Farm to School Program Coordinator

TITLE : FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM COORDINATOR

TYPE: Non-Union Cycle I

SALARY: Per Terms of Employment for Non-Union Personnel Cycle I

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Seven (7) hours per day with a one-hour unpaid lunch

REPORTS TO: Director of Food Services

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Leads a coordinated and cohesive effort to increase farm to school activities across the district.
2. Works with food service director to maintain goal of purchasing 15% local food and menuing local items at least once a week.
3. Manages and maintains all school gardens and acts as a resource person to teachers and principals to ensure that gardens are utilized to their full potential and do not fall into despair.
4. Places all local food orders.
5. Ensures the implementation and sustainability of Salad Days programming at all elementary schools.

1. Applies for all grants applicable to farm to school activities (including garden sustainability equipment etc.) in conjunction with the Grants Department and responsible for subsequent reporting and evaluation.
2. Leads community outreach efforts to spread the mission of Chicopee FRESH recruit volunteers and encourage healthy changes across the city.
3. Coordinates district level nutrition and garden programming initiatives such as the Chicopee Pumpkin contest Salad Days Center Fresh farmers market table workshops at the Chicopee Public Library etc.
4. Responsible for establishing FTS guidelines and creating a handbook for future service members and interns with information about local ordering menu creation marketing grant writing garden maintenance etc.
5. Maintains and expands partnerships with community organizations (e.g. Boys and Girls Club Chicopee Public Library Lorraines Soup Kitchen etc.)

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelors Degree in Nutrition or related field from an accredited college or university
2. 2-years of experience in farm to school programming nutrition or other related field preferred

ADA AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Interpersonal and Written Communication: Requires the ability to effectively and skillfully convey information to a wide variety of audiences including students teachers parents community organizations administrators press etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence reports evaluations grants surveys articles press releases brochures blog posts handbooks budgets etc. Requires the ability to speak before diverse audiences with poise voice control and confidence. Requires the ability to manage social media accounts and create/maintain an online presence for Chicopee FRESH. Proficiency in Spanish preferred but not required).
2. Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers copiers garden tools etc. Must be able to work outside under a variety of weather conditions year round. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand crouch squat and bend over for a long period of time at intervals throughout the day. Requires hand-eye coordination and dexterity in handling garden equipment and tools.
3. Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence reports newsletters schedules manuals invoices requisitions menus recipes journals etc.
4. Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems collect data establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
5. Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to deliver information to explain procedures to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently.
6. Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length width and shape.
7. Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using equipment.
8. Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment and hand tools. Must have minimal levels je/hand/foot coordination.
9. Interpersonal: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.
10. Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk (express or exchange ideas by means of spoken words) and hear (perceive nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

Required Experience:

IC