Company description

Begun in 2004 as a student thesis project at Brown University, Farm Fresh RI has grown to capture the public interest in locally grown food and translate it into sales for RI farmers and producers. Strongly mission-driven, Farm Fresh achieved 501c3 status in 2007, and has since implemented a variety of programs to enhance the local food system of the New England region, with particular attention to farm viability and low-income access to fresh food. Farm Fresh RI operates a wide range of marketplace programs (retail, wholesale, processing) that engage and connect tens of thousands of local eaters with thousands of New England farmers and producers. Learn more at farmfreshri.org.

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Food Access Program Director is responsible for the oversight of all Farm Fresh RI Farmers Market and Food Access programs. The largest Food Access program managed by FFRI is the Bonus Bucks program, which matches the value of SNAP spent for locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. The Food Access Program Director is a critical member of the Farm Fresh RI team and will serve as a key external face of Farm Fresh RI in the community. They will work closely with the Senior Management team to ensure the long-term success of Food Access initiatives while overseeing the delivery of quality programs that carry out the mission of FFRI.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

PROGRAM SPECIFIC

Food Access Program Planning, Implementation & Budget Management

• Lead Food Access team in implementation of current Food Access programs including Farmers Markets, Fresh Bucks, Bonus Bucks, and Fruit and Veggie Rx programs and work with the Senior Management Team on new program development.
• Ensure Farmers Market and Food Access activities are compliant with state, and local city requirements by maintaining appropriate annual paperwork and permits as needed.
• In partnership with the Business & Administration and Communications & Development Teams, monitor compliance with Food Access grant terms and conditions.
• Support the development and collection of program evaluation data and required grant-tracking systems including.
• Solicit and share vendor, partner, and customer feedback throughout each market season.
• In partnership with the Senior Management and Business and Administration Teams, develop and monitor annual food access program budget and update budget projections as needed.
• Monitor distribution and redemption of special incentive projects (WIC bonuses, staff vouchers, other misc incentives with community partners)
• Oversee invoicing for special projects as needed.
• Approve farmers market and food access expense purchases in line with the program budget.
• Work with the Senior Management Team on strategic planning for the growth and development of Food Access programs.
• Assist with Food Access grant writing and reporting as needed.
• Provide weekly updates to Communications Director on food access programs and events for use on internal newsletter, social media, and eNews.
• Plan community market events and work with Food Access Operations Manager and market staff on implementation
• Recruit and schedule musicians and civic groups for markets
• Update and enforce market standards and rules document for summer and winter vendors and partners.
• Develop schedule and oversee processes for necessary table audits and farm visits.
• Oversee annual vendor application and acceptance process for summer and winter seasons.
• Schedule and lead welcome and debrief meetings for market vendors and site hosts.
• Personally staff one weekly farmers market year-round (including Saturdays 7am -2pm November through April)
• Co-manage Providence Wintertime market with Food Access Operations Manager

FFRI Market & Bonus Bucks Outreach and Community Engagement

• Maintain and deepen relationships with existing Farm Fresh RI market site hosts and stakeholders.
• Confirm annual market site layout and adjustments with site hosts. Address issues related to vendor parking and loading for market sites.
• Engage with community partners around increasing food access via Farm Fresh RI programs in the cities of Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket.
• Develop and supervise the implementation of seasonal Farmers Market and Bonus Bucks outreach strategies.
• Work with communications director on farmers market signage & banners design, purchasing and maintenance.
• Ensure annual RI farmers market day and time information is updated for summer and winter seasons. Communicate these updates to the Communications Director, with state agencies, and other farmers market partners.
• Provide support to the network of RI farmers market managers and USDA FINI grant partners, communicating updates and providing training as needed.
• Host tours and provide resources that educate external partners about Farm Fresh Food Access programs.
• Schedule community partners to attend weekly farmers markets. Review requests for Community Groups at markets - confirming, scheduling and invoicing
• Write vendor update emails and field vendor questions.

Nutrition Incentive Grant Management

• Lead projects related to regional GusNIP sub-awardee partner coordinating including annual subaward budgeting, reporting and MOU processes.
• Lead Farm Fresh RI GusNIP grant administration, work planning, compliance and reporting to USDA NIFA
• Lead Regional GusNIP-specific grant activities including digital marketing and evaluation efforts
• Act as a liaison to USDA NIFA and GusNIP NTAE to support all GusNIP project activities
• Manage alignment of GusNIP, Federal Reed appropriation, and other SNAP-affiliated matching grant budgets to ensure spending projections and restrictions are upheld

Team Management

• Direct, plan, and coordinate the work of 1-2 full-time staff, 6 part-time seasonal staff, AmeriCorps members, interns, and volunteers — including recruitment, supervision and evaluation, training, and team building.
• Instill a sense of accountability among team members by modeling tight oversight of individual and organization performance standards.
• In partnership with the Food Access Operations Manager, recruit and train farmers market staff, AmeriCorps members, interns and volunteers.
• Develop agendas and facilitate food access team meetings to ensure all team members are informed and program challenges are addressed.
• Approve seasonal market staff job postings, training plans and resource guides developed by Food Access Operations Manager
  
• See the full job posting here: https://www.farmfreshri.org/job-opportunities/

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000

Application instructions

Deadline

July 15, 2024