Agricultural Inspector jobs in Palmer, AK

The Alaska Pacific University Kellogg Campus is a culturally responsive, living lab for place-based education in the North, engaging in community, environment, energy, and food systems. APU’s Kellogg Campus is an 800 acre working farm, located in Palmer, Alaska and is home to three programs: Master’s in Science of Outdoor Environmental Education, Kellogg F.I.E.L.D School, and Spring Creek Farm.

Spring Creek Farm (SCF) offers cold-climate farmer training through a residential, seasonal internship program as well as volunteer and educational events throughout the year. SCF manages a 120-share Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for 18-weeks each summer and sells to retail and wholesale customers.

The Kellogg Campus Agricultural Education Coordinator (AEC) will work closely with the Spring Creek Farm Manager, the Community Engagement & Research Coordinator (CERC) and the Rural Agricultural Research Coordinator (RARC) to research agricultural practices that are culturally and geographically appropriate, build curriculum and resource development in collaboration with partners, and provide training for farmers recruited through Tribal Conservation Distracts (TCD), Northern Latitudes Partnerships (NLP), and the Indigenous Sentinels Network (ISN).

The person in this role will have a deep passion for agriculture in Alaska and serve as a champion for in-state farmer training, a willingness to innovate agricultural practices, and the ability to integrate traditional wisdom from tribal communities at every level of development. Candidates with a background in food production, whether through education or practical experience, particularly with Alaska Native or Native American communities.

This position is Grant funded.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

Alaska Pacific University’s Spring Creek Farm at the Kellogg Campus supports agricultural education and food security in Alaska by growing ecologically responsible produce and creating space for integrated academic and co-curricular programs that are both ecologically and economically sustainable. SCF is currently working with TCDs through a grant subaward through Alaska Conservation Foundation to bring farmers together for knowledge exchange events and technical workshops to promote food sovereignty in Alaska. The priorities of this position are:

• Aid in the development and implementation of context-based curriculum for cold-climate farmer training and support in collaboration with CERC and RARC.
• Network to find collaborative partners in innovative cold-region agriculture through workshops, trainings, knowledge sharing forums, and agriculture business conferences.
• Manage coordination with project partners to host events including workshops, trainings, knowledge exchange events and on-the-ground building projects.
• Create digital content trainings for distribution in TCDs in order to provide additional training support for rural farmers across the state.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with TCDs, NLP, and ISN and provide technical support as needed to their constituents.
• Work with the Kellogg Campus Manager to summarize and analyze opportunities for program sustainability, post grant.
• Travel as needed to TCDs around the state to gather information and analyze needs in urban and rural cold-climate agriculture and food production in order to best inform educational programming at SCF.
• Assist project partners in the marketing and promotion of education programs and outcomes through social media, other marketing platforms, events and conferences.

Accounting, administration, and budgeting:

• Maintains a detailed account of expenditures and revenues for programmatic spending.

KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS

• Skill in designing effective and engaging curriculum for diverse adult audiences.
• Knowledge of sustainable agriculture techniques, Indigenous food ways, and environmental conservation practices.
• Understands and applies an action-reflection praxis to their curriculum development.
• Experience in beta-testing, prototyping, and evaluation models in program design. • Ability to communicate effectively and with cultural competency.
• Skill in multitasking.
• Skill in consistently meeting or exceeding deadlines and goals.
• Skill in working effectively with diverse groups and individuals.
• Skill in being self-directed, collaborative, organized, and having an attentive to details.
• Skill in administrative tasks for event organization and execution.

MINIMUM EDUCATION QUALIFICATION

Bachelor’s degree in education, agricultural, food studies, or related field. Relevant work experience in agriculture, work with tribal entities, other education, or training may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for college education.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATION

Non-Supervisory: At least one year teaching in a formal setting, including experience with curriculum development.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATION

• 1 years’ education and/or training with curriculum development experience related to agriculture.
• Demonstrated passion and experience for Alaska food security and Indigenous Agriculture.
• Experience working with Alaska Native Tribes and Corporations.
• Experience living in rural Alaska.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Possess a current valid driver’s license. Ability to pass a driving history check and driving test.