Job: Double Up Food Bucks Project Manager, Fair Food Network

Position Description Fair Food Network (FFN) is a national nonprofit dedicated to building a more just and sustainable food system. We work at the intersection of food systems and social equity to guarantee access to healthy, fresh and sustainably grown food, especially in underserved communities. We implement model programs and bring the right people together to generate ideas, share resources and promote policy changes that will repair our food system. FFN’s Double Up Food Bucks Project is an innovative way to encourage low-income consumers to use their federal food assistance benefits to purchase fresh produce at farmers’ markets in Detroit and across the State of Michigan, as well as at participating gas stations, convenience stores, and other participating outlets in Detroit. The project will be run like a small grants program where each selected farmer’s market/outlet will become an official Double Up Food Bucks site.

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The Project Manager works closely with and will report directly to the President/CEO of the organization.
Responsibilities
Working as part of a project team, the Project Manager will be accountable for: Project Management/Coordination
The Project Manager will have overall responsibility for the management and coordination of the Double Up Food Bucks project. Responsibilities include the following:
• Identify and establish relationships with farmers’ markets in Detroit and across the State of Michigan who are potential grant recipients.
• Manage the development, distribution, receipt, and review of grant applications from targeted sites. Participate in the grantee selection and notification process, including the development of Commitment Letters.
• Oversee the development of tokens to be used as Double Up Food Bucks currency at each market and develop a system for tracking the inventory of the tokens. Coordinate the distribution of tokens to all markets.
• Convene external partners and stakeholders to assist in the project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Working with FFN’s communication team, help manage the rollout and implementation of the Double Up Food Bucks communications campaign in Detroit and statewide.
• Monitor the work of grantee sites: review and analyze interim and final reports, conduct site visits statewide, evaluate financial statements, assess grant impact, and prepare grant evaluations.
• Assist with (and take the lead on when needed) preparing funding proposals to private foundations and government agencies.
• Working with the Director of Operations, help manage and track grant funds and related project expenditures.
• Prepare interim and final reports (narrative and financial) for FFN’s funders for this initiative.
• Supervise the work of a program assistant as needed.
• Develop and manage consulting contracts where and when appropriate to support project goals.

Program Leadership
• Contribute to the overall strategic direction of FFN and provide input into the development of programming efforts.
• Work with the project team to develop and integrate all aspects of programming, macro and micro design, including: idea generation, meta-analysis and research, networking with key external resources, monitoring and evaluation.
• Maintain accurate and current knowledge about trends, movements, and developing policy to stimulate appropriate programming directions and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
• Ensure programming efforts are compatible with FFN’s niche, mission, vision, and values. Conduct research and scans of the field to support the design and implementation of FFN’s strategies that advance the organization’s mission and program goals in collaboration with other staff.
• Understand and harness broad social, cultural, political and economic forces that shape FFN’s programming efforts.
Education/Experience Requirements
• Graduate degree or equivalent study or experience in relevant field.
• Five to seven years work experience in field relevant to the mission of Fair Food Network, as well as a broad generalist background with comprehensive understanding of program design and implementation.
• Successful experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team and working effectively with persons from diverse cultural, social, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to creating a diverse and multicultural environment, both within an organization and in the community at large.
• Background in non-profit and/or philanthropy will be considered a strength.
• Experience working with community-based organizations.
• Experience working with farmers’ markets, market managers and vendors, and/or SNAP clients.
Core Competency/Skills Required
• Ability to represent the organization to a variety of stakeholders in a credible and influential way that focuses on the values of the organization.
• Excellent written and oral communications.
• Excellent analytic ability.
• Team-oriented, anticipatory, self-starter working style.
• Ability to think globally and focus on a large vision paired with the ability to develop and implement local programs that take specific steps toward realizing the vision.
• Problem solving skills, including the ability to think outside the box and to develop novel approaches to solving problems.
• Sound judgment and the ability to make complex, multidimensional decisions based on both facts and knowledge of previous programming, and on strong intuition.
• Capacity to effectively use research and evaluation, especially for improving programmatic approaches.
• Demonstrated risk-taking and flexibility, with orientation toward innovation.
• Accountability to goals and outcomes.
• High tolerance for ambiguity.
• Team effectiveness skills and the ability to use interpersonal and political skills in cooperative and diplomatic ways.
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

How to Apply:
Send cover letter and resume to:
Fair Food Network
205 E. Washington St., Suite B
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
This is a full-time contract position. Continuation of contract depends on funding availability. Fees commensurate with experience. Fair Food Network hires without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability.
Applications Deadline: May 29, 2010
Start Date: as soon as the right person is identified.
No telephone calls, please.