Posted 6/14/2021

North Carolina State University

Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS)
Farm to School Outreach Extension Assistant 

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is seeking a Farm to School (F2S) Outreach Assistant. The F2S Outreach Assistant will support CEFS’ farm to school work, and also help coordinate and support the steering committee of the Farm to School Coalition of NC, including management of the F2SCNC website updates, social media accounts, weekly newsletter, and listserv.  

CEFS and the Farm to School Coalition of NC are multi-disciplinary and state-agency teams. The Farm to School Coalition of NC and CEFS both are committed to work through a Racial Equity lens and all work will be done with Racial Equity as a priority. By working with a Racial Equity lens we mean three things: 1) Acknowledge the presence of structures that shape life options and outcomes. 2) Analyze the impact of structures on a specific issue, condition, or population. 3) Develop structural strategies to interrupt inequities and improve outcomes and opportunities for all. 

This is a full-time 1 year position with potential renewal. This position will be a remote position until further notice due to COVID-19, and can stay remote or become an in-person position once CEFS staff return to the office on the NC State University campus (likely in July 2021). This position will provide an opportunity to gain rich experience in farm to school working with both state agency leads in farm to school as well as day to day practitioners and students.   

Position Description:

The primary purpose of this F2S Outreach Extension Assistant position is to

  • support relationship development and communications of the farm to school (f2s) Initiatives of CEFS and the Farm to School Coalition of NC, as well as 
  • partner in developing, designing, and implementing outreach programming that advances farm to school across NC. 

The F2S Outreach Extension Assistant will report to CEFS F2S Coordinator and support the coordination of the Farm to School Coalition of NC steering committee.  

The specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • work with principal investigators and project leads on program development, outreach, implementation, data collection, and assessment;
  • coalition logistical support;
  • social media, listserv, website management and communications; and 
  • support on development of promotional, training, and educational resources.

Other

The Extension Local Foods Working group is developing an on-line course in farm to school with multiple modules, and the F2S Outreach Extension Assistant will be part of our farm to school working group to develop particular modules, based on expertise and interest.

  • helping team create content at planning sessions,
  • supporting connection of community partners with the film crew, and
  • work on final products with whole team and curriculum specialist.

Additional duties as assigned. 

Minimum Experience/Education – Master’s degree in Food Systems, Agriculture, Rural Development, Education, Nutrition, Dietetics,  or related fields, OR Bachelor’s degree in above disciplines with at least 3 years of related experience, possibly as an intern, apprentice, or early career position in related area.

Other Required Qualifications –

  • Knowledge of food systems and farm to school generally, the impacts of racial inequities and strategies for building Racial Equity in Food Systems/Farm to School.
  • Clear racial equity lens and ability to analyze impacts of programs and processes.
  • Knowledge of educational systems as well as farm to school challenges, needs, and key players.
  • Excellent communication skills (written and oral).
  • Excellent organizing, people, decision making, computer and social media skills for a variety of audiences.
  • Experience working independently as well as with multiple partners and on multiple projects, including a large state-level project.
  • Demonstrated success supporting pursuit of goals and outcomes.
  • Desire to learn and develop a network and skill sets in farm to school. 

Preferred Experience and Skills – The ideal candidate will have the following skills/attributes:

  • A passion for educational systems as well as farm to school challenges, needs, and key players in North Carolina.
  • Knowledgeable of food systems and farm to school generally, the impacts of racial inequities and strategies for building Racial Equity in Food Systems/Farm to School, and of the North Carolina context in particular. 

To apply, please visit https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/145263

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, political affiliation, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Please see the job posting for information about how to request disability-related accommodations during the application and interview process.