Farmworker Engagement Coordinator

POSITION TITLE: Farmworker Engagement Coordinator

DEPARTMENT: Community Education & Engagement

REPORTS TO: Director of Community Education & Engagement

SUPERVISES: N/A

POSITION TYPE: Full-time, nonexempt

SCHEDULE: Up to 40 hours/week, based on funding

This position is open until filled, with a priority deadline of April 15.

Starting salary range: $25.91-$28.60 DOQ

BENEFITS:

• Medical/Vision Dental Insurance: The following individuals qualify for BMAC's group insurance plans:
  • Regular, full-time employees working 30-40 hours per week receive full benefits
  • Regular, part-time employees working 20-29 hours per week receive prorated benefits based on the number of hours worked
  • Qualifying dependents: Spouse/legal domestic partner and any dependent children 26 years or younger
• Life Insurance
• Short/Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Eligibility begins in the first month after hire date. Vesting rules apply.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Employees begin accruing PTO the first day of employment as detailed below
  • Employees with 0-5 Years of Service = accrue 0.075 hours per hour worked
  • Employees with 5+ Years of Service = accrue 0.0875 hours per hour worked
  • Employees with 10+ Years of Service = accrue 0.10 hours per hour worked
• Volunteer Time Off (VTO): Available in the following amounts per calendar year:
  • Employees schedule to work 35-40 hours = 16 VTO hours
  • Employees schedule to work 25-34 hours = 12 VTO hours
  • Employees schedule to work 20-24 hours = 8 VTO hours
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays
• Other Paid Leave
  • Voting Leave – as needed upon request
  • Bereavement Leave – up to 4 days to eligible employees
  • Jury Duty Leave – up to 4 weeks over any 1-year period
• Workers Compensation: Comprehensive insurance provided

JOB SUMMARY: The Farmworker Engagement Coordinator is a full-time position that engages directly in outreach and partnership with area vineyards to connect workers to needed services at BMAC or elsewhere in the community. This Coordinator promotes worker well-being and community engagement by helping to explain and navigate community services, particularly healthcare navigation, while building skills for self-sufficiency and self-advocacy, including by promoting health literacy. The Coordinator actively builds relationships based on trust and mutual respect which requires personal interactions, small group discussions, and community gatherings.  The Coordinator acts as a catalyst for engaging agricultural workers, teaching skills that focus on advocacy and self-sufficiency, and facilitating opportunities for community engagement in English and Spanish. The Coordinator will coach residents on advocating for their healthcare and general needs, and engaging with local systems of support, governments, businesses, and nonprofits. This position is made possible through collaboration between BMAC and VITAL Wines.

Vital’s Commitment to Health Equity: Vital Wines is dedicated to ensuring vineyard and winery workers are recognized, valued, and have access to healthcare and other important resources. It takes many people all working together to create exceptional wine. The support of Vital brings this community-based approach full circle to support those individuals who make fine wine a reality. Collectively, the commitment is to creating healthcare equity for everyone in the wine industry.

OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES: Includes, but is not limited to:

• Conduct community outreach to meet and build relationships with workers in vineyards and other agricultural settings who may benefit from services and support.
• Navigate and refer workers to BMAC services or refer to other local resources, including health services or other needs.
• Facilitate and deliver experiential, evidence-based classes on a range of topics in partnership with BMAC colleagues to include financial security, strengthening families, trauma and resilience, and leadership development curricula.
• Recruit, train, and supervise program volunteers who engage in various activities related to community outreach, events, and workshops.
• Connect with community partners to bring in or develop classes and training in response to worker needs and interests, such as health topics or worker safety.
• Build networks of allied residents, business owners, partner organizations and other entities interested in supporting local agricultural workers.
• Facilitate relationships among workers, businesses and partner organizations to identify common goals and develop plans for self-sufficiency or self-advocacy.
• Conduct outreach via personal interactions or organizing and hosting small groups and community meetings.
• Utilize inclusive, equitable, trauma-informed approaches in working with a bilingual, multi-cultural community.
• Make public presentations to promote the program.
• Communicate with farmworkers and the greater community using phone calls, email, text and social media.
• Meet with community groups and stakeholders to stay abreast of community activities, bring awareness of BMAC to others, and explore collaboration opportunities.
• Evaluate progress, challenges, successes and “lessons learned’ from projects and events.
• Maintain accurate records of projects, interviews, activities, contacts, referrals, and participant/ volunteer hours and reports them as required. Track program participation rates and results of community resource fairs, workshops, and related activities. Write reports, summaries and other program documents.
• Perform set up and take down, year-round, indoors and outdoors, for projects, festivals, meetings, events and other activities; lifts and carries items such as (but not limited to) tables, chairs, stands, equipment, supplies, food, ice chests.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience

Relevant experience and/or education may be substituted for either education or work history.

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a field related to community engagement and social change, such as sociology, politics, public health, education, or communications; consideration is given to related advanced degrees or substantial work history when determining starting salary.
• Four (4) or more years of related work experience
  • Experience in public health or community outreach and advocacy, strongly desired.
• Bilingual/Bicultural – English/Spanish, oral and written – is required.
• Preferred experience:
  • Experience working in community health outreach (promotor(a) de salud)
  • Experience working in community advocacy and outreach
  • Experience working with agricultural workers and/or low-income families

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong commitment to BMAC’s mission of collaborating with our partners to equitably deliver services and support to our neighbors experiencing poverty and to our values: accountability for our actions and services; dignity for all we serve; honoring diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work; and upholding a spirit of service.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent coaching and programs and work effectively with diverse populations, including LGBTQ and people of color, as well as individuals of all ages and ability levels.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational and community outreach, advocacy, or development work.
• Knowledge of local service resources and local nonprofits, businesses, governments, or other partners.
• Excellent oral and written language skills in English and Spanish and experience with public speaking preferred.
• Creative and critical solution-based thinking within program guidelines.
• Familiarity with offering services in small, rural communities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team to achieve goals and assignments.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service and employ conflict resolution skills effectively, including in challenging or stressful situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, set appropriate boundaries, and exercise sound judgement in all decisions.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to compile and to accurately input and organize data, information, and files.
• Ability to learn/use CAP60 and Volgistics software system.
• Ability to be flexible when managing changing priorities and schedules, without compromising the quality of outcomes, ability to complete tasks, or uphold commitments.

Certifications

• Valid driver’s license, satisfactory driving record.
• Must provide own licensed and registered vehicle for travel and maintain current auto insurance.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work takes place in agricultural settings, neighborhood(s), both indoor and outdoor, and in an office environment. Duties include traveling in the Walla Walla Valley to vineyards, through neighborhoods, and organizing residents around their identified goals. Most work will be Monday through Friday, but evening and weekend work is expected when workers are available for meetings, events, or projects. The schedule may vary from week to week based on project activities. Employee must be willing to work a flexible schedule.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform essential functions.

• Must be able to access neighborhood homes and other venues where essential activities take place.
• Must be able to hear, speak, and write.
• Must be able to move 25 pounds.

NOTE: This is a general description of essential job functions. It is not intended as an employment contract, nor is it intended to describe all duties someone in this position may perform. All employees of BMAC are expected to perform tasks as assigned by supervisory/ management personnel, regardless of job title or routine job duties.