Community Farm Specialist

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) conserves and restores the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.

About the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows:

The PEC Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows is located on a 141-acre PEC-owned property at Gilbert’s Corner in Loudoun County, Virginia (39990 Howsers Branch Dr. Aldie, VA 20105).

Launched in 2019, the Community Farm is a vegetable farm operation that grows produce for local food pantries, utilizing organic inputs and techniques. The farm consists of 3.5 acres of vegetable production and 1 acre of fruit trees and berries, producing tens of thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables annually. Engagement with volunteers, schools, and community organizations is a vital part of the farm, which not only provides opportunities for the public to engage with their local food system and give back, but also fosters lasting relationships with the community. Highly visible through its productivity, use of a volunteer workforce, and engagement with the community, the Community Farm promotes the importance of land stewardship, access to fresh foods, and mutual aid. Through the collaborative efforts of the Community Farm team, volunteers actively participate in local agriculture, local residents have access to farm tours and educational workshops, and families in need throughout Loudoun County benefit from increased access to fresh, healthy, locally-produced fruits and vegetables.

Your Role

PEC is seeking to hire a Community Farm Specialist to support operations at the Community Farm a Roundabout Meadows in Loudoun County, VA. The Community Farm Specialist will possess experience and knowledge of vegetable farming with an interest in working with a diverse community of volunteers and community members. The farm specialist must demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively and proactively as a member of the farm team, with volunteers and visitors, as well as PEC staff. The Community Farm Specialist will have an integral role in the full farm operation, providing assistance to the Community Farm Coordinator in regard to all farm operations.

• The Community Farm Specialist reports to PEC’s Gilberts Corner Farm and Land Manager but will also work closely with and be provided day-to-day supervision by the Community Farm Coordinator. In addition, the Community Farm Specialist will collaborate with other PEC staff, departments within PEC and members of the PEC Board of Directors.
• This position will be based at PEC’s Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows (39990 Howsers Branch Dr. Aldie, VA 20105) with occasional travel to the headquarters office in Warrenton, VA.

Responsibilities

Typical activities include:

• Vegetable and fruit production to meet the needs of our local food pantries
• Operating a tractor using a variety of implements
• Mowing, bed preparation, seeding, planting, weeding, irrigating, harvesting and washing crops
• Organizing, educating, and working alongside diverse volunteers, teaching and speaking publicly about agriculture and the Community Farm program
• Assisting in the preparation and implementation of educational programming for field trips and workshops
• Grounds, equipment and building maintenance
• Assuring safety protocols and best management practices are met
• Assisting with broader property management tasks throughout the Roundabout Meadows and
• Gilberts Corner Farmers Market properties as assigned. Tasks may include but are not limited to:
  • Soil sampling
  • Trail maintenance
  • Tree planting
  • Fence maintenance
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required:

• Minimum two years of vegetable farming experience
• Experience working with volunteers, school groups, and individuals of all ages and skill levels.
• Ability to organize, coordinate, and manage diverse activities and deadlines.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems independently, effectively, and creatively with minimal supervision.
• Mission-minded with strong interest in conservation, sustainable agriculture, education, and community development.
• Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability and desire to build relationships with a diverse constituency including local political officials, non-profit representatives, donors, neighborhood associations, businesses and individual citizens with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills (written, oral and social-media focused) to develop written/photographic/video materials for use in communicating goals and stories.
• Familiarity with the operation and maintenance of small machinery, power tools, and hand tools.
• Familiarity with and ability to carry out maintenance of farm-related structures.
• Familiarity with computers and the use of online tools, such as the Google Suite, Microsoft Office, social media platforms, etc. 
• Ability to work outdoors, in all weather conditions, with limited facilities.
• Willing to work weekends and evenings as necessary.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Commitment to service and community and a willingness to participate in practices of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI).

Preferred:

• 3-5 years of farming experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, horticulture, or related field.
• Multilingual skills and multicultural or cross-cultural experience.
• Experience using tractors with a variety of implements.

Compensation

• This position is a non-exempt / hourly position with benefits. Salary range of $22 to $26.44 per hour (equivalent to $45,000 – $55,000 annually), depending on qualifications.

Benefits:

In addition to a salary, you will be eligible to participate in health, disability, term life insurance benefits and a 403(b) employee pension plan. Upon employment, you will be entitled to paid holidays and will begin accruing personal leave as designated in the PEC Employee Handbook.

PEC offers an outstanding and robust benefits package including:

• Two health plans offered, a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan or a high-deductible
• Health Savings Account (HSA) plan 
• Dental and Vision insurance plans
• Short & Long Term Disability*
• Group Term Life*
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity insurances*
• HSA account (with employer match up to $750 per year)
• FSA accounts (health & dependent)
• 403(b) pension plan with employer contribution after 1 year of service with 100% vesting from day one
• 12 paid holidays
• PTO leave – 24 days per year, accrued each pay period
• 1 day per year of paid leave to volunteer at another non-profit or charitable cause
• Salary Continuation Leave for employee or family illness (including maternity and paternity) – from 2 to 8 weeks fully paid leave eligibility every 24 months, depending on length of service
• Paid Bereavement, Jury Duty and Military Service Training leave
• Travel Expense Reimbursement (including mileage)
• Hybrid work environment and Flexible Work Schedules
• Professional Development support
• Payment for relevant licenses & professional membership fees.
• *Indicates that this insurance premium is 100% paid by PEC for employee coverage.

Application Process

Interested applicants should fill out our job application form. Resumé reviews begin immediately.

The Piedmont Environmental Council is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions and qualifications are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work helps build the competencies and knowledge of our organization. Diversity of experience and skills, combined with passion, is key to our organizational identity.

Read more about our Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) commitments.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable job accommodations may be requested.