Resiliency Specialist, Agriculture and Food Systems

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?

If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.

At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.

If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today.

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish.

Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy.

This position is reliant upon funding and may be subject to modification or termination based on resource availability.

POSITION SUMMARY:

World Relief Western Washington (WRWW) is seeking a passionate individual to support with the implementation, maintenance, and development of Resiliency Programs with an emphasis on agriculture, food systems, and environmental education for refugee-immigrant gardeners, youth, and entrepreneurs in our region. Experience in gardening and agriculture as well as leading trainings in intercultural settings will be an asset.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES::
• Community Garden Maintenance, Garden Volunteer Coordination, and Market Gardening Program Development (50%)
• Assist with the day-to-day operations of WRWW’s 2-acre Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden, including maintenance of garden plots, restoration areas, and green stormwater infrastructure
• Upkeep garden facilities and equipment
• Coordinate garden events and volunteers
• Design and facilitate agricultural trainings for refugee-immigrant gardeners
• Assist Garden Coordinator in setting and fulfilling the goals and objectives of the Community Garden and the development of new programming

• Regional Food-Systems (20%)
• Strengthen WRWW’s role in the community as a food systems resource—specifically developing our presence in the local food systems sector
• Support trainings focused on food security, nutrition, food preservation, and food business development for families and entrepreneurs with refugee-immigrant backgrounds
• Build bridges between regional agriculture resources (land organizations, donors, markets, etc.) and the refugee-immigrant community
• Support with World Relief’s American Culinary Federation (ACF) approved Culinary Careers Programming and nutrition programming in the agricultural off-season and food preservation classes during the agricultural season

• Environmental Education (20%)
• Work with the Learning and Development Coordinator to develop and implement place-based environmental education offerings for youth hosted at the community garden. Workshops and classes currently center on stormwater management, food security and access, and plant biology, using Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden as a living classroom
• Facilitate onsite coordination and instructional time for participants in environmental programs
• Work closely with the Community Garden Coordinator to plan agriculturally focused trainings for refugee and immigrant participants in community garden programs

• Other (10%)
• Collaborate with the Community Garden Coordinator, Commercial Teaching Kitchen Coordinator, and Learning & Development Coordinator to maximize the use of shared spaces for educational opportunities (garden area, commercial teaching kitchen, etc.)
• Identify and organize technical experts and volunteer collaborators to support in the instruction and implementation of programs
• Other duties as assigned

JOB REQUIREMENTS::
• Mature and personal Christian faith
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
• Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
• Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document
• Curiosity, humility, and a love of learning.
• Ability to work well with diverse groups of people – previous cross-cultural experience is required.
• Previous experience working in gardening/agriculture
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Flexibility in schedule with some evening and weekend hours
• Valid Driver's license and ability to pass a driving record check

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS::
• Demonstrated ability to work sensitively and effectively in cross-cultural settings.
• Working knowledge and formal or informal experience in agriculture and/or the natural sciences (agronomy, ecology, environmental science, biology).
• Understanding of U.S. food systems and their current inequities; Proficiency in one or more languages (Spanish, Dari, Arabic, Ukrainian, French, Burmese, Nepali) highly desirable.
• Previous experience with immigrants and communicating across language barriers is preferred

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time, Regular, and part-time (25+ hours per week) employees

World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.

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Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.