Job: Program Manager at Indianapolis Food Farm and Family Coalition

For more job listings from beginningfarmers.org, see our Employment/Internship Page Position: Program Manager; Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition (Grant Funded Position)* Position Type: Full-Time, 2-Year appointment with possible extension Salary: $30,000 - benefits negotiable Description of Position: (Pending Grant Award) Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition (IFFFC) Mission: Working to make Indianapolis a more food secure city through education, awareness, public programs, and connecting consumers to farmers. We envision a food secure Indianapolis in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally appropriate, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice. Our members include volunteer representatives from government, consumer, business, farm, multicultural, anti-hunger advocacy, faith and community development groups who are working together to bridge the gap between producers and consumers. Position Overview: Oversee 2-year plan which will focus on assessment, outreach, and developing deeper collaborations with other organizations and individuals working on the issue of a sustainable and local food system. Generate and implement programs on educating and creating awareness within the community at large, including gaining support of the Indianapolis Food Charter.

Tweet

Key Responsibilities: Year One:

• Continue the development of a “Farm Fresh Atlas” for Central Indiana, which will need to be updated once a year with new participants. This atlas will list the farms and food-related businesses that sell their goods directly to consumers in central Indiana. To be listed in the atlas, farms must demonstrate that they are family- or cooperatively-owned, sell products grown on their farm or produced by their business, and commit to sustainable farming practices. The atlas will also list central Indiana restaurants that serve locally-produced food and follow practices that protect natural resources and worker safety.

• Implementation of the Indianapolis Food Security Assessment in three chosen neighborhoods within Indianapolis.
• Advocate the Indianapolis Food Charter. The charter outlines common values and strategies for achieving a food secure Indianapolis in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally appropriate, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice.

Key Responsibilities: Year Two:

• Work to expand and sustain the work of Year 1 by utilizing the Community Food Assessment results to initiate more farmers markets, open multiple community gardens, encourage local grocers to carry local, sustainably produced food, etc.

• Develop and market cooking, gardening and composting classes and develop intensive partnerships with area churches to help them plot community gardens and serve as delivery sites for farm-fresh food in low-income areas.

• Development of seasonal brochures on growing, harvesting, and cooking with the seasons, and printable resources for those interested in a sustainable food system.

• Implementation of the Food for Thought Festival. Fun, festive forum that will help Indiana residents explore many opportunities to eat more pleasurably, healthfully and sustainably. The event will feature cooking demonstrations by guest chefs, live music, speakers and workshops, and informational and interactive displays by local organizations and businesses supporting a sustainable agricultural and food system.

• Overall outreach and communication to the community, farmers, chefs, businesses, etc. Includes recruiting more volunteers as needed for projects.

• Project management and organization of volunteer committees.
• Attaining future funding through local, regional and national funding opportunities for implementation of future projects and positions.
• Represent and build IFFFC at events, conferences, and site visits

Core Competencies:

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Self starter, able to take initiative and work independently

• A keen interest and curiosity with regards to issues of food security, sustainable agriculture, community organizing, movement-building, and social justice

• Community organizing skills

• Formal training and/or 2 years minimum experience in the hunger and/or food systems field, or related field
• Excellent networking skills
• Ability to work with diverse populations
• Ability to think creatively about innovative partnerships and community-based initiatives
• Event planning experience desirable
• Grant writing experience desirable
• Flexible attitude and good sense of humor a must

Send cover letter and resume to jgibson99@sbcglobal.net attention John Gibson.