Program Director in Anchorage

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Job DescriptionJob Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Director is responsible for overseeing a highly collaborative team, which often means filling in throughout the program as needed. This position is directly responsible for developing program strategies and implementation in a dynamic and partnership-driven environment. Other roles include commercial crop production; facilitating, teaching, and building curriculum; volunteer recruitment and management; commercial food production; event planning and farmers market management.

ABOUT US

CSS is a Catholic human and social services agency and behavioral health care provider that welcomes people of all faiths through its programs and employment. We provide help for our Alaskan neighbors through a variety of supportive service programs, including emergency shelter, food stability, housing, case management, and refugee assistance. CSS empowers individuals and families on their path to permanent stability, creating thriving communities for all. Located in Anchorage, Alaska, CSS is a nationally accredited organization through the Council on Accreditation (COA), which recognizes that CSS provides high quality services that meet best practice standards in the social service field.

Mission: To promote the physical, spiritual and mental welfare of persons in need in the community. This mission is achieved by:

• Offering charitable assistance to those in need, especially persons who are poor
• Developing and conducting programs to strengthen and support families and the dignity of the human spirit
• Administering the Corporal Works of Mercy and Gospel of Jesus Christ as defined by the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and envisioned by the traditional concepts of Catholic Social Teaching and Action through the laity
• And advocating for social justice for the common good of all

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT

The Refugee Enterprise & Agriculture Program (REAP) seeks to promote the well-being of Alaska’s refugee community by providing economic opportunities, job training, family support, and access to fresh food. Fresh International Gardens and Grow North Farm are agricultural programs that encourage wellbeing, expand food-access, and support small-business development in refugee communities. New arrivals to Alaska are welcome to participate in the Fresh International Gardens co-op to earn supplemental income, practice English- skills, and access fresh vegetables. Grow North Farm provides a space for agricultural entrepreneurs with a refugee background to launch or support their agriculture and food-based business.

The FIG co-op has been building healthy refugee communities since 2007 by helping new Alaskans develop English- and small business skills, access fresh vegetables, and earn supplemental income. 100% of FIG profits are paid out directly to FIG gardeners. FIG also produces and sells multiple value-added products.

Grow North Farm provides gardeners with a place to launch their own businesses and collaborate with other farmers. Our program carries strong emphasis on food access and works to ensure everyone can purchase produce through our programs such as Fresh Bucks, Double-Up SNAP, and Give Local Grow Local. GNF also provides a space for the community to gather with regular family-friendly programming and events.

To learn more about FIG and GNF, please visit www.cssalaska.org/fig.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Confidentiality: An understanding of HIPAA and the importance of client confidentiality when communicating with members of the public or in dealing with client level data.

Teamwork: Interacts with people effectively. Encourages and respects the input of all team members. Communicates openly and honestly. Cooperates withing the team and across the agency.

Stress Tolerance: Displays emotional resilience. Deals with difficult and adverse events while maintaining professionalism and caring. Responds appropriately in the face of tension, emotion, and resistance. Seeks support from others when necessary and uses appropriate coping techniques.

Organization: Highly organized with an attention to detail. Self-motivated and directed to accomplish tasks.

Interpersonal Skills: Able to understand and empathize with others. Can build lasting relationships with clients and partners.

Flexibility: Comfortable with a changing workflow and able to prioritize tasks. Shows initiative and self-confidence in various situations and challenges.

Problem Solving: Competent in dealing with clients in other crises as well as a highly structured, fast-paced daily routine.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of financial and grant management
• Knowledge of program strategy, development, design, and implementation
• Knowledge of small-scale food production, food safety regulations
• Knowledge of small business technologies (e-commerce, social media)
• Knowledge about trauma informed care practices
• Knowledge of agriculture practices and commercial growing
• Knowledge of plant and soil health principles
• Knowledge relating to agriculture, forestry, or other ecosystems management
• Knowledge of food security issues
• Knowledge of cross-cultural services
• Knowledge of teaching adult learners
• Knowledge of teaching English Learners (ELL)

Skill:

• Facilitation, teaching, management, or supervision skills.
• Proficient with Word, Excel, internet and experience with e-mail required.
• Ability to complete paperwork thoroughly and accurately.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Capable of managing multiple tasks at once and identifying priorities.
• Willingness to learn
• Bilingual
• Ability to relate to other employees, program participants, and the public.
• Empathy
• Valid Driver’s License

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Implementation/Design and Development/Evaluation: Fulfill program mission. Operate within mission/philosophy of agency. Implement program goals and objectives. Evaluate and measure outcomes of program services. Utilize data to inform recommendations and changes. Recommend program service adjustments. Adjust service delivery based on changing grant requirements. Ensure delivery of services is in alignment with funding sources.

Oversee Grant Activities: Work with the CSS grants team to identify funding opportunities and oversee the designing, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating grant activities.

Build Partnerships: Develop strong relationships with funders, partners, and other stakeholders to further program mission.

Client Advocate: Attend to specific client needs as necessary, act as advocate on behalf of population served and/or individual clients, when necessary. Hear and address client grievances. Assist staff with complex problem-solving around client’s needs utilizing the resources of the program and strengths of the staff. Connect refugee farmers and farm entrepreneurs to outsider resources.

Personnel Management: Recruit, screen, hire; train, coordinate continuing education; support, supervise, evaluate; oversee health, morale, and welfare. Approve leave requests, authorize time sheets, handle other personnel actions. Draft/amend job descriptions. Meet regularly with direct reports and build a rapport with staff across the program with an emphasis on a teamwork approach.

Fiscal Management: Work with Finance and Grant Administrator to draft operating, capital, and grant budgets. Monitor all financial reports; code and approve check requests, assist with cost/ analysis; long range financial planning. Operate within an approved budget. Complete duties within timelines and budget.

Inter/Intra Agency Relations: Attend agency Directors’ meetings, and other meetings/events as required. Network with other providers and community partners. Attend community meetings on behalf of the agency as needed. Act as a liaison between programs and the rest of the agency. Provide leadership in community networking.

Presentations: Develop and present presentations to community groups, faith-based groups, university students and more around program services. Plan and schedule staff partnerships with these groups for in-kind and volunteer support.

Volunteer Management: Work with CSS community engagement team to coordinate volunteer activities for the program.

Program Operations: Oversee operation of Fresh International Gardens and Grow North Farm. Recruit, teach and support refugees in developing agricultural skills.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in business, human services, agriculture or plant science, or related field. Four (4) years of experience may be substituted for the required education.

Minimum Experience Requirement: Four (4) years of experience working in an agricultural business. Experience must include at least two (2) years of project management and one (1) year of supervisory experience. Experience working with refugee populations is .

Demonstrated familiarity with food system work and/or nonprofits required.

A relevant combination of education and experience may be considered.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work environment: Work is performed in an office and outdoor setting. Must be able to tolerate heat, cold, and wet conditions while performing necessary duties. The work will take place within a highly collaborative team environment. There will also be periods of office time necessary to fulfill job requirements. The office is open-office, meaning that desks and conversations are often near one another, so the candidate selected must be able to focus in an environment with some audio and visual distractions.

Hours: This position may require evening and weekend hours throughout the year.

Physical demands: The physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving. Must be able to lift, push, pull and move a minimum of 50 pounds and safely operate garden equipment including garden tools, lawn mowers, and tillers.

Travel: Rarely travel out of Alaska. Occasional travel within Alaska is required.

Location: 4600 Debarr Road, Anchorage, AK.

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