About HDFFA: The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support a healthy and thriving food and farm network in Central Oregon through education, collaboration, and inclusivity. We meet our mission by fostering relationships between producers (farmers, ranchers, and food businesses) and consumers, increasing awareness of and access to food from our region, and cultivating community participation with local food. We serve farmers, ranchers, food businesses, nonprofits, and underserved families in the high desert region of Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties. We believe everyone deserves good food.

We offer three core focus areas:

Food Access (with programs in: Grow & Give, a fresh food donation and on-farm gleaning program; VeggieRx, a fresh vegetable and fruit prescription program; Fresh Harvest Kits, ready-to-prepare meals in a bag; Rural Food Security)
Agricultural Support for farmers and ranchers;
Consumer Education/Resources (including our annual online and print High Desert Food & Farm Directory).

Position Summary

HDFFA is hiring a USDA-grant funded full-time Small Farms Coordinator to support small-scale farmers by providing resource navigation and technical assistance to enhance their agricultural productivity, sustainability, and market access. Position duties include conducting an updated Central Oregon Farmer/Rancher needs assessment; navigating email and phone inquiries from business owners; connecting farmers to appropriate resources; collaborating with OSU Extension and other agencies; visiting farms to provide individual technical assistance; developing educational materials; and conducting outreach activities, workshops, and field days. Our coordinator will focus primarily on post-harvest technical assistance, including business practices and market access for small- to mid-sized food producers. This role is integral to our mission of supporting local food systems and ensuring access to fresh, nutritious food for our communities. This position is funded through August 30, 2027; continued employment is contingent on securing additional grant funding.

Who we’re encouraging to apply

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in field-based, dynamic environments and who enjoys hands-on work, thrives on community engagement, and is passionate about supporting small- to mid-size Central Oregon farms in achieving long-term sustainability and success.

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about supporting sustainable agriculture, possesses strong communication and problem-solving skills, and is committed to supporting local food systems and food security initiatives. The ideal candidate has a solid understanding of agricultural small business management practices, particularly those related to small-scale and direct-market food systems. This candidate is skilled at translating technical knowledge into practical solutions tailored to individual farms and regional needs with the aim of improving productivity and sustainability.

Primary responsibilities and functions

HDFFA Functions (5%)

Maintain a working knowledge of the mission, vision, core values, board, past and present projects and events of HDFFA.
Conduct outreach to facilitate partnership engagement by farmers and ranchers for broader HDFFA strategies and objectives including the Food & Farm Directory.

Project Specific Work (95%)

Farmer resource navigation and technical support

Conduct a farmer/rancher needs assessment and update the Tri-County Action Plan, which will be used to guide programming and help identify future HDFFA agricultural support programming elements.
Assist small farms with technical advice and resource navigation on farming business practices, including crop planning, direct and wholesale market access, marketing, and farm sustainability. Conduct on-site visits to provide hands-on support, assess farm needs, deliver tailored solutions and answer or refer email and phone inquiries to the appropriate resources to provide support on a wide range of small farming topics.
Support farms in navigating resources such as grants, certifications, land use regulations, and partnerships that promote farm viability.
Organize, facilitate, and/or support training sessions and workshops on best practices in sustainable agriculture, marketing, and farm business management in collaboration with other service provider agencies based on needs identified in the updated Tri-County Action Plan. Coordinate outreach, networking, and educational activities for small farmers including the annual Central Oregon Small Farm School.
Develop formal and informal networks, coalitions, and interest groups where appropriate, to support, advise on, and evaluate programming, technical assistance, and other topic areas.

Connections with external service providers

Act as a connector for other technical assistant providers. This will likely include (but is not limited to) Soil & Water Conservation Districts, OSU Extension, School of Ranch and non-government organizations.
Collaborate with farmers to develop and implement strategies for enhancing agricultural and small business productivity, resilience, and access to local markets.

Collaboration with HDFFA Staff

Co-chair the Agricultural Advisory Committee with Agricultural Support Manager (ASM).
Create internal and external resource navigation tree in collaboration with ASM for farmer inquiries.
Maintain records of farm support activities and track progress to evaluate impact for HDFFA’s USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grant (BFRDP) and any other relevant funding sources.
Collaborate with ASM on resource sharing through social media, monthly Farmer/Rancher Newsletter, press releases, blog posts, and more as needed.
Assist with grant writing and fundraising efforts to secure funding for this role and the organization's agricultural support programs and initiatives.

Required Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences or closely related field or equivalent work or lived experience in a relevant field
At least one year of related work/volunteer experience with farmers or ranchers
Familiarity with challenges faced by small-scale farms, including resource limitations, market access, and regulatory compliance
Comfortable working directly with farmers to assess needs and build trust
Established relationships and strong connections within Central Oregon’s rural community, especially in Jefferson and Crook counties
Able to deliver technical information in an accessible way, whether through workshops, field demonstrations, or one-on-one coaching
Proficiency in preparing reports, tracking progress, and documenting farm successes
Excellent organizational skills and strong interpersonal, planning, and training skills
Proven ability to work successfully with diverse populations, and demonstrated commitment to promote and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion
Self-motivated with the ability to work independently, balance multiple projects and prioritize tasks effectively
Ability to work remotely, as needed
Ability to travel and work flexible hours, as needed.

Desired Qualifications

Experience with or a willingness to learn and utilize Google Drive, Constant Contact, Canva, Eventbrite and Adobe software
Experience working on/managing federal grants
Experience working in or with nonprofits
Experience in small farms educational program delivery
Experience facilitating program advisory committees
Demonstrated ability to secure external funding support for agricultural programs
Additional work experience that could contribute to the position may include: assisting, organizing, implementing and/or delivering programs or project work; community organizing; campaigning; and/or advocacy work.

Compensation, Benefits, and Time Commitment

Salary range: $25 - $28 depending on experience

Benefits include:

Health and vision insurance (80% covered by HDFFA) after 30 days of employment
Dental insurance (50% covered by HDFFA) after 30 days of employment
Generous paid time off including: 15 vacation days, 10 paid holidays, and 5 sick days
Fully vested SIMPLE IRA contribution of 2% after 90 days of employment
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Canopy Wellness
Annual cost of living increase
Professional development opportunities
Amazing team to work with!

Full-time equivalent of 40 hours per week, some evening and weekend hours will occur. The position is a hybrid position, working in our Bend office with at-home options. Travel throughout the region is required (up to 40% of the work time) with a personal vehicle; travel will be reimbursed at a set non-profit rate. This position may occasionally involve driving a company vehicle. The candidate must possess a current, valid, Oregon driver's license. In addition, the candidate will need to provide a 5-year motor vehicle record obtained through DMV2U - Login (oregon.gov) that includes no license suspensions or major violations in the last five years.

Commitment to Inclusive Hiring Practices

The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, which helps build the competencies, knowledge, and skills that translate directly to our openings. If you are excited about this opportunity but are unsure if your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application and how your talents and experience can bring value to this role.

HDFFA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Apply: https://hdffa.org/employment/

High Desert Food & Farm Alliance jobs

Small Farms Coordinator