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Farm & Food Business Resources Manager

Center for an Agricultural Economy

Hardwick, VT

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Agriculture, Budgeting, Business Plan, Business Processes, Business Skills, Business Strategy, Capital Budgeting, Capital Project, Cash Flow, Cash Management, Coaching, Communication Skills, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), Economic Development, Farm Management, Finance, Food Production, Food Safety, HTML (HyperText Markup Language), Inventory Management, Marketing, Options Analysis, Performance Analysis, Project Planning, Project Tracking, Project/Program Management, Sales Qualification, Schedule Development, Set Goals, Storytelling, Strategic Analysis, Succession Planning, Technical Support, Willing to Travel
LOCATION
Hardwick, VT
POSTED
11 days ago
This job was posted by https://www.vermontjoblink.com : For more information, please see: https://www.vermontjoblink.com/jobs/1377261 **POSITION SUMMARY** The Center for an Agricultural Economy seeks a Farm and Food Business Resources program manager to join our Business Resources team at CAE providing comprehensive support to farms and food businesses at all stages of development. Our work includes business advising, assistance with business/farm development projects, support for producers using our incubator kitchens, and guidance on topics such as cash flow management, hiring, capital project planning, food safety, inventory management, strategic decision making, and succession planning. Success in this role requires the ability to provide practical, constructive feedback and context-specific guidance to farms who are evaluating and navigating a range of opportunities and challenges specific to their business. The ideal candidate will demonstrate empathy, a willingness to learn through professional development opportunities, have strong listening skills, be skilled in building trust with clients in diverse circumstances, and the ability to adapt to the needs of the client. This position will be part of a statewide network of advisors through an existing partnership with the Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program. **JOB DETAILS** Position:Farm & Food Business Resources Manager Reports to:Executive Director Schedule:40 hours/week. Hybrid work arrangements considered (2-4 days in the office preferred). Travel required: regular travel to farms, partner events and food production sites. Compensation: \$65,000 to \$70,000, depending on relevant experience, 40 hours/week, full time, exempt Benefits: Health insurance, Health savings account, Employer-paid short-term disability and life insurance, Paid Time Off, SIMPLE IRA, phone stipend, professional development **SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES** **Program Support & Supervision - 50%** - Collaborate with FAFBR staff to refine a guiding ethos, goals and principles for farms and food businesses, including both farm advising and local food production clients. ```{=html} ``` - Monitor active client projects, and tracking program performance data and outcomes in collaboration with the team to ensure programmatic goals are met. - Set expectations with clear and reciprocal communication around evolving workplan, project deliverables, and modifying program priorities. - Plan and execute ongoing producer education and outreach opportunities that strengthens the business management skills of farms and local food system producers. - Coordinate with other CAE programs to identify resource and technical assistance gaps for producers and identify appropriate programs and resources that CAE can deploy to support producers working with other CAE programs. Support the development of marketing and storytelling materials in support of CAEs development and communications goals for Farm & Food Business Resources. - Collaborate with FFBR staff to recruit & enroll farm/food business clients in advising services. - Curate and maintain CAE\'s library of business resources, including financial templates, vendor directories, and tutorials. - Leverage CAE partnerships with other organizations and food system businesses to elevate local and regional food system priorities and promote economic development. - Ensure the technical assistance and business planning work aligns with coherent long term program goals, and work with the CAE Executive Director and Finance Director to develop a multi-year budget to accomplish these goals. - Help align Business Resources producer support goals and annual workplan to longer term capital budgeting priorities, and vice versa. - Participate in technical service provid r networks and engage in active professional development opportunities for all team members and the Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program cohort. **One-on-One Business Technical Assistance - 50%** - Provide farms and food businesses business planning and management coaching services that support navigating complex decisions, evaluating options, identifying goals, analyzing opportunities and challenges, connecting with resources, and building long-term management capacity Perform project management support and functions for individual clients over a 12-to-24 month timeframe to reach strategic and identified business goals. Coordinate referrals to business planners, team members and engagement of contractors to ensure clients receive support that is appropriate for their businesses. Set clear expectations and project parameters with diverse clientele of farm and food business clients. Provide on-farm consultation, coordinate consultants and support or lead business plan development and follow-up support. Provide feedback on business strategy, evaluation of opportunities and propose business plan development research and action to solve challenges identified in the business planning process. Conduct evaluations of the

About the Company

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Center for an Agricultural Economy