: 

• Manage and update all program participant data and registration information.
• Develop and manage the digital classrooms and provide support to participants with navigating the resources.
• Provide live digital and in-person classroom and event support on logistics and execution.
• Assist with program design, curriculum development, event logistics, etc. as needed for farmer and organic growing and living programs.
• With specific leadership on the WNC CRAFT Farmer Network farm tour scheduling, coordination, member and listserv management, event logistics, and facilitation.
• Manage educational curriculum resource updates, selection, creation, and distribution to participants.
• Help determine, recruit, and build relationships with speakers and educators, provide guidance on curriculum, content, process of presentation for workshops and trainings.
• Update and manage application materials and process for applicants.
• Share facilitation of Farmer Programs and Organic Grower and Living events with other program staff as needed.
• Manage program materials, supplies, equipment acquisition, organization and care.
• Support participant storytelling with photography and video at events as needed,  writing and post CRAFT farm tour summaries,
• Support the mentor-matching process and provide ongoing support,
• Provide copy and information to the Marketing & Communications Team, assist with outreach and promotion events and media.
• Explore opportunities to coordinate with regional partners on educational programming and develop new educational  and resources for Organic Growing and Living programs in collaboration with the Development and Marketing Team.

Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

• Manage the distribution, data collection, and organization of  evaluations across all Farmer and Organic Growing & Living programs.
• Help synthesize, create, and share evaluation reports and analysis with stakeholders, and apply insights to improve future program planning.
• Track and log all needed participation data into relevant tracking documents

Stakeholder & Partner Coordination

• Cultivate, attend and maintain positive relationships with wider sustainable agriculture, food access, food systems and homegrower related meetings, projects and partnership.
• Actively communicate with partners via email, conference calls, etc.
• Participate and network at regional meetings, gatherings, volunteer days and/or trainings to support and foster strategic relationships with individuals and organizations in the community

OGS Staff Responsibilities

• Manage the OGS phone and outreach email accounts responding to general inquiries.
• Attend OGS monthly all-staff meetings and Programs team meetings. Share workshop and committee facilitation responsibilities with other staff as needed.
• Maintain organized, up-to-date documentation within the organization’s software management systems.
• Attend external workshops, partner meetings, conferences, and events to represent OGS Programs and/or staff exhibit tables as needed.

What We’re Looking For

• 2+ years of administrative and educational program management
• 2+ years experience with coordinating speakers and developing educational curriculum, ideally with knowledge of and experience working within sustainable food and farming systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, including experience engaging with diverse communities and populations.
• Experience working on a farm or in the sustainable agriculture sector
• Excited to be an ambassador for OGS to the public
• Comfortable giving constructive feedback to peers, leadership and contractors.
• Proficiency or quick adaptability with web-based project management tools such as HubSpot, Asana, Squarespace, and Google Suite.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and competing deadlines.
• Solid people skills as well as strong written and verbal communication skills
• A collaborative, creative, and solutions-oriented approach to your work.
• Comfortable and effective working remotely.

Compensation & Work Details

Hours This is a full-time position at 37 hours per week. Due to class and training times that serve participants with day-jobs, this position will require working frequent evenings and weekends. The position responsibilities will shift seasonally, as appropriate and needed, while maintaining some core functions throughout the year.

Compensation: The hourly rate for this position is $23.28/hour, commensurate with experience. Full-time benefits include paid time off, paid holidays, a wellness stipend, and a Simple IRA contribution.

Location This is a hybrid position. The majority of work can be done remotely, with regular in-person time at OGS’s office in Asheville, NC, and at various locations across Western North Carolina throughout the year. Candidates must be based in the Western NC region, as on-the-ground presence, including during conference weekends, is an essential part of the role.

Organic Growers School is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to prioritizing social justice and inclusiveness within all of our operations. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds and value life experience and achievements. We define diversity in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, culture, socioeconomic status, personality, ability, education, geographic region, age, experience, values, politics, appearance, religion, mental health, and immigration status, or other non-merit-based factors.