Assistant Farm Manager Opening

A Farm Less Ordinary (AFLO) is a 501c3 non-profit whose mission is to provide employment, training and a welcoming community to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities (ID/DD). We cultivate a sense of self-worth and independence for our “Growers” through a basic job skill training program, and through employment itself.

Our focus is to promote habits, social skills, and behaviors that can be used in any work setting. Our Growers are paid for their work starting at or above minimum wage; wages increase as those goals are met while they farm, produce “value added” products, and work at the Farmers’ Market. In the process, our Growers learn not only hand-on skills in growing and preparing food, but also develop their executive function skills, problem-solving abilities, and self-advocacy tools, while gaining confidence as productive members of their community. At AFLO, we recognize that our vegetables may not always be perfect looking, nor are we always able to operate at optimal efficiency. We try our best, operate with a sense of humor, and always seek to improve our methods, crop yields, management practices throughout and across the seasons.

Summary/Objective
The Assistant Farm Manager supports (AFM) the Farm Manager (FM), serving as another set of management eyes and hands on the farm. While the AFM will get their hands in the dirt, this person will also manage the onboarding of Growers, ensuring that employment paperwork is completed and that custom goals are set for the Grower to ensure that they develop their understanding of what it means to be a good employee, and to stretch themselves a bit over the course of the season in order to achieve goals that are customized for the Grower’s interests and abilities. The AFM will also serve as the point of contact for parents, schools, businesses, volunteers, special needs day programs, etc. who are looking to volunteer on the farm or potentially place a client/student/child as an AFLO employee. The AFM will help ensure a smooth start to each volunteer experience on the farm, and ensure that proper screening and liability waivers are completed in advance. The ideal candidate will have a flexible nature, a good sense of humor, and a willingness to respond to a variety of challenges that come with training people with ID/DD.

In 2021, AFLO will operate at two locations: in Lovettsville, VA and Leesburg, VA. Most likely, we will operate in Leesburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and in Lovettsville on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. While the AFM will support the FM three out of five workdays per week, this person will be asked to implement the FM’s plan and manage the farm operations one day a week, while the FM manages our second location. The AFM will also manage AFLO’s attendance at the farmer’s market in Sterling, VA on Sundays.

Essential Functions
● Support the Farm Manager’s plan and vision for the farm, coordinating Growers, Crew
Leaders, volunteers, and school groups according to FM’s planned daily schedule
o Support FM three days a week; manage one farm location one day a week
o Serve as extra set of eyes around the farm to ensure successful workday
● Manage Farmers’ Market attendance each Sunday (including Growers, product pack-up,
display, transactions, clean-up)
● Serve as point of contact (POC) with Loudoun County Public Schools, independent schools,
special needs day programs, etc. regarding farm visits, workdays, and potential client
placement with AFLO
● Coordinate with FM and Chief Operating Officer to develop appropriate programs and
activities for visiting groups
● Manage volunteers
o Maintain opportunities in Loudoun Cares database
o Ensure background checks are conducted (actual checks managed by volunteer)
o Welcome volunteers to farm, providing mission and safety overviews and getting
waivers completed
● Work with Growers to complete onboarding paperwork, set goals, and monitor progress
● Occasionally represent AFLO at local schools to discuss our mission and educate students
of all kinds on the importance of building inclusive communities and workplaces.

Competencies
● Ability to lead and work with a team
● Ability to take and implement directions from FM, Executive Director (ED), and Chief
Operating Officer (COO)
● Interest in working with adults and youth with ID/DD
● Ability to motivate others under difficult conditions (like weather!)
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills for emailing, online posting, and face-toface conversations with Growers and their caretakers, Crew Leaders, and volunteers
● Sense of humor and flexibility, as results aren’t always what you expect each day at AFLO
● Preferred but not required: familiarity with organic gardening/farming

Supervisory Responsibility
The Assistant Farm Manager is responsible for ensuring that Growers, Crew Leaders, and volunteers are working appropriately to implement the Farm Manager’s schedule. Two days a week, the Assistant Farm Manager will be solely responsible for managing the farm and AFLO’s attendance at a local farmers’ market.

Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outdoor weather conditions, such as rain and varying temperatures. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job is split between three locations: Lovettsville, Leesburg, and Sterling, Virginia.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to have full range of mobility in upper and lower body; be able to reach overhead; be able to work in various positions, including stooping, standing, bending over, sitting, kneeling and squatting for extended periods of time; be able to lift, pull and push materials and equipment to complete assigned job tasks; and be able to lift 50 pounds of weight throughout the assigned workday. Physical stamina to work 2-3 hours with requiring a break.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time hourly position. Typical days and hours of work are four weekdays, 7:30 am to 3:00 pm and Sunday mornings (between June and September) from 7:00 am to 2:30 pm.
Occasional overtime may be required.

Required Experience and Education
● Prior leadership experience supervising employees
● Preferred: experience working with people with special needs
● Preferred: experience working in a garden/farming environment

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Classification – Non-exempt (hourly)
Salary Range – $14 – $16/hour
Reports to – Farm Manager (FM), Executive Director (ED), and Chief
Operating Officer (COO)

Contact: Farm Manager: kate@afarmlessordinary.org