Director of Action Education

Community Agroecology Network (CAN) is an international organization that confronts some of the world’s most pressing problems in sustainability and conservation. CAN works with partner organizations in 8 regions of Mexico and Central America to support rural communities in developing food sovereignty and sustainable farming practices. We promote integrated approaches to sustainable community development.  Our 3 program areas include:

• Participatory Action Research
• Trade Innovations
• Action Education

CAN is a learning organization where the staffworks as a team to develop alternative networks that promote environmental and social justice. We are all engaged in the learning process and collaborate with both university students and our partner organizations in ways that develop our knowledge and skills.  

CAN’s Action Education Program:

CAN envisions action education not only as learning by doing, but as a form of advocacy for a more just world. Through our action education initiative we aim to raise awareness and create tools for change around global trade and sustainable agriculture. We use field internships, field courses, and other emerging programs to inspire action for social and environmental justice.  All of our action education programs focus on developing intercultural exchanges through mutual learning opportunities among our network partners.

Our Action Education Program work includes:

• International Field Internships
• Field courses and AgroEcoTours
• Internships at the CAN office

Position Overview:

The CAN Director of Action Education will work closely with the Co-Executive Directors, the Associate Director, the Marketing Coordinator, and our partner organizations to build and promote our field internship program, field courses and tours, and other action education opportunities as delineated in a strategic planning process. This position will be based at the CAN offices in Santa Cruz, CA and will involve international travel.  The position will also involve supervision of staff and program analysis, and the development of strategic partnerships outside of the organization.

Responsibilities: 

For 2011-12 the responsibilities of the Director of Action Education will include (but are not limited to): 

International Field Internships:

CAN currently has international field internship programs in 4 of our partner communities in Nicaragua and Mexico.  Interns usually spend 10 weeks with one of our partner organizations collaborating in ongoing projects or activities determined by the partner organizations. Interns participate in a pre-internship orientation process and a post-internship evaluation process. Responsibilities will include working with participating partner organizations in Latin America to develop and implement annual goals, further program maintenance, place interns and monitor their progress, manage budgets and finances of internships, and develop and implement strategic program goals.

Field courses and AgroEcoTours:

CAN currently runs 4-5 field courses and tours per year to México and Central America in collaboration with our partner organizations there. The Director of Action Education would lead the coordination of field courses and tours. Responsibilities include strategic outreach and recruitment for field courses and tours, coordinate and conduct all pre-trip orientations and preparations with participants, coordinate logistics and pedagogy of all courses in collaboration with coordinators in partner organizations, develop and manage trip budgets, and develop strategic relationships for future field courses.

Friends of CAN (FoCAN) and Local Internships:

CAN works closely with FoCAN students at UCSC.  The responsbilities of the Director of Action Education in this area would include working closely with FoCAN leadership team to support their success in ongoing projects and collaborations. 

Qualifications: 

The Director of Action Education must be bilingual (English/Spanish).  He/She will have demonstrated experience working with culturally diverse people, with experience in Latin America in the areas of rural sustainable development and/or intercultural exchange. The selected person will have experience with project management including project visioning, design, implementation, and evaluation, as well as project budget development and management skills.

Another important qualification is experience working with university students in a supervisory or mentoring capacity.  The selected person will also have experience in communication, marketing and promotion in either the nonprofit or for-profit sectors.  He/She will be a creative problem solver with involvement in the environmental and social justice movements, experience in food system sustainability and a strong interest in sustainable community development. This person will be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, personal initiative, the ability to build relationships and mentor others, and the capacity to guide others.

The selected person will have a related masters degree or equivalent professional experience, strong interest in action education and intercultural exchange, understanding of community development, and proficiency in electronic systems including databases, spreadsheets and other electronic office tools. The Director of Action Education will also have excellent speaking, written and presentation skills in both English and Spanish and experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders and partner organizations. As Director of the Action Education Program, this person will have the ability to demonstrate good judgment, set priorities, and run multiple programs and projects independently as well as working with others. 

Additional desirable qualifications include knowledge of Agroecology and experience with rural farming systems in Latin America; development of management systems and organization policies; knowledge of alternative trade systems and networks; and experience leading and/or coordinating international field courses or educational tours. 

Compensation: This is a full-time year-round position. Salary range $37,000 - $42,000 + benefits. 

To Apply:

Please e-mail your cover letter, resume and contact information for 3 references to Heather no later than 4 pm, May 20, 2011.  Start date for this position is July 1, 2011.

CAN is an equal opportunity employer.