Join California FarmLink! As a Community Development Financial Institution, we invest in the prosperity and well-being of farmers, ranchers, and fishers who have limited access to financial resources. Our programs center communities of color, and promote just and resilient economies and natural resource conservation. We offer fair financing, business education, and support for owning or managing agricultural land.

Our Lending Program provides access to credit. Our three Land and Business programs provide technical assistance and business education. The Business and Innovation program provides farmers, ranchers and fishers with technical assistance and pilots new programs to further FarmLink’s mission.

The Project Manager, Business & Innovation will lead the work of a multi-year pilot project to  demonstrate the feasibility of solar-powered cooler infrastructure. Participating farmers will acquire small-scale on-farm cold storage, to keep produce fresh, attractive, and nutritious longer, allowing farmers to manage their time more effectively and sell their products at higher prices in markets farther from their fields.

Our goal is to create a replicable model for refrigeration that is cost-effective and climate-smart, using innovative, on- or off-grid solar power. Small-scale, post-harvest solar cooling and battery storage have the potential to expand rapidly. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for a motivated individual to influence a nascent field.

Flexible employment arrangements may be  offered depending on circumstances.

• Spanish language fluency
• Self-motivated, independent-minded person able to process personal, managerial, and technical information
• Ability to organize, educate, and support mostly Spanish-speaking farmers so they are active participants  and obtain real value from the project
• Demonstrated ability to meet budget and project deadlines
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, economics, agriculture, or related field
• 3+ years of project management experience
• Proficiency with  MS Word, Excel and Google Suite tools

• Cultural competencies for working  with Latine farmers
• Project Management Professional  certification
• Knowledge of agricultural business models, particularly for fresh produce, post-harvest handling and refrigeration
• Experience working with county agencies in the planning and permitting process
• Hands-on experience with mechanical systems, refrigeration, post harvest handling, and solar experience
• Ability to work under pressure of many priorities and deadlines and to manage short-term and long-term projects simultaneously
• Excellent interpersonal skills, comfortable working with people of varied cultural backgrounds
• Excellent organizational skills, well disciplined, able to meet deadlines, self-starter
• Knowledge and experience using customer relationship management (CRM) software, Salesforce preferred  Salesforce