Events and Outreach Coordinator

The Maine Food Strategy (mainefoodstrategy.org) is an organization that facilitates collaborative projects and partnerships to bolster Maine’s food system. Through an inclusive and participatory process, the initiative developed four value areas that a food system should embody: A robust food economy; a healthy and sustainable environment; healthy food access for all Mainers; and community support of positive food production and enterprises. Maine Food Strategy works through partnerships to advance these values. One example is the New England State Food System Planners Partnership, which is a regional collaboration, organized to encourage investments and policies that strengthen food value chains.

Maine Food Strategy is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE (tsne.org). 

Project Purpose: 

The Maine Food Convergence is a collaborative project, which aims to strengthen relationships, information sharing and partnerships between community groups working on food-related issues in Maine, with a focus on advancing social and racial equity and environmental sustainability. Over the coming year, the Convergence will organize its second statewide event and will support a collaborative cross-sector work group looking at challenges for local food processing and processing for schools and institutions. The Convergence is also exploring a second cross sector work group focused on issues related to food and livable wage.

The Events and Outreach Coordinator position for Maine Food Convergence Project will play a critical role in the collaborative work and is an opportunity for the right candidate to establish working relationships across a broad range of organizations working on community food systems issues in Maine and to have a leadership role in community food systems work.

Project Management

• Lead event planning, logistics and sponsorship outreach for a statewide, including developing and coordinating an event planning committee, developing the event format and sessions, securing presenters, speakers, facilitators and sponsors with attention to ensuring that the process and event are inclusive and informed by diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Coordinate planning and logistics for virtual statewide information and discussion sessions for groups working on food systems issues.

Facilitation Support

• General meeting and facilitation support for the network partners and other working groups affiliated with the project, including creating and warehousing agendas.

Outreach

• Work with a communications coordinator to develop and implement outreach strategies for events.
• Support the communications coordinator in creating outreach and promotional materials for events, sponsorship campaigns and the project in general.
• Serve as the primary liaison to individuals and groups working with or supporting the statewide convergence and other events.
• Serve as the primary contact for event sponsors.

Fundraising

• Support Network Partners in developing grant proposals and fundraising materials.

Other Duties

• Represent the project at other events and meetings.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant area of study to the project and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coursework, training or personal experience is desired.
• Three to five years project management experience.
• Experience developing and delivering large in person and virtual community events.
• Experience working with event planning or advisory committees.
• Experience designing and implementing event sponsorship and fundraising strategies.
• At least three years’ experience working in diverse communities and with cross sector stakeholders.
• Knowledge of components and issues related to community food systems.
• Able to take initiative and work well both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal and facilitative leadership skills—team-oriented, personable, and professional.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent project management skills (ability to move multiple project components forward simultaneously).
• Excellent organizational and critical thinking skills.
• Strong computer skills in MS Office such as PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
• Familiarity with Google Drive, Zoom and other online communications and collaboration platforms.
• Proficient data and file management skills.
• Ability to represent the organization effectively at meetings and conferences and at other public engagements.

Desired Attributes:

• Passionate about building sustainable, equitable and resilient community and regional food systems.
• Pre-existing relationships with food system organizations in Maine.
• Creative, with a good sense of humor.
• Detail oriented.
• Enjoys and is able to work remotely, yet stays connected to core team members.
• Quick learner and thrives in a multi-task / content heavy environment.
• Outgoing and personable.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls.
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards.
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight.
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Regarding COVID-19: TSNE considers the health and safety of our employees of the utmost importance, and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and subject to your state and local laws, our policy requires that all employees performing in-person work at a TSNE designated office are fully vaccinated. For the purpose of this policy, fully vaccinated indicates that you have received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine, or both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Certain exemptions may be requested and will be considered by Human Resources.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed remote, part-time 25 hours per week. The successful candidate must be able to provide their own office space including computer and internet access.

Compensation: The hourly rate for this position is $27.00/hour.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and sick time for full-time staff.
• 80% Employer-paid, $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim.
• Low-cost MetLife Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care.
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA.
• ...and more!

TSNE/MFS strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/MFS prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/MFS celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/MFS's EEO extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.