Company description

The Neighborhood Farmers Markets support and strengthen Washington’s small, sustainable family farms by creating and operating vibrant neighborhood markets. Farmers and food producers sell their goods, develop relationships with customers, and grow their capacity to produce local ingredients and artisanal products. Local farms make our communities more welcoming, more food-secure, and much more delicious. Our mission is to help them thrive, and to increase food access in our urban communities.

Job description

The Food Access Coordinator is responsible for administration, training and partnerships that aim to increase access to local food for low-income customers at the Neighborhood Farmers Markets. The Food Access Coordinator has three areas of responsibility (1) administration and implementation of existing programs; (2) community and consumer outreach and communication; and (3) training.

NFM currently implements the following food access programs:

• Fresh Bucks, in partnership with the City of Seattle Office of Sustainability and the Environment
• SNAP/EBT in partnership with USDA Food and Nutrition Services
• SNAP Market Match in partnership with the WA State Department of Health
• WIC and Senior FMNP in partnership with WA State Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services
• Growing for Good in partnership with private funders and Harvest Against Hunger
• Helping Harvest Vouchers, in partnership with local food banks
• Gleaning programs in the farmers markets, in partnership with local food banks

This position will play an active role in NFM’s food access programming and work closely with staff, agencies, and community partners to ensure expanding access for shoppers at farmers markets and increased sales opportunities to farmers. This position holds trusted external partnerships to promote and implement food access programming, and they will spend a portion of their time supporting partner communication around two pilot efforts that will change the way SNAP Market Match and Fresh Bucks work for shoppers in the farmers market setting. This position is ideal for someone who thrives sharing their knowledge with others, enjoys administrative details as much as the big picture, and thrives in a variety of settings.

Organizational Success

• Participate in development and implementation of strategic plans, equity plans, work plans and initiatives seeking to accomplish NFM’s mission and goals.
• Steward grant applications and projects for food access programs. Participate in creation and implementation of policies and practices that support successful outcomes for farmers, vendors, and low-income shoppers.
• Operate farmers markets that support farmers and vendors and create vibrant community gathering places.
• Support the development of organizational goals, messages and advocacy priorities surrounding food access.

Food Access Program Administration

• Coordinate the implementation of all food access programming at all NFM farmers markets, working in concert with Market Managers, Programs Coordinator, and Food Access Specialist.
• Oversee monthly invoicing and reporting for Fresh Bucks, Helping Harvest, SNAP and SNAP Market Match, and support Market Managers in tracking and inventory of currencies.
• Oversee the hardware, software, registrations and authorizations related to NFM’s food access programs. This includes oversight of NFM’s SNAP/EBT retailer authorizations and payment processing equipment.
• Maintain or establish organization-wide systems to manage, account for, order, invoice, and track market currencies. Provide regular communication to market vendors, Market Managers/Staff, and NFM staff about food access programs.

Collaboration & Community Outreach

• Execute on targeted outreach plans that raise awareness and participation in the food access programs implemented in the farmers markets.
• Provide partnership and education at city and county-wide meetings, ensuring farmers and farmers markets are represented and understood.
• Create communications content for a variety of audiences to increase awareness, support, and participation.
• Conduct regular outreach to community-based organizations including food banks, WIC clinics, Fresh Bucks CBOs, and public agencies to promote and problem-solve programming in farmers markets.
• Support the SNAP Market Match eHIP pilot by developing and delivering communications to partner organizations and shoppers in our farmers markets.

Training

• Maintain training in order to act as the subject matter expert on all food access programs implemented by the Neighborhood Farmers Markets.
• Provide written, virtual, and hands-on training to Market Managers and Staff (and vendors – add vendor education component) to ensure technical competence, program compliance, and informed, culturally responsive service to food access customers.
• Coordinate additional support from staff, contractors or agencies in the farmers markets to ensure periods of high demand operate smoothly.
• Provide information resources and training to vendors to ensure understanding and compliance with the suite of food access programs.
• Actively contribute to and learn from peer-learning groups such as the Nutrition Incentive Hub, King County Farmers Market Managers, and WSFMA Food Access Forum.
• Develop and update documentation that improves NFM’s institutional knowledge, training, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and with attention to detail and ability to prioritize
• Demonstrated understanding of food justice, racial equity, and local food systems.
• Strong communication and customer service skills including the ability to work with diverse populations and people from all backgrounds.
• Ability to speak conversational Spanish, Chinese, or Vietnamese a plus, but not required.
• Intermediate understanding of Excel.
• Aptitude and energy for understanding and communicating technical tasks, retail technology/hardware, and the technicalities of local, state, and federal benefit programs.
• Willingness and physical ability to work outdoors in all weather, climb stairs, and consistently lift and carry 50 pounds.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

October 13, 2023