Food Access Community Outreach Coordinator

Employer: Farmshare Austin

Position: Food Access Community Outreach Coordinator

Reports To: Food Access Director

Direct Reports: None

Location: Hybrid - Farmshare Austin and Remote

Schedule: Part time, 25-30 hours per week

Salary: $21.50 per hour + PTO, paid holidays, healthcare reimbursement stipend and gas stipend

 

Farmshare Austin’s mission is to grow a healthy, just and equitable local food system by increasing community food access and cultivating new farmers.

 

About Farmshare

Located on a 10-acre certified organic farm in Southeastern Travis County, Farmshare Austin cultivates the next generation of farmers and increases community food access. We offer opportunities in a learning community for adults who are interested in launching careers in organic and sustainable farming. Over 50 percent of the produce grown on the farm goes directly to our Fresh for Less Mobile Markets and Home Delivery, a weekly, reliable food access program serving 22 zip codes in the Eastern Crescent of Austin and Travis County.  

 

Since 2014, we have graduated 96 adults from our 20-week Farmer Starter beginning farmer training, of whom nearly 80% are working in agriculture or an agriculture-related field. 

 

Since fall 2016, Farmshare’s food access work has focused on Fresh for Less Mobile Markets and Home Delivery, a partnership with local government that provides a weekly, reliable source of reduced price, farmers’ market quality fresh produce and nutrient-dense grocery items to low-income customers in the Eastern Crescent of Austin and Travis County. 

 

To learn more about us, visit our website and watch this video. 

 

Job Summary:

 

The Food Access Community Outreach Coordinator will be responsible for managing Spanish and English language community outreach for Farmshare Austin’s Fresh for Less programs, which include Home Delivery and Mobile Markets. The goal of these programs is to provide fresh, seasonal produce from Texas farms at accessible prices in identified communities that have been selected due to socioeconomic and/or geographic barriers to accessing fresh food.

 

They will engage directly with Food Access program customers at Mobile Markets and via social media. They will identify and work with new and existing community partners working in food access and food justice to establish and grow relationships. The Food Access Community Outreach Coordinator will attend community meetings to further develop relationships and presence with the communities that Fresh for Less works with. As a member of the Food Access Team, this position also may also include general programmatic support for Food Access programs, including order packing and operation of weekly mobile markets and/or home delivery routes.

 

Members of the Food Access team will be required to work approximately 5 hours each month  on the farm with the Food Access Team. This time is spent working in the field and/or in post-harvest activities under the guidance of the Farm Team. There will also be 2-3 hours per week devoted to staff meetings (usually held virtually) and administrative work. Employees also may be expected to attend and/or assist with Farmshare community events and fundraisers and other duties as assigned.

Farmshare Austin is an Equal Opportunity Employer that offers positions of varying skill levels and responsibilities that amplify our mission. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels comfortable bringing their full, authentic selves to work. We strongly encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, LGBTQIA+ identified people, people of marginalized genders, people with differing abilities and genetic differences, veterans and people who speak, read or write a language in addition to English.

 

Essential Job Duties:

The Food Access Community Outreach Coordinator will be primarily responsible for:

• Providing input for and carrying out a Fresh for Less outreach strategy in line with Farmshare’s strategic plan

• Customer service, including assisting customers through Farmshare Austin’s Home Delivery ordering process and managing customer referrals

• Representing Farmshare Austin and Fresh for Less at community events

• Conducting monthly meetings with community partners to disseminate information about Fresh for Less services

• Creating/managing appropriate and compelling written and visual outreach communications for a variety of platforms in both English and Spanish

• Conducting Mobile Markets and/or Home Delivery Program activities, including packing and delivering customer orders, preparing for markets, driving to market sites, setting up markets, maintaining a safe and comfortable shopping environment, communicating with customers, promoting fresh produce, completing transactions, and leaving sites in a clean and respectful condition.

 

Qualifications and Personal Characteristics:

• Fluent in Spanish and English

• Able to create aesthetically appealing outreach content using Canva, Google Suite, Microsoft, and/or Adobe programs

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate on behalf of Farmshare Austin in appropriate tone/voice on various platforms in professional and public settings

• Passion for food access and commitment to building an equitable food system

• Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision

• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities, or a commitment to learning

• Ability to work various shifts including weekdays, evenings and weekends to complete necessary tasks and duties for Food Access Team functions

• Ability to move equipment weighing up to 50 lbs and work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions

• Able to work with all Farmshare Staff to maintain an environment of equity and inclusivity in which people of all cultures, races, gender identities and sexual orientations are valued and supported.

• Ability to help develop new programs, identify opportunities for improvement and take initiative

• Flexible and solutions-oriented approach to challenges

• Ability to communicate cordially, professionally, and effectively with the public

 

Other Requirements:

• Ensure consistent access to reliable transportation

 

Preferred Qualifications or Characteristics:

• Retail experience or experience in marketing and produce sales

• Experience with and sensitivity to working with ethnically, culturally and socio-economically diverse groups

• Educational or professional experience with non-profit organizations

 

Workplace Location and Benefits:

Location:

• Farmshare is located on a 10-acre farm in Southeastern Travis County, approximately 10 miles east of ABIA off Highway 71. 

• This position is a combination of work onsite at Farmshare Austin, outside events at various locations around Austin and Travis County and remote work.

 

Benefits:

• Employer contribution to an individual Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangement for each employee.

• Monthly gas stipend.

• Ample paid time off (PTO) of 160 hours per fiscal year, prorated according to start date and full or part-time position.

• Five additional paid holidays.

• Paid time off between Christmas Eve and New Years Day when offices are closed.

• Plenty of farm produce to take home and a terrific, supportive team.

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Application Process:

• Candidates should email their applications to Farmshare’s Food Access Director, alicia@farmshareaustin.org

• Use the email subject line “Food Access Community Outreach Coordinator Application”

• Applications must include:

  • Resume

  • Cover letter describing your connection to Farmshare’s mission and how your experience prepares you for the responsibilities included in the job description

 

We will review applications on a rolling basis. This application will remain open until filled. We will not accept phone inquiries about this position.