Careers

Join our team!

Open Positions:

CADE is an equal opportunity employer committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws. CADE prohibits discrimination against any employee and considers applicants for all positions without regards to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, military status, height and weight, religion, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest record, or any other legally protected status.

Internships

Our internship program is open to college students or recent graduates who wish to gain real world job experience with a regional and state leader for agriculture and economic development. Internships are based in Oneonta, NY. A travel stipend is available, and we can accommodate hybrid or remote work depending on personal preference and type of internship. The time commitment would typically be 5-20 hours/week for at least 3-4 months, to be coordinated with the internship supervisor. The internship may be eligible for college credit or work study – speak with your internship coordinator or career counselor at your college or university.

To apply, send a cover letter noting which internship(s) you are interested in and your related qualifications, along with your resume and a 1-2 page writing sample (essay, presentation, social media post, self-produced video clip, etc) to office@cadefarms.org. Please include “Internship Application” in the subject line. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with start date based on availability.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Enthusiasm for CADE’s mission
  • Self-motivated and able to accomplish work independently as well as collaboratively
  • Outstanding writing, editing, and communications skills
  • Comfortable with a variety of office technology or readiness to learn (e.g., spreadsheets/Excel, Wix, Squarespace, Salesforce, social media, GSuite, etc.)
  • Must meet internship-specific qualifications (below)

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Read on for types of internships and general scope of work. Note that no two internships are alike – they will consist of specific projects co-developed by the intern and internship supervisor in an effort to make the experience as meaningful and impactful as possible.

Are you interested in how politics and policies impact lives, sectors, and economies? Do you understand that the voices and interests of farmers need to be heard in our political system? Do you enjoy getting involved in advocacy campaigns, activism, or online petitions? In this role you might:

  • Monitor federal and state policy or legislative trends in agriculture
  • Monitor the work of federal and state agricultural agencies
  • Prepare short updates on legislative trends for staff and potentially CADE newsletters, social media or other communication channels
  • Help explore the potential for CADE to host political forums for government stakeholders and farmers, ensuring the voices of farmers are amplified among elected officials both locally and regionally
  • Identify opportunities for action and advocacy in line with CADE’s mission, possibly in conjunction with national or state-level organizations

Are you an excellent writer? Do you understand how to frame issues in a way that attracts attention and captures the interest of your audience? Are you considering a career in grant-writing? In this role you might:

  • Search out prospective grant opportunities from federal and state entities as well as private foundations, keeping an updated log of contacts, due dates, and deadlines
  • Map CADE’s wealth contacts/networks and coordinate with Executive Director on creating a major donor giving strategy
  • Assist Executive Director with preparing grant proposal applications, articulating CADE’s work in a way that appeals to each specific donor
  • Assist Executive Director in preparing grant reports in collaboration with the CADE program staff

Are you a people person? Do you enjoy talking to strangers? Do you jump at the opportunity to make connections? In this role you might:

  • Assist with and coordinate sales research and outreach in target markets across New York State
  • Assist CADE staff in drafting, designing and distributing regional marketing materials (online and print)
  • Represent CADE and farmers we work with at in-store sampling events and other promotional opportunities
  • Track prospective buyer relationships through various stages using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets

Are you a whiz with details, from setting up filing systems to creating sophisticated spreadsheets? Do you love the minutia and take pleasure in organizing every little thing? Do you enjoy working with a team and contributing to the overall mission? In this role you might:

  • Support all aspects of CADE’s programmatic, operational, and logistical needs including:
    • Personal assistance to CADE’s Executive Director
    • Aid with preparing financial documents or other paperwork
    • General support to all team members
  • Maintain office organization (keep supplies stocked, documents filed, etc.)
  • Assist in organizing CADE events, workshops, etc.
  • Take meeting minutes from internal or external meetings

Do you love research, formulating surveys to collect information, and analyzing big data? Is your writing style straight and to the point? Do you have the ability to clearly and confidently articulate how and why does this information matter? In this role you might:

  • Assist with and coordinate research projects on behalf of CADE, along with area universities, on topics relating to farm and food businesses
  • Assist CADE staff with creating surveys or utilizing other data collection tools to assess the impact of CADE’s programs and services
  • Compile data on CADE’s farmer constituents to document ways CADE has served them over the years to help streamline future outreach and engagement
  • Organize and analyze data collected, including creating graphs or other visualizations
  • Write reports to document findings, capture learnings, and prepare recommendations to inform future programming

Volunteers

CADE is seeking volunteers to support our work in event planning, outreach and promotion, donor management, and logistics/administration. To apply, send an email to office@cadefarms.org with “Volunteer Application” in the subject line. Please include your resume and a cover letter detailing your interest in volunteering for CADE. Volunteers will be accepted on a rolling basis, as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Enthusiasm for CADE’s mission
  • Ability to multitask, keep organized, and be collaborative and communicative 
  • Outstanding writing, editing, and communications skills
  • Comfortable with a variety of office technology or readiness to learn (e.g., spreadsheets/Excel, Wix, Squarespace, Salesforce, social media, GSuite, etc.)
  • Self-motivated and able to accomplish work independently as well as collaboratively