Community Engagement Specialist

Come join the team at the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association and lead community building & nutrition education throughout the Bay Area, all while supporting California farmers!

The Role

PCFMA's mission is to support California farmers and communities by providing farmers' markets for our diverse Bay Area neighborhoods. The Community Engagement Specialists drive the implementation of community-based programs that promote nutrition education and enhance the overall impact of PCFMA’s farmers’ markets, furthering the benefit to the communities they serve. The Community Engagement Specialist position operates with the rhythms of farmers’ market season, focusing on implementing in-market events & activities during peak season (April-October) and community nutrition education events outside of PCFMA markets throughout the rest of the year. Community Engagement Specialists regularly travel throughout the Bay Area—the ability to navigate a dynamic work schedule is a key part of the role. PCFMA currently operates the POP Club, an in-market experiential education program for kids to encourage healthy eating & introduce them to their local food system. PCFMA is also introducing a new community nutrition program to promote healthy eating in the communities we serve. A combination of experience with program facilitation, nutrition education and/or prior experience with public engagement serves employees in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and staff interactive educational events at PCFMA’s farmers markets, with a particular emphasis on implementation and continued development of educational programs
• Support the rollout and implementation of community nutrition programs serving as a lead or an assistant nutrition educator at cooking demonstrations throughout communities across the Bay Area
• Develop and maintain relationships with public and private social service agencies, nonprofits, and schools that serve residents in the communities in which PCFMA operates farmers markets
• Coordinate with staff leaders from PCFMA’s Operations Team, Finance and Administration Team, and Marketing & Promotions Team to successfully implement workplans for grant-funded projects
• Track success of community engagement efforts in Salesforce by recording event impact, grant-funded project outcomes, etc.
• Assist in community outreach by representing the organization at community events, identifying community groups and distributing promotional materials
• Other related assignments as necessary

Desired Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Previous experience or interest in Certified Farmers' Markets, California agriculture, and/or nutrition or food systems education
• Previous experience working with children or the elderly (preferred)
• Strong educator/program facilitator skills (preferred)
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Salesforce (preferred)
• Thrives in a team-environment and with a dynamic/frequently changing work schedule
• Detail-oriented
• Willingness to show initiative and creativity

Physical Requirements

• This position requires the employee to work in an office environment and outside in all weather conditions
• This position requires the employee to interact with farmers and other vendors, persons of various socio‐economic backgrounds, and the general public
• This position requires the employee to be able to lift up to 50 pounds of equipment in and out a vehicle, to lift equipment off the ground up to 50 pounds, and to be able to lift items over his/her head up to 20 pounds
• This position requires the employee to be a licensed driver with a proven track record of operating a vehicle safely
• This position may require use of a personal vehicle to transport equipment to and from markets and other event sites
• This position requires weekend work and may require early morning work or late evening work

Compensation

• This is a year-round, non-exempt position.
• This may be a full-time or part-time position depending upon employee availability and PCFMA’s needs
• Full-time employees with PCFMA are eligible for enrollment in an employer-paid health insurance plan and a 401(k)-retirement plan with employer-matching contributions, subject to waiting periods and vesting.

Wage Range: $22-26 per hour, depending on experience

Note: This position is partially funded by grants to PCFMA from the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the period of November 1, 2024, to June 30, 2028. Employment after June 30, 2028 may be dependent upon the receipt of additional grant funding.

To Apply: submit an application here

Full-time employees with PCFMA are eligible for enrollment in an employer-paid health insurance plan and a 401(k)-retirement plan with employer-matching contributions, subject to waiting periods and vesting.