The School Services Coordinator is a new position at Farm Fresh Rhode Island that will jointly support our Community Education and Market Mobile wholesale distribution programs. This position will work in careful coordination with program staff and external stakeholders to advance Rhode Island Farm to School statewide efforts. The School Services Coordinator will provide school food service staff with technical assistance on ordering local foods through the Market Mobile platform as well as obtaining and utilizing Farm to School promotional materials. They will work to connect school educators, school administrators, and district administration with Farm to School initiatives.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Local Food Promotions
- Support Farm and Sea to School Director and RI Farm to School Network members in planning and preparing for Rhode Island farm to school promotions.
- Execute local promotion activities on-site in cafeteria settings.
- Provide Farm to School educational resources to school educators and administrators who are interested in being engaged in Farm to School outside of the cafeteria.
- In partnership with the Community Education Manager, coordinate and execute local food cafeteria taste tests and provide assistance for other Farm to School events.
- Update existing promotional templates and marketing materials with product and site information as needed.
- Personally distribute and/or track the distribution of Farm to School promotional materials to engaged sites.
- Draft content for Farm to School stakeholder newsletters and other communications to support promotions and provide additional updates to school foodservice stakeholders.
Technical Assistance & Training
- Provide one-on-one technical assistance and support for foodservice staff on setting up online accounts as well as ordering local foods for schools.
- Provide one-on-one technical assistance on how to use marketing and promotional materials for both foodservice and other school staff.
- Under supervision of the Market Mobile Program Director and Farm and Sea to School Director, plan and host group trainings on local food procurement and promotions for foodservice staff.
- Provide ongoing customer service, order troubleshooting, and sales support for school buyers on the Market Mobile platform.
Sales & Data Tracking
- Support Market Mobile Data Specialist in updating and populating Farm to School and Market Mobile CRM software with information on school contacts and activities.
- Draft Standardized Operating Procedures (SOPs) on how to use CRM for Farm to School stakeholders.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Our ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform this role but does not need all of these in order to qualify.
- Strong knowledge of Farm to School or garden programs, local food systems, local food procurement
- Ability to build relationships with people from varied cultural, economic, educational, racial, and religious backgrounds
- Excellent professional communication skills (written and verbal), including the ability to accurately and passionately present information to stakeholders
- Great attention to detail and excellent time-management skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and ideally, Airtable
- Ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Food Systems, Sustainability, Community Health, or another relevant field or work experience in a school foodservice environment
PHYSICAL DEMANDS (PHYSICAL, MENTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL)
The following capabilities are required in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden on the company are available to address the following requirements:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit/stand for long periods of time at a desk; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls on computers; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear in meetings and on the telephone or on the computer in an office or variable setting.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
- Ability to travel, which may include travel via car, train, airline, overnight hotel stays.
PAY & BENEFITS
- This is a full-time non-exempt/hourly position with a pay band range of $20-23 depending on experience.
- 15 days of Paid Time Off, 12 annual paid holidays, and 3 personal holidays annually.
- $552 monthly contribution to flexible health, dental, and life insurance plans.
- Annual professional development credits and opportunities.
- Matching contributions to a company-sponsored retirement plan after 2 years of employment.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
- Please send your updated Resume and a Cover Letter to [email protected] with the subject line: School Services Application.
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of July 21, 2023. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
- No phone calls or drop-ins please.
Farm Fresh Rhode Island is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment for all employees. We encourage enquiries from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our organization. Farm Fresh RI does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability status in employment or programming. Farm Fresh Rhode Island is an Equal Opportunity Provider.