Community Engagement Specialist

Saba Grocers is a grassroots initiative of corner store owners in Oakland founded in 2019. Saba’s mission is to shift liquor stores to community stores by increasing produce inventory and healthy products on the shelf of small businesses. We work with each corner store owner on a transition plan to increase healthy produce in a safe and responsible way considering market growth strategies, sustainable supply channels and community engagement tools to anchor each market in the surrounding neighborhood. The majority of our participating stores are located in East and West Oakland. The position will support corner store owners in engaging in community events and be our liaison in the community, it will also be responsible for administering a SNAP Market Match federal grant program for produce. This program is administered through a proprietary technology platform at corner stores only.

Responsibilities

Fresh5x Program-80%:

• Select and onboard corner stores for our Market Match program in collaboration with the manager.
• Process banking applications; install and train clerks on technology usage; design and install marketing and promotional materials in stores; obtain and manage a Memorandum of Understanding from each store.
• Troubleshoot Android devices as needed.
• Maintain relationships with 5 existing corner stores.
• Visit corner stores regularly to strengthen relationships.
• Manageproject budget.
• Createweekly invoices for all stores and submit for payment.
• Organize regular community engagement events for residents to promote program/s, strengthen partnerships and community bonds and share resources.
• Create and maintain contact lists of program participants per store.
• Collect participant surveys.
• Scheduleanddeliver promotional SMS to enroll residents per store.
• ManageSMSplatform/membership
• Assist Saba’s Operations Manager in promoting BIPOC farmer products in corner stores, and new healthy products.
• Identify and cultivate a team of Community Ambassadors from current Fresh5x participants.
• Support Community Ambassadors in acting as neighborhood marketing, outreach, education, and evaluation agents for the program.
• Other engagement tasks as needed, (i.e. City Hall representation, store owner engagement, community focus groups)

Grant Administration- 20%:

• Document and organize all grant-related activities, resident experiences, store changes, and spending in Saba’s archives for future reference or audits.
• Prepare and submit quarterly, and annual reports to the funder and evaluation partner.
• Attend meetings with other grantees, including traveling out of state for national convenings.

What we are looking for

• 3 years or more of community engagement experience and project management equivalent experience
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with small & immigrant-owned businesses
• High proficiency in excel/spreadsheet and experience budget monitoring
• High proficiency and adaptability in using Android and Iphone platforms, and experience in learning and using new technologies is required
• Interest in food equity and food systems
• Proactive, organized, structured, independent, motivated, and detail-oriented team player.
• Proficient in time management
• Adaptable and capable of working autonomously
• Position requires ability to drive. Mileage is reimbursed per federal rate
• Spanish proficiency is a requirement
• Being part of the Oakland community is a plus

Compensation: $30-33/hr / part time / not benefit eligible

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Saba Grocers is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.