Farm to School Grant Program Coordinator

Massachusetts Farm to School (massfarmtoschool.org), a fiscally sponsored project of TSNE (tsne.org) was founded in 2004 as a grassroots initiative to increase access to healthy, locally-grown food in schools and other institutions across the state. Our mission is to strengthen local farms and fisheries and promote healthy communities by increasing local food purchasing and education at schools. We believe that all students - regardless of race, place, or class - deserve access to local foods and food education in school.

Massachusetts Farm to School works in the following ways to impact local food procurement, promotion, and education in institutions across the state. 1) We provide training and technical assistance to school food service professionals, farmers and fishermen, distributors, educators, and other advocates; 2) We coordinate local food outreach and promotion through our Harvest of the Month campaign; 3) We facilitate networking of farm to school practitioners; and 4) We provide leadership to advance policies that support expanded farm to school activity.

Mass. Farm to School is seeking a Program Coordinator to support the successful implementation of a new statewide farm to school grant program. The Farm to School Grant Program Coordinator will work closely with the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to support Massachusetts K-12 schools and early education and care sites to apply for the grant opportunity, will coordinate professional development for grant recipients, and support evaluation of and communications about grantee projects.  The job will include extensive outreach to schools and early education centers as well as planning and implementing a variety of group training opportunities, and offering individualized technical assistance.

The successful candidate will have strong communication skills and experience with adult education. They should be a self-starter with the ability to work both independently and as a core member of an all-remote team.

This temporary position is 30 hours per week with an anticipated end date of June 2026. The pay range for this position is $30-33 /hr. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply as soon as possible with a preferred start date in early January.

Essential Job Functions

Technical Assistance

• Facilitate group and individualized trainings for K-12 school and early education staff about the grant opportunity
• Work with the Mass. Farm to School Education Program Manager to plan professional learning opportunities for grant recipients that will support the successful completion of their projects
• Support grant recipients to access other Mass. Farm to School resources such as the Harvest of the Month program and Farm to School Institute
• Facilitate connecting major grant recipients with a farm to school coach to support the implementation of their project
• Provide ongoing networking and learning for the cohort of contracted coaches supporting individual schools

Outreach & Communications

• Work with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Early Education and Care to promote the grant opportunity to eligible entities.
• Communicate regularly with grant recipients to document grant progress and share stories from grantees with a wider audience
• Develop content for communications pieces that document the impact of the grant program and make the case for continued investment in the program
• Support communications staff with social media and other communications that promote the program

Administrative Support

• Support Co-Directors in reporting as needed
• Provide administrative support to the program and communications staff, including database management

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

• Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Massachusetts Farm to School
• At least 2 years of work or volunteer experience in a non-profit or other professional setting
• Preferred experience working in a public school setting or working closely with school staff
• Basic understanding of grant writing and grants management
• Commitment to advancing racial equity in the farm to school movement. You apply an equity lens to all of your efforts and uphold inclusive practices in your work.
• Familiarity with school garden and school food programming preferred
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to engage effectively and sensitively with diverse constituents both remotely and in-person
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with program staff
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)

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, in Massachusetts

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $30.00 - $33.00 / hr and is commensurate with experience.

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/Massachsetts Farm to School 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/Massachusetts Farm to School 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/Massachusetts Farm to School 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/Massachusetts Farm to School's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.