Salary : $113,015.00 – $119,898.00 Annually
Location : West Hills College Coalinga, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 1100310
Department: Farm of the Future
Opening Date: 10/25/2023
Closing Date: 11/15/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
Job Description
West Hills College Coalinga
Director of the Farm of the Future
Administrative Range 42
Hiring Range: $113,015 – $119,898 per year
Full Range: $113,015 – $147,460 per year
Expected start-date: Spring 2024
Position Duties
Summary
Under the general supervision of the Vice President or designated Dean, the Director of the Farm of the Future provides the overall vision and administration for the various agricultural and crop operations located at the Farm of the Future. The Director provides guidance to a collaborative team of staff and students involved in the educational, research, industry, and community service functions of the farm. The Director develops annual plans for farm operations and deliverables to advance efficiency and productivity. The Director works closely with the district grants office to seek external funding for farm operations and innovation. The Director is responsible for the supervision of the day-to-day farm operations. Programs located at the Farm of the Future use experiential learning to embed learning within real world contexts to ensure that our students are provided with an array of well-designed, real-life experiences on the farm and with our internship partners. The Director supports this effort by working closely with administration to coordinate professional development activities for faculty; nurture partnerships with K-12 institutions, higher education, and business and agriculture industry leaders; and collaborate with faculty to develop practical learning experiences for students.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Function as the administrator of the Farm of the Future.
- Develop annual operational plan for the Farm of the Future. Plan and direct day-to-day operation of the farm to meet benchmarks and goals of annual plan.
- Develop and implement crop plan, planting and harvesting schedule for each season.
- Develop, manage, and enhance program resources, including staff, funds, facilities, and equipment.
- Supervise utilization of the program’s lands, built facilities, equipment, tools, and other physical resources. As appropriate, improve, expand, develop, and acquire new facilities, equipment, and other resources.
- Coordinate the use and development of lands and facilities with allied and nearby programs, industry partners, educational partners, and community entities.
- Work closely with college administration and faculty to integrate agriculture into the curriculum across all the disciplines.
- Prepare, monitor, and recommend a yearly budget for assigned areas.
- Plan, prioritize and coordinate income-generating programmatic activities (e.g., crop sales) and ensure an appropriate balance between income generation and the academic mission of the program.
- Represent the Farm of the Future in matters relating to assigned programs, including serving on assigned committees of the college.
- Direct and supervise program outreach efforts to advance knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the Farm of the Future.
- Work with faculty conducting on-farm research to integrate their work with the farm’s production and educational priorities.
- Review needs, initiate requests for positions, screen, interview, recommend for employment, and evaluate performance of all assigned employee positions.
- Work cooperatively with public and private agencies in the interpretation of employment training needs and other data.
- Assist in the preparation and management of fiscal, statistical, and other reports including forecasting revenues and maintaining appropriate and necessary records, studies, and support materials.
- Work in cooperation with the District Grants Office to expand opportunities for external funding. Serve as PI or Co-PI on grants consistent with the goals and objectives of the farm.
- Attend regional, state, national, and other conferences, and meetings as appropriate.
- Review and revise material on the college web site pertaining to the farm and/or assigned programs as necessary.
- Comply with college, state, federal, environment and animal care regulations as appropriate.
- Mentor students, including student interns and student employees.
- Represent the College’s Farm of the Future at local community activities.
- Coordinate engagement with business, industry, and the community. Provide tours for visitors. Participate in events and projects for agricultural professionals and the public. Be a welcoming presence to youth and adult community residents, promoting active and broad participation by volunteers, program participants and other stakeholders in a manner that supports relationship building between the farm and the community.
- Provide supervision to the college farming operations and assist faculty with on-farm instructional laboratory activities/projects.
- Supervise/monitor the work related to field preparation and maintenance, including tillage, planting, fertilizing, irrigating, spraying, pruning, harvesting, grading, and sale of crops.
- Provide oversight and supervision to assure inventory farm equipment, vehicles, tools, and chemicals, as well as other assigned records.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualification
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community organizations.
- Experience facilitating a team approach with shared leadership, decision-making, and management.
- Skills to facilitate group processes and to foster open dialogue, collaboration, and problem solving.
- Evaluative skills to analyze, define, and assess problems, issues, and needs, and identify needed actions.
- Coordinate with faculty for on-farm activities including research and on-site contract training.
- Plan outreach on-farm activities with educational institutions and public groups.
- Plan with faculty and implement a farmers’ market and/or farm to table distribution.
- Demonstrated commitment to creating and maintaining, working, and learning environments which are inclusive, diverse and welcoming. Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of staff and students. Demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of staff and students with physical and learning disabilities.
- Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
- Develop and implement an operational plan for the farm in consultation with administration, faculty, and advisory board.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs and related computer information system and its components.
- Demonstrate commitment to professional growth and development through memberships in regional, state, and national organizations or other activities appropriate to the discipline or assignment.
- Strong organizational and time management skills to establish goals and priorities, oversee multiple projects, achieve goals, and meet critical deadlines.
- Ability to perform consistently under the pressure of deadlines and other administrative details.
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and analytical skills; effective written and oral skills.
- Experience and/or knowledge of instructional programs, including occupational and academic, and student services programs.
- Ability to work independently and innovatively within a framework of accountability.
- Knowledge of California Education Code provisions and federal and state regulations applicable to community colleges.
- Budget, financial and infrastructure management skills. Prepare program and fiscal reports.
- Demonstrated skills required for grant writing, fund raising and maintaining donor relations.
- Requires proficiency in enterprise education platforms and customer relationship management system(s) for higher education, proficiency with software programs and ability to transfer files, import data, and use presentation software.
- Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred (but not required).
Physical Abilities:
Observe, monitor, and/or detect various activities. Identify, recognize, comprehend, examine, inspect, analyze, and/or assess various documents. Convey ideas effectively; exchange information and make presentations. Proficient use and operation of a computer keyboard. Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time. Perform heavy physical labor. Requires sufficient ambulatory ability to stand for extended periods of time, lift and move medium weight materials up to 50 pounds, and move to workstations.
Minimum Qualifications:
Commitment to diversity, cultural competence, and anti-racism. All applicants must have demonstrated sensitivity, understanding of, and commitment to the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff.
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in agriculture or a related field and three years’ administrative or management experience, preferably in a community college. Experience and practical knowledge of agricultural skills and farm management/operations required.
Licenses and Certificates:
A valid California Class “C” driver’s license is required.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed indoors and outdoors where significant safety considerations exist from physical labor, handling of medium weight, awkward materials, chemicals, working around machinery and moving vehicles on sites. Traveling within the district sites may be required. Emergency callouts may occur. Some evening and weekend work may be required.
Supplemental Information
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Cover letter
- Online District application
- Professional resume
- Unofficial transcripts from an accredited institution verifying course work completed and degree(s) received.
*Incomplete applications will not be accepted. It is the candidates responsibility to make sure the application packet is complete.*
West Hills Community College District is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender status, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information or covered veteran’s status consistent with applicable federal and state laws. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.
Background Check: All of our positions require the ability to pass a background and live scan.Selection Process: Depending upon the number of applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, the examination process may include a qualifications screening by a committee. Those demonstrating the strongest backgrounds related to the position will be invited to interview.
West Hills Community College District offers a comprehensive benefit package.
Benefits offered are as follows:
- 22 Vacation Days
- 21 Sick Days
- $50,000 Life Insurance Policy (Option to purchase an additional $50,000 or $100,000 in addition to what is covered by the District)
- $25,000 Accidental Life Insurance Policy (Option to purchase an additional $25,000 or $75,000 in addition to what is covered by the District)
- CalPERS or CalSTRS Retirement (Administrators/Managers are PERS Educational Administrators are STRS)
- Medical (Anthem Blue Shield through SISC)
- Dental (Delta Dental)
- Vision (VSP)
- Prescription
- Disability Insurance
- Employee Educational Assistance
Current Employee Contribution for Insurance Premiums are as follows (there is not an additional charge to add dependents to your insurance):
- $327.00 per Month for Plan A 100%
- $207.00 per Month for Plan B 90%
- Covered by the District Plan C 80%
- Covered by the District HSA-B
Relocation re-imbursement up to $2,000.00 covered expenses for those who relocate their primary residence into the district.