We are seeking a strong Business Manager to support us 30-40 hours per week in the planning, marketing, and developing of systems and structures that form the interface between customers/participants and the farm. We have been increasingly moving toward a proactive and highly collaborative operating model, and the Business Manager is essential to the continued progression of this vision.
Qualities and behaviors we are looking for:
Professional and compassionate interpersonal skills
Detail-oriented
Able to break down big picture projects into manageable steps and delegate them effectively
Creative, enjoys problem solving, and can develop strategies and structures to support a lively, growing business
Able to support financial targets without sacrificing NVF’s values
Motivated to monetize our strengths without diluting the environment, our program’s integrity, or the animals’ welfare
Can effectively and comfortably promote the Farm’s mission and vision to others
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Able to work independently as well as collaboratively equally well
Proactively anticipates needs, and oriented toward action and problem-solving
Consistently follows through on tasks large to small, as well as delegation of tasks
Responsibilities vary day to day and season to season, and are intertwined with collaborative team conversation and co-working. This list encapsulates the majority of the Business Manager’s day-to-day work focus:
Co-work with farm owner throughout the week toward administrative and business goals and tasks. Co-work with staff on decision-making and specific tasks and initiatives.
Oversee and co-develop agricultural enterprise budgets for the cow and goat dairies, gardens, poultry, educational programming, and animal rental programs
Bookkeeping and monthly reconciliation of farm finances using Quickbooks
Manage marketing and gain input from team on marketing materials including, NVF's website (Wix), registration software (Jumbula), email newsletter (Mailchimp), and occasionally web and print ad purchases and designs
Communicate via email, phone, text, and sometimes in person, with community members, programming families, partners, etc.
Co-develop and refine business operations, processes, and systems to organize and streamline product sales and program offerings to individuals and organizations
Support the development of organizational documents for parent communication, staff responsibilities, curriculum development, grant applications, etc.
Support scheduling and administrative needs of educational programming team, including helping schedule substitute educators, generating rosters, creating and updating program registrations, processing refunds and other requests, and logistical communication to parents due to inclement weather, policy updates, etc.
Help assess future programs and projects for viability, alignment with the mission and vision, and reproducibility
Facilitate staff hiring and internships, including performing screening conversations, and managing distribution of employment documents and initiating background check
Communicate with school and organizational partners about programs, invoices, etc.
Desirable experience:
Small business management including financial management/bookkeeping (Quickbooks Online experience a bonus)
Project management
Customer service
Marketing
Interest in community farming and farm-based education. Farming experience is wonderful, but not expected or required
Hourly wage of $22-30 depending on experience. We welcome flexibility around work from home during the week versus work onsite to suit your needs and schedule. NVF offers the following benefits:
Free access to all of the food you need to maintain your household (milk, meat, eggs, veg)
5 paid sick days per year (these are replenished at the start of each calendar year)
5 paid personal days per year (unused days can roll over to following years up to 3 weeks of accumulated personal days)
Flexibility around longer sabbaticals/breaks/vacations. We are always open to folks pursuing the lifestyle and relationship to work that they want to have, and that can sometimes include travels, breaks, etc.
Opportunities throughout the year for professional development and ongoing education
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To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, contact information, and two references to nvfbusinessoffice@gmail.com.