Jobs & Internships
The Center for Rural Affairs of Lyons, Nebraska, is seeking a person to devote his/her professional life to building a better future for rural America. This position offers the opportunity to work in support of our highest values – fairness, responsibility, genuine opportunity for all, and widespread ownership and control of farms and businesses - while living in a rural community.
The Event Planner will lead the planning, organizing, and coordinating of one of the Center’s newest and very successful initiatives, MarketPlace: Opening Doors to Success. MarketPlace is an entrepreneurial event that consists of a series of teach-ins and networking opportunities.
This position may also have responsibility for holding this event in more than one state and may also have event planning responsibilities for other meetings, events, etc. for which the Center has lead or in collaboration with other organizations.
- Plan, organize and coordinate MarketPlace. This consists of but is not limited to working extensively with a volunteer advisory committee; identifying and locating a place to hold the event; working extensively with the onsite staff.
- Team player working successfully within a smaller core team but also working successfully with Center staff.
- Self-motivated, self-starter comfortable with working alone or with a team with minimal direction.
- Be able to meet deadlines.
- Communicate clearly and in a proactive, positive style using electronic communication.
- Seek out and gain sponsorships to support the position including grant fundraising.
- Remain flexible in approach and planning
- Analyze and make recommendations on the event.
- Recognize and act accordingly in development of the event to encompass small business development and support including agricultural small businesses; community development; leadership; etc.
- Take the lead in putting together a team to hold listening sessions in the state to gather information on how to make MarketPlace better and learn what issues are facing rural Nebraskans in order to address as many of those as possible in MarketPlace.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other organizations, individuals and groups.
- Must have strong interpersonal skills, positive personality, ability to work under pressure and proven track record in working successfully with a diverse population.
The Event Planner will have lead responsibility for fundraising for MarketPlace with some assistance from the Director of Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program. Successful grant writing experience is a plus, but not an absolute requirement for this position. Experience and proven success in finding sponsorships is required. This position is part of the Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program and works in collaboration with many different organizations, Center staff and Board. Our strong preference is to base the position in Lyons, though exceptions will be considered for extraordinarily qualified applicants.
Terms of Employment: $35,672 salary with annual cost of living increases plus periodic increases for length of employment. We offer excellent employer paid benefits including:
- 13 – 19 days vacation per year (depending on years of service) plus sick leave.
- 10 holidays.
- Fully paid family medical and dental insurance plus Medical Savings Account contributions.
- Life and Long-term disability insurance.
- Retirement plan contributions after two years employment.
Why are you interested in this position and how does it fit in your long-term plans?
What are the critical issues facing rural communities today?
What are the key ingredients necessary for successful events?
What are your key strengths?
What are your greatest accomplishments?
Are there any conditions you have for accepting this position?
Applications are due in Lyons by 9 AM July 16, 2008.
The Center for Rural Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status or veteran status.
Center for Rural Affairs Internship Program
Every year three to four interns work with the Center for Rural Affairs. Interns are accepted throughout the year and as opportunities, funding sources and good matches between applicants and projects arise. Interns can work on policy, organizing, communications or direct service projects. Recent interns have:
- Worked with our organizing staff to help build our national, grassroots, activist base
- Worked with our direct service staff on wind energy development in Nebraska
- Worked with our communication and development staff to update our media contacts and undertake a fundraising project
- Worked with our website staff on website development and online action alerts
If you are interested in interning at the Center please submit a resume and short cover letter that addresses what sort of work you are interested in pursuing. Center for Rural Affairs interns receive modest compensation. Send resumes or additional questions to Brian Depew at briand@cfra.org.
Center for Rural Affairs Workplace
Jobs at Related Organizations
We have no jobs with other organizations at this time. If your organization has one, please send a short description to info@cfra.org.
