Join the team at Heritage Farm!
Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange, a non-profit, nationally-focused organization based in the Driftless Region on the outskirts of Decorah, Iowa (near where Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota converge on the Mississippi), has focused on conserving and promoting America's culturally diverse but endangered garden and food crop heritage for future generations. Seed Savers Exchange was a pioneer in the advocacy for preserving these heirloom varieties for generations to come, and is committed to keeping these varieties where they belong—in our gardens and on our tables.
Please email a cover letter, resumé, and the contact information for three references as a single PDF to jobs@seedsavers.org - include the name of the position in the subject line of your email. Applications may also be mailed to: Seed Savers Exchange | Attn: Peggy Miller | 3094 North Winn Rd. | Decorah, IA 52101.
We are an equal opportunity employer.
Current Opportunities
Field Assistant
Facilities Crew Member
Communications and Engagement Assistant
Field Assistant
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (hourly)Position Status: Regulary, Full-time
Reports to: Field Coordinator
Supervisory Role: No
Compensation: $17.00/hour
Primary Role
This position supports Seed Savers Exchange through the work of onsite seed productions of open pollinated, heirloom varieties. With a focus on assisting with field preparations, transplanting, field maintenance, seed harvesting, and seed processing, this year-round position also includes propagation in the greenhouse, as well as seed packaging and supporting with order fulfillment duties in the winter months.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Sowing, watering, fertilizing, and transplant maintenance in a greenhouse setting
- Transplanting and direct sowing of catalog production crops
- Mulching with hay, landscape fabric, and black plastic to maintain soil health and decrease weed pressure
- Maintaining field plots by weeding (manual and mechanical), weed whipping, and intercropping with cover crops
- Hand watering with a water tank as needed
- Monitoring crops for disease and insect pressure
- Following organizational protocols to ensure genetic purity and varietal maintenance of production crops
- Performing wet and dry seed harvesting and processing; this includes seed extraction, seed cleaning, threshing, winnowing, and conditioning
- Will be required to lead field crew on specific tasks and be a point person for field crew throughout the season
- Maintaining accurate field planting and harvest records
- Weekend care of nursery crops
- Tearing down fields at the end of the season, including trellises, fencing, landscape fabric, isolation cages, etc.
- Other duties as assigned by the Field Coordinator
Seed House Duties & Responsibilities: November through April
- Fill retail seed packets by hand, as well as assist with machine packing
- Picking and packing seed packet orders for shipment
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in varying weather conditions
- Ability to stand, kneel, walk, climb, push, and pull for extended periods of time
- Ability to lift up to 100 lbs. (assisted) and lift/carry at least 50 lbs. (unassisted)
Qualifications
- Experience with organic vegetable, flower, and/or herb production preferred
- pplicant must be an enthusiastic, detail-oriented, flexible team player
- Ability to keep accurate, detailed records in a fast-paced work environment
- Applicants must have reliable transportation to and from work
- Applicants must have a valid driver’s license
- Demonstrated self-direction and ability to work alone
- Demonstrated teamwork and ability to do group tasks
- Ability to follow specific protocols and safety procedures
Benefits
- Paid PTO
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Long Term Disability
- Paid Life Insurance
- Employee Merchandise Discounts
- Health care, retirement, and lifestyle benefits
Facilities Crew Member
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (hourly)Position Status: Full-time
Reports to:Facilities Manager
Supervisory Role: No
Compensation: $17.00/hour
Primary Role
This position is responsible for maintaining Seed Savers Exchange’s facilities, grounds, and equipment. In the winter months, this position helps in our Seed House with order fulfillment duties.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide building maintenance including cleaning restrooms and maintaining janitorial supplies in assigned buildings.
- Responsible for monitoring temperature in coolers and freezers.
- Responsible for chlorine testing of the water system.
- Assist with construction projects.
- Provide assistance for event set up and tear down.
- Provide support to contractors as required.
- Assist with driveway maintenance as required.
- Maintains daily care of Ancient White Park cattle herd as needed.
- Assist with herd health checks bi-annually.
- Assist with livestock fence maintenance as required.
- Perform preventative upkeep and repairs of trucks.
- Perform tractor maintenance and repairs as required.
- Perform small equipment maintenance and repairs as required.
- Perform implement maintenance and repairs as required.
- Assist with trail mowing and upkeep as required.
- Other duties as assigned by the Facilities Manager. Seed House Duties and Responsibilities: January–March
- Fill retail seed packets by hand, as well as assist with machine packing
- Picking and packing seed packet orders for shipment
Skills
- Mechanical aptitude
- Detail oriented
- Ability to multitask
- Enthusiastic team player
- Flexibility to work between various teams
Physical Requirements
- Ability to perform physical activity: lifting up to 100 lbs. assisted; carrying 50 lbs, bending frequently, climbing, pushing, pulling.
- Ability to perform responsibilities in wide ranging weather conditions.
Qualifications
- Must have a valid driver’s license.
- Must be an enthusiastic team player, have good attention to detail and be flexible to work between various teams as labor needs fluctuate.
- Some aspects of the position will involve considerable physical activity including lifting, and other motion related to general facilities and grounds maintenance.
- Sufficient mechanical aptitude to be able to run and troubleshoot garden equipment.
- Individual will be required to work special event weekends.
Benefits
- Paid PTO
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Long Term Disability
- Paid Life Insurance
- Employee Merchandise Discounts
- Health care, retirement, and lifestyle benefits
Communications and Engagement Assistant
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (hourly)Position Status: Full-time, temporary, 6 months
Reports to:Marketing & Communications Director
Supervisory Role: No
Compensation: $16.00/hour
Primary Role
Seed Savers Exchange is looking for an enthusiastic communications and engagement assistant to support primary and administrative duties of the marketing, education, and engagement division of Seed Savers Exchange.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Preparing, formatting and editing a range of documents for print (catalog, member magazine, and informational brochures) and online (website and social platforms)
- Collaborate with marketing and education on content for blog, website, and print
- Conducting and reporting on media and market research
- Moderate social media platforms and employ marketing analytics techniques to gather important data
- Assist with video strategy and implementation
- Assist with administrative management of Herman’s Garden community seed donation program
- Assist with administrative management of Seed Savers Exchange speakers bureau
- Photo use management and organization
- Acts as support staff for events
- Other duties as assigned
Skills
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- A high level of attention to detail and ability to shift focus easily
- Ability to work effectively within a team and independently
- Experience using computers for a variety of tasks
- Good organization skills
- Well-organized with a customer-oriented approach
- Exceptional communication and people skills
- Self-starter, but works well under direction of management
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and deadlines
- A willingness to learn
Preferred Experience
- Wordpress experience a plus
- Experience in administration, advertising, graphic design, video, and photography
- Knowledge of SEO and SEM a plus
- HTML experience a plus
- Experience in a non-profit setting
- Knowledge of, or interest in learning about, gardening and horticulture
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in journalism, english, communications, marketing, education, or equivalent years experience working in the administration, communication, or education field.
- The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of writing to inform and engage the audience, edit content for clarity and accuracy, as well as a record of organization and delivery on tasks.
Physical Requirements
- Able to sit and stand for long periods
- Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time
- Paid Holidays
- Employee merchandise discount
Benefits
Seed Savers Exchange is an equal opportunity employer and enthusiastically encourages people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to apply. Seed Savers Exchange does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, mental or physical disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other basis prohibited by law.