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Program Manager, Massachusetts Farm To School


Overview

Massachusetts Farm to School was founded in 2004 as a grassroots initiative to increase access to healthy, locally-grown food in schools and other institutions across the state. Our mission is to strengthen local farms and fisheries and promote healthy communities by increasing local food purchasing and education at schools. We believe that all students - regardless of race, place, or class - deserve access to local foods and food education in school.

Massachusetts Farm to School works in the following ways to impact local food procurement, promotion, and education in institutions across the state. 1) We provide training and technical assistance to school food service professionals, farmers and fishermen, distributors, educators, and other advocates; 2) We coordinate local food outreach and promotion through our Harvest of the Month campaign; 3) We facilitate networking of farm to school practitioners; and 4) We provide leadership to advance policies that support expanded farm to school activity. Massachusetts Farm to School is a fiscally sponsored project of TSNE (tsne.org).


Job Summary

Massachusetts Farm to School is seeking a Program Manager to oversee the organization’s professional development offerings to drive local food sourcing and education in schools across the Commonwealth. The Program Manager will plan and execute effective workshops and other training activities for our core constituencies including school nutrition staff, farmers/fishermen/food producers, distributors, educators and other farm to school stakeholders. This position oversees the organization’s two flagship events, the annual Farm to School Institute and the biennial Farm & Sea to School Conference, including facilitating a collaborative planning process for the conference. The Program Manager will also provide individualized technical assistance to schools and other institutions where appropriate.

This position is a permanent, full time position at 37.5 hours per week and is eligible for full benefits through our fiscal sponsor, TSNE. The pay range for this position is $55,000 - $57,000 annually. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Essential Job Functions

Professional Development Planning & Coordination (65% FTE)

  • Work with MFTS staff and organization partners to prioritize training needs and lead the development of an annual training calendar of events;
  • Implement effective and engaging professional development workshops targeting key farm to school constituents from school food service directors to farmers and educators;
  • Serve as primary program planner for biennial 400 person statewide conference- including recruitment of conference planning committee, and facilitation of committee meetings as needed;
  • Plan and coordinate the annual Farm to School Institute. As lead coordinator, the Program Manager will organize a two-day retreat, serve as point of contact to participants throughout the year, and provide ongoing support to Institute Coaches and other contributors as required;
  • Work with the Communications Director to conduct outreach and communications for all events including conferences and workshops.

Partnership Development (15% FTE)

  • Represent MFTS at regional/state events, meetings, and working groups when appropriate;
  • Actively seek out and engage potential program partners, with a focus on developing strong supportive relationships with frontline groups working in farm to school.

Technical Assistance (15% FTE)

  • Serve as MFTS primary technical assistance provider to institutional clients, including those seeking our “fee-for-service” resources and institutional clients served through the Farm to School Institute and other grant funded projects;
  • Serve as Coach for the Northeast Farm to School and Mass Farm to School Institute teams.

General Administrative/Organizational Support (5% FTE)

  • Support the Communications Director in developing and updating website, social media, and communication content to best meet the training needs of our constituents;
  • Assist MFTS staff with grant reports and proposals related to programming as needed;
  • Assist MFTS staff with general administrative and organizational support as needed.

Special Requirements: Must be available for occasional statewide and regional (New England) travel. This position may require some occasional night and weekend availability. This position is based remotely within Massachusetts and requires reliable internet and phone connection with occasional in-person staff meetings in western Massachusetts or the metro-Boston area.

Note: Staff travel and any in-person activities are currently restricted due to COVID-19. MFTS is following all state and CDC recommendations to maximize staff safety.


Qualifications

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

  • Minimum of three years experience in an organizational setting, with program management and event planning experience preferred;
  • Commitment to advancing racial equity in the farm to school movement and applying an equity lens to all of your efforts and upholding inclusive practices in your work;
  • Familiarity with school food, school gardens and/or New England food systems preferred;
  • Strong collaboration skills and ability to interact effectively and sensitively with diverse constituents both remotely and in-person;
  • Flexible and adept at seeking and using feedback to shape your work;
  • Engaging public speaker with experience facilitating workshops or other adult learning activities;
  • An ability to juggle multiple projects and prioritize tasks to work towards long term goals;
  • Self starter who can work well independently and remotely and work effectively as part of a team;
  • Comfortable using basic computer programs, like Google Drive/Apps; database software; & Microsoft Office programs;
  • Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Massachusetts Farm to School;
  • Based in Central or Western Massachusetts or extensive experience working in these regions preferred.

TSNE/Massachusetts Farm to School envisions a society grounded in the principles of social and economic justice. As such, we strive to achieve excellence through a diverse and inclusive workplace that honors the unique talents and lived experiences of each person. Our vision and values are reflected in all our employment-related decisions, including hiring practices. Accordingly, TSNE actively seeks people who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in our work.

As an EOE/AA employer, TSNE/Massachusetts Farm to School will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.  

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