Coordinator Farmers Market Recovery

Hours: Full-Time, non-exempt

Location: Hybrid - remote and Ventura, CA office

Organizational Overview: Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. We collect fruits and vegetables from backyard fruit trees, farmers' markets, growers, and wholesalers, then provide them free of charge to more than 250 hunger-relief partner organizations serving communities across the region. See foodforward.org. Our core values are posted below.

Position Overview: The Farmers Market Recovery Coordinator will directly report to the Senior Manager of Community Programs (CP) and will play an important role in supporting and expanding the Farmers Market Recovery (FMR) Program. This entry-level position offers an opportunity to become deeply involved in the food justice community while helping grow the program’s presence. We are looking for someone extremely detail-oriented who can work independently and collaboratively, in-person and remotely. The FMR Coordinator bridges Food Forward’s wonderful volunteers, farmers market management & vendors, and hunger relief partners who receive produce donations. They will communicate clearly and regularly with various stakeholders to ensure FMR operations run smoothly and efficiently. This position will work closely with other FMR & CP staff in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. While much of this position will be remote, it also requires working weekdays, weekends, and evenings in the field and out of our offices in North Hollywood and/or Ventura. The ideal candidate for the FMR Coordinator role has experience working with and engaging volunteers, exhibits excellent people, public speaking, and customer service skills, and a strong interest in issues related to food waste and recovery, hunger eradication, and food justice. The person in this role will have access to a Food Forward vehicle for work-related tasks, but will also need to use a personal vehicle occasionally. Applicable mileage will be eligible for reimbursement at standard IRS rates.

Core Responsibilities

Event Coordination:

• Schedule and coordinate logistics for all weekly market gleans (18-25 markets).
• Conduct frequent, timely, and effective phone, email, and text communication with various stakeholders (volunteer event leaders, farmers market vendors & managers, hunger relief organizations, potential partners, etc.) to schedule events, resolve issues, achieve program objectives, and build and maintain relationships.
• Collect and review data from event reports via Excel, Google Workspace, Tableau & CITRA (Food Forward’s proprietary database).
• Lead FMR events, and assist with equipment drop-offs, produce pick-ups and deliveries to hunger relief agencies.

Volunteer Engagement:

• Recruit, onboard, train, schedule, oversee, and build working relationships with 100+ volunteer event leaders who lead market glean events.
• Assist with the planning and participate in volunteer engagement activities.
• Work with the Volunteer team to assist with outreach and Community Ambassador efforts.

Program Operations:

• Facilitate program expansion and growth, including scouting and launching FMR at new markets.
• Organize, review, and maintain monthly event data via Food Forward’s data software CITRA & Tableau.
• Conduct regular equipment inventory and identify repair and purchasing needs.
• Procure, secure, maintain, and stock gleaning equipment storage locations; serve as the point of contact and maintain relationships with regional equipment hubs.
• Assist with updating and developing new training materials for event leaders, as well as creating and updating FMR staff workflows and handbooks.
• Assist with the creation and organization of program-related information and resources within Google Workspace.
• Cross-training as a leader in the Backyard Harvest and Community Ambassador programs and support with cross-department process improvements.
• Support the Community Programs team in the office and the field, as needed.
• Play a key role in supervising program assistants and interns and training new staff.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Communication and Community Outreach:

• Serve as the point of contact and maintain relationships with community partners; help prospect new community partners.
• Draft content for program-related and organization-wide newsletters, blogs, social media, and other external communication.
• Represent Food Forward at community events, food recovery and ag sector meetings, universities, etc.
• The ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking partners is a plus, but it is not required.

Minimum Requirements:

• Computer literate and proficient in Google Workspace & Microsoft Excel.
• Must be willing and available to have a flexible schedule and work weekends, including every Saturday.
• Must be able to provide regular field support with short notice at any of our Ventura County markets.
• Ability to drive large utility-style vans and trucks (training is provided).
• A valid Class C driver’s license with a clean driving record to be physically present to work at various markets and transport work-related materials when needed.
• Must be willing and available to use a personal smartphone (cell phone stipend paid semi-monthly).

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors
• Ability to lift and carry boxes of produce and equipment weighing up to 55 lbs repeatedly from ground to vehicles and over unstable ground.
• Alternate sitting and standing as needed; push or pull; grasp; reach above, at, or below shoulder level; and kneel, crouch, and stoop as needed.
• Ability to climb stairs.
• Willingness to operate Food Forward vehicles (training provided).

CORE VALUES

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Working together, we inspire and are inspired by the people in the communities we serve.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION We cultivate a diverse workforce that nurtures equity and inclusion.

FOOD JUSTICE We share the abundance of fresh produce and prevent food waste because everyone deserves access to fresh and nutritious food.

INTEGRITY We are honest, accountable and authentic in our words and actions.

JOYFULNESS We embrace a creative, spirited and fulfilling environment

BENEFITS:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance Coverage, and Retirement with up to 4% employer matching. Generous Sick Days, Vacation, Personal Days, and Holiday allocation. Cell Phone and WiFi stipend.