School Food Program Coordinator Job Description

Job Title: School Food Programs Coordinator

Employee Status:  Position starting fall 2016 at 20 hours/week with potential for growth

Summary Description: The School Food Programs Coordinator works for NOFA-VT and will be primarily involved in Farm to School work for the VT Food Education Every Day Project, a project of NOFA-VT and Shelburne Farms. This candidate will be responsible for supporting the development of the local and regional food system supply chain for schools, providing professional development from pre-K-12 school food nutrition staff, providing nutrition education for school teams, and supporting the work of the Food Systems Education Director.

Reports to: NOFA-VT Food Systems Education Director

Responsibilities include:

Training

  • Work with partner organizations and state agencies on professional development for school nutrition personnel on the use and preparation of seasonal foods, scratch cooking, and nutrition education.
  • Develop and provide training on Nutritional Guidelines and use of local foods and USDA foods for FEED PD courses, workshops, and FTS Institute.

Project Management and Development

  • Manage aspects of local purchasing and nutrition education projects
  • Collaborate on research and development of new projects

Relationship Building

  • Work with farm to school partners and state agencies to increase participation in the school meal programs and use of local foods.
  • Work with school administration on school policies and support of school meals and farm to school programs.

Development of FEED Materials and Communications

  • Participation in the development of FEED materials—providing the Cafeteria ‘C’ perspective.
  • Contribute to marketing and communications for VT FEED and NOFA-VT. (e.g. website, newsletters)

Consultation and Technical Assistance

  • Work with individual schools on local food procurement, scratch cooking, and school food marketing needs with their school nutrition staff.
  • Work with farmers and distributors interested in providing local and regional foods to schools.
  • Work with schools and regional partners on farm to school programming and farm to school coordination.
  • Participate in the statewide Farm to School Network on issues around program coordination and delivery of services.
  • Through state and regional partners, work on improving the use of and access to the state and federal nutrition and food programs.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of the school food system and federal school meal program. Knowledge of successful farm to school coordination and programming, and an understanding of the K-12 educational system and curriculum connections. Understanding of professional development for adults, VT food systems and nutrition.

Skills:  Strong writing and communication skills; strong interpersonal, planning and training skills; organized, systems-thinker with experience in project management. Competent computer skills and use of programs such as Word, Excel, Power Point and related programs necessary.

Capabilities: Flexible team player and collaborator, ability to work well with a variety of people, strong public presence, ability to handle multiple projects well. A sense of humor is helpful.

Conditions: Strong interest in and commitment to promoting the goals of NOFA-VT and VT FEED and meeting the educational needs of school staff and students, farmers. Statewide and occasional out-of-state travel required.

Please submit a resume and separate letter of interest to NOFA-VT, PO Box 697, Richmond VT 05477 or e-mail [email protected]. The job will be open until filled, with the position starting in October.