Graduate Support Specialist

Position:

Graduate Support Specialist

FLSA:

Non-exempt

Reports to:

Juniper Gardens Training Farm Program Manager

Hours:

Full-time, 40 hours per week
Mon-Fri, occasional evening or weekend work, as needed

Rate:

$21-24 per hour

Benefits:

Health benefits package includes employer paid medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability insurance, EAP, and 403(b) retirement plan option.

Time off:

Four PTO days annually, two weeks of vacation accrued during first year increasing to three weeks at year two.

Paid holidays:

Holidays include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

Position Summary:

Cultivate KC’s New Roots program is a four-year farm incubator that provides land, training, and market access to refugee and New American farmers as they launch and grow independent farm businesses. The Graduate Support Specialist assists farmers-in-training and New Roots graduates in developing viable farm businesses. Support includes business planning, connecting farmers to financial and technical resources, and coordinating continuing education opportunities with internal and external partners. This role also assists farmers-in-training and graduates with obtaining the licenses, financial records, insurance, and certifications required to participate in farm markets and wholesale contracts.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Farmer Education and Support

• Design and facilitate continuing education for graduates with appropriate Cultivate KC staff and external partners on topics such as farm production, farm finances, land access and regulation, farm business management, goalsetting, and risk management.
• Meet farmers-in-training once per month to review recordkeeping practices and provide guidance and support in preparation for sustaining their farm businesses post-graduation.
• Assist farmers-in-training with establishing farm business essentials, including business plan, legal structure, licenses and permits, insurance, and budget guidance.
• Schedule check-ins with graduate farmers quarterly, or more frequently, to assess needs, provide technical assistance, and build relationships.
• Coordinate with appropriate Cultivate KC staff to assist graduates with funding opportunities, accessing USDA programs, infrastructure projects, land access, transition planning, and understanding municipal codes and permitting.
• Compile and maintain farm business resource binders provided to farmers upon graduation.
• Assist farmers with farm market applications as needed.

Program Development and Support

• Support CSA operations by conducting annual graduate farm food safety inspections and assisting with production planning, New Roots CSA contracts, and seed ordering.
• Facilitate communication between farmers and other resource agencies.
• Participate in team meetings, events, and planning sessions.
• Maintain program documents and record-keeping systems.

• Maintain regular farm hours to assist farmers with purchases and invoices.
• Contribute to maintaining the staff plot and demonstration garden, greenhouse, and other farm staff activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Placement Criteria

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Three years of small business support, workforce development, or technical assistance experience, or equivalent education and relevant experience.
• Knowledge of and experience with sustainable agriculture practices and direct to consumer sales outlets.
• Strong organizational, facilitation, communication, and presentation skills that are applicable to farmer education and relationship development.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to change, and work independently within deadlines, while ensuring effective program delivery.
• Experience with cross-cultural communication or working with non-native English speakers is highly preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Including Word, Excel, and Outlook) and able to learn and use additional tools such as survey and data collection platforms.
• Team-oriented, collaborative, and eager to learn from others.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record; personal car insurance and reliable vehicle required. Mileage is reimbursed according to the standard federal rate.

Physical Demands

This job will present occasional opportunities to participate in farm work, including walking, standing, reaching, stooping, squatting, lifting to 50 lbs and working indoors and outdoors in cold, hot, or wet conditions. The ability to navigate rugged and uneven farm terrain is required.

Work Location

This position works on site at Juniper Gardens Training Farm at 100 Richmond Ave, KCK 66101. Local travel is required. Office work can be completed at Cultivate KC’s office space at 1017 N 6th St, KCK 66101 and at Cultivate KC’s main office at 4049 Pennsylvania Ave #206, KCMO 64111. Some work can be performed remotely; guidance will be provided after hiring.

Workplace Culture

At Cultivate KC, we:

• Collaborate
• Care for each other, our work, and our community
• Promote a healthy balance between our work and our personal life
• Are adaptive, creative, open to learning
• Take time for organizational self-reflection
• Practice transparency with each other and with those we serve
• Agree that food systems work should be fun and bring joy to ourselves and our communities

To Apply

Please send 1) a cover letter indicating why you are interested in working with Cultivate KC and what experience you bring to the position and 2) your resume to [email protected]. Priority deadline: February 20th, 2026. Applications received after this date may still be considered.

Job Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $30,000 - 49,999