Current Job Openings

Cooperate WNC is hiring a Communications Coordinator in early 2026. See the full job description below, and apply here.

Cooperate WNC Communications & Outreach Coordinator

Hours: 20 hours/week to start (possibility to increase to 30–40 hours pending funding)

Compensation: $26/hr; biweekly pay

Benefits:

  • 2-week paid winter office closure

  • 5 paid holidays

  • 10 days (40 hrs) paid time off

  • 1 week (20 hours) paid sick time

  • $150 monthly healthcare stipend 

Employment Type: W-2 employee with a 3 month probationary period (benefits will start at the end of this period) 

Initial Term: 18 months (January 2026 – June 2027), continuation dependent on future funding

Start Date: Ideally between February 1st – February 15th, 2026

Location: Western NC (hybrid; requires regular in-region travel)

Priority Deadline: Applications submitted by January 15, 2026 will receive priority. Rolling review thereafter until filled.

How To Apply:
Please complete the short application form and email a resume and two references to alex@cooperatewnc.org.

Summary

Cooperate WNC is seeking a grounded, creative, and relational communicator to help tell  stories of regional resilience and support the expansion of cooperative infrastructure across Western North Carolina.

This role is heavily focused on communications and outreach for our Center for Disaster Philanthropy–funded regional small-business recovery and resilience project, which strengthens small farms and rural food businesses through:

  • Cooperative bulk purchasing of essential farm inputs

  • Supporting institutional market development in partnership with the WNC Food Systems Coalition

  • Coordinating rivercane planting for riparian resilience

  • Supporting regional producers with value-added production opportunities

  • Nurturing a cooperative network that increases economic resilience and disaster preparedness

This person will help us translate complex, collaborative work into compelling public stories, strengthen relationships with farmers and food businesses, grow our audience and prepare for our emerging membership program, and keep our partners and communities informed as this multi-county initiative unfolds. We are looking for a team member who knows WNC well and is excited to support a culture of collaboration, mutual aid, and distributed leadership.

Required Qualifications
Applicants must:

  • Live in Western North Carolina and be grounded in regional culture, geography, and community

  • Be skilled at storytelling, visual communication, and social media strategy

  • Enjoy building relationships 

  • Be comfortable and skilled at participating in values-based conversations, collaborative decision-making, and conflict-resilient culture

  • Have experience with newsletters, websites, social media, Canva, and basic design/video tools

  • Be reliable, organized, self-directed, and able to manage multiple threads of communication at once

  • Have flexibility to attend occasional evening/weekend events (approx. 1–2 times/month)

  • Have reliable transportation for regional travel

  • Have comfort being on camera

  • Be able to commit to the role for at least 18 months (through June 2027)

Preferred but not required:

  • Experience with mutual aid, cooperative economics, food/farm systems, disaster recovery, or WNC agriculture

  • Photography, short-form video, or audio editing skills


Primary Responsibilities

1. Communications for CDP-Funded Regional Resilience Work (Core Focus, 2026–2027)

  • Produce clear, accessible updates on the project’s milestones

  • Develop communication materials for farmers, hub partners, institutional buyers, and the broader public

  • Highlight stories of small farms, food businesses, and resilience hubs across the region

  • Document events, hub activities, planting projects, and producer stories (photos, short videos, interviews)

2. Social Media & Digital Engagement

  • Work with other staff, partners and volunteers to create comprehensive, strategic 18-month Communications Plan

  • Create 1-3 social media posts/week aligned with CWNC’s mission and project activities

  • Grow and maintain audience engagement across Instagram, Facebook, and newsletter platforms

  • Design visual assets for announcements, reports, educational content, and storytelling

  • Help build and maintain our email list

3. Newsletter Creation & Website Maintenance

  • Write and send monthly newsletters, plus special project updates

  • Maintain and update CWNC’s website with project information, impact stories, timelines, opportunities, and events

  • Work with Development Director on fundraising language

4. Outreach Support & Network Weaving

  • Support the the Bulk Purchasing Coordinator in building relationships with farmers, hubs, small processors, and institutional buyers

  • Help gather stories, highlight needs and offers, and share opportunities across the region

  • Serve as a point of contact for media requests, directing interviewers to appropriate team members

5. Documentation & Archiving

  • Organize and archive photographs, videos, posts, and written materials for long-term storytelling and reporting

  • Document learning processes, farmer experiences, and collaborative strategy development

6. Coordinate Internal Communications & Organizational Systems 

  • Coordinate internal communications systems for staff, Board, volunteers and network members (based on additional weekly hours, if funded)

  • Organize and update google drive folder systems 

  • Coordinate, schedule, communicate and send reminders for special meetings, larger group convenings, etc.

  • Moderate various signal, WhatsApp, and loomio threads etc. related to internal and network groups we are coordinating