Operations Director

Who We Are

Hmong American farmers have played an important role in Minnesota’s local foods movement since families resettled from Laos and Thailand following the Vietnam War. Drawing on their agricultural heritage, many built livelihoods as produce and flower growers, becoming longstanding vendors at the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Farmers Markets. Despite decades of farming, Hmong farmers continue to face barriers to land access, financing, and business development resources.

In 2011, Hmong farming families formed the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), a member-based organization dedicated to advancing the economic, social, and cultural prosperity of Hmong American farmers through advocacy, economic development, capacity building, and research.

HAFA’s work is rooted in strong communitarian values and guided by a Whole Food Model that recognizes the need to address all aspects of the farm and food system to build intergenerational and community wealth. The model integrates five key areas: land access, new markets, training and capacity building, financing, and research and data collection. Through programs such as agricultural land trusts, alternative markets, business development, research, and training, HAFA partners with Hmong farmers to drive systemic change.

Learn more about HAFA at:

The Operations Director will lead and manage HAFA’s core operational functions including finance, grants management, and human resources to achieve HAFA’s organizational mission. This position is part of HAFA’s leadership team and will work closely with the Executive Director. Operations Director will work from either the West St. Paul administrative office or the farm in Vermillion Township; or at both sites.

The duties for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Support the Executive Director to achieve the organization’s mission
• Lead HAFA’s operational arm by evaluating organizational performance, developing organizational goals and implementing processes to improve organizational effectiveness and sustainability
• Supervise HAFA’s administrative team by identifying goals, assessing accountabilities and performances, and developing pathways for professional growth
• Promote an organizational culture that values continual learning and development and a commitment to systemic change
• Cultivate new relationships, and support existing relationships, with community members, funders, and strategic partners
• Work with marketing and communications team to identify key opportunities to showcase HAFA’s, and Hmong farmers’, history and accomplishments, events, and trainings as appropriate

• Collaboratively develop and provide oversight of organizational budget
• Support the accountant and book-keeper to manage the organization's financial operations; support includes tracking and projecting incoming grants and program expenses
• Work with the accountant and book-keeper to maintain organization’s accounting policies and procedures
• Assist accounting team, as appropriate, to ensure timely submission of 990 and annual audit

• Enhance and oversee organization’s grants management and tracking processes; further develop, maintain, and train staff/consultants on proper protocol as needed
• Work with grants writer to ensure submission of high-quality proposals; review grant proposals prior to submission with emphasis on project implementation and budget management
• Identify grant/contract opportunities, develop application strategies and workplans, and maintain application records
• Lead and manage organization’s grant reporting requirements including operational compliance with projects and programs, submission of contract and grant billings and expenses, and reports

• Support Human Resource (HR) consultant by serving as in-house HR contact
• Work with HR consultant to maintain organization’s HR policies and procedures and ensure that policies are compliant with applicable regulations
• Provide HR support to staff members; create and guide staff members through professional developments, team buildings and training opportunities

• Bac…