Company description

The Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC) is an independent statewide network with a mission to promote a more equitable, accessible, economically vibrant, and environmentally sustainable food system. We cultivate partnerships, develop and implement high-impact projects, and advocate for good food policy. We center equity in our work, which touches all parts of the food chain – production, harvesting, processing, distribution, consumption/access, and waste management. We operate with a collaborative professional staff, over 200 engaged and diverse council members, and hundreds more stakeholders from across the Ocean State. 

Job description

RIFPC seeks a full-time Facilitation & Education Manager. The primary objective of this position is to facilitate member engagement in education, capacity building, and advocacy activities. As the ‘backbone network’ for food systems work in the state of RI, member engagement and capacity to advocate are essential to the organization’s ability to continue to achieve our strategic objectives. This staff member will be a key player in ensuring RIFPC is successful in moving the local food system toward justice and resilience, approaching the role as an opportunity for continuous growth and improvement, and will exhibit professionalism, commitment, curiosity, and care for colleagues and community. This position is full-time (37.5 hours, with some required evening and weekend commitments) and hybrid, with regular remote and in-person engagement throughout RI.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Coordinate and facilitate 2-3 Work Groups composed of volunteer Council members seeking improvements in the state food policy environment

Facilitate Work Group members in developing advocacy materials – such as one-page policy priority briefs and template testimony

Support Work Group member outreach to potential coalition partners

Support partners in convening & facilitating quarterly meetings of an alliance to develop policy, link local food producers and food security agencies, and support community-based agencies in ensuring food access in RI

Support Associate Director for Network in convening local food security partners and health providers in development of statewide Produce Prescription initiative

Support Associate Director for Network in developing and executing annual participatory process to update Council Commitment to Equity, Community Agreements, etc.

Coordinate and facilitate public educational programming

Collaborate with staff on program related communications – such as content for website, e-newsletter, and social media channels

Assist with RIFPC events including the Policy Retreat, Annual Retreat, Farm Visit for Legislators, and Good Food Policy Day at the State House

Attend weekly virtual staff meetings and monthly in-person staff meetings

Assist with grant applications and grant reporting requirements as requested

Contribute to presentations to the Board and external audiences as requested

REQUIREMENTS
Two or more years of professional facilitation experience with proven ability to:

Facilitate equitable decision-making, inclusive dialogue and collaboration between diverse participants; skillfully balance process and results

Manage discussions and ensure that they do not deviate from primary objectives

Ask open-ended questions and clarify areas of confusion, doubt, or concern

Use actual and virtual whiteboards to capture ideas, create flow diagrams and connect multiple ideas to clarify a topic

Summarize and classify ideas into clear themes and categories

Guide the Work Groups to reach a common conclusion and decide on next steps
Consistently and efficiently follow-through with post-meeting actions

Two or more years of educational program coordination, with experience in:Planning multi-part virtual and in-person educational programs

Executing in-person and virtual events including scheduling, speaker recruitment, reminders, moderation, and pre/post event communication

Capacity-building curriculum provision for adults
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Ability to establish rapport and trust with many different types of people

Ability to absorb new information quickly and identify opportunities for positive change
Alignment with RIFPC’s mission and values
Experience using a lens of justice, equity, and inclusion in past work

Computer literacy (e.g. Microsoft Office suite, Google Drive, Basecamp)

Existing connections with RI community-based organizations preferred

Bachelor’s degree and certification in facilitation preferred

The Facilitation & Education Manager reports directly to the Associate Director for Network. They are expected to attend regular in-person events and meetings in RI, be based in RI with a home office location, and work closely with staff, Council, and board members.
RIFPC offers a flexible workplace with a collegial environment, the salary range for this position is $62,000-$72,000 plus benefits including retirement contributions, a health insurance reimbursement, and generous vacation and paid time off.

The RI Food Policy Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values the benefits of a diverse organization. We encourage applications from individuals who believe they possess the key competencies and can demonstrate ability to execute the responsibilities, even if they do not have every listed qualification/skill.

Compensation

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

Location

job can be done remotely

Application instructions

Deadline

December 05, 2025