Company description

Maine DOE Child Nutrition's Farm & Sea to School Program connects students and schools with the people, places, and food that make Maine unique. We support school nutrition programs in bringing more Maine-grown, raised, and caught foods to the table through local purchasing support, culinary and menu development, promotional resources, technical assistance, and connections to Maine producers and food businesses.
From introducing students to local foods and celebrating Maine ingredients in school meals to helping schools navigate purchasing, preparation, and program development, our programs support along the way. Together, these efforts help strengthen school meal programs, expand opportunities for Maine producers, and build lasting connections between schools and Maine’s food system.

Job description

Schedule: 27 hours per week
Pay: $32 per hour
Term: Through July 30, 2027, with the possibility for extension, pending funding
Location: Hybrid, with remote work and travel within Maine
Employment: Temporary staffing assignment through Tri-State Staffing, supporting the Maine Department of Education’s Child Nutrition team

About the position
Help Maine schools bring more local foods and scratch cooking into their meal programs! The Maine Regional Local Foods Project supports school nutrition programs in purchasing, preparing, and serving Maine-grown, raised, and caught foods. Funded by the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, the project strengthens connections between schools, distributors, and local producers while building school nutrition teams’ skills and capacity. The Local Foods Coordinator will work with the Local Foods Program Manager and the Maine DOE Child Nutrition Office to provide practical training, technical assistance, and direct support to schools. This position combines hands-on work with school nutrition teams, relationship building, resource development, and project documentation.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct assistance to school nutrition programs to expand local food purchasing and scratch cooking.
• Help schools identify local products and connect with farmers, fishermen, food producers, and distributors.
• Support schools in participating in Maine DOE programs, including the Local Foods Fund, Harvest of the Month, and Fishermen Feeding Mainers (FFM).
• Help plan and deliver regional trainings, culinary demonstrations, and other professional development opportunities for school nutrition staff.
• Assist schools with recipes, menu planning, product preparation, and strategies for incorporating local foods into school meals.
• Support taste tests and related activities that introduce students to local foods.
• Contribute to shared training materials, handouts, and other resources for schools.
• Participate in virtual office hours and respond to requests for technical assistance.
• Maintain records of school contacts, services provided, activities, and outcomes to support project reporting.
• Participate in regular meetings with the Project Manager and project team, communicate progress and challenges, and follow through on assigned priorities.
• Travel to schools, school administrative units, farms, food production facilities, and community organizations for onsite support, meetings, and trainings.

Required qualifications

• Two to three years of experience in food service, culinary arts, nutrition, or a related field.
• Background in food service and production cooking.
• Food Safety Certification Food Protection Manager certification or the ability to become certified.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, organize competing priorities, and complete work reliably.
• Ability to collaborate with school nutrition staff, producers, community partners, and colleagues.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work remotely and travel within Maine as needed.

Preferred qualifications

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Nutrition, or a related field.
• Knowledge of school nutrition programs.
• Experience purchasing, preparing, or promoting local foods.
• Familiarity with Maine’s growing season, agricultural practices, and local food system.
• Experience providing training or technical assistance.
• Familiarity with the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), required food components for reimbursable meals, and recipe standardization.
• Experience working with K-12 students, particularly, administration of school breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

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Deadline

December 01, 2026