Central Operator

The Maine Food Convergence Project (MFCP) (mainefoodconvergence.org) 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. MFCP is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE (tsne.org).

Local Food Switchboard Overview

Hosted by MFCP and funded in large part by a USDA/Full Plates Full Potential School Food System Innovation Grant, the Local Food Switchboard, currently in its design and development phase, will serve as a central hub for coordinating logistics services within Maine's local food system. Specifically, it will act as a “virtual assistant” to the School Food Marketplace (SFM). The Switchboard will streamline local food procurement, connect various interest-holders in Maine's food system, and increase local food sourcing in schools and beyond. It will provide detailed information on a) food products and businesses, b) processing, distribution and other supply web infrastructure, and c) food system resources such as financial and technical assistance.

The development of the platform itself will begin in October 2025; this position will join the project at this critical transition point, helping to pilot and refine the Switchboard while supporting its official launch and statewide rollout. A Switchboard “Central Operator” will be responsible for updating product database and maintaining communications between supply web actors and schools.

Besides increasing nourishing local food in schools, a key goal of the Switchboard is to build stronger connections with food producers and harvesters who face systemic barriers to capital and market access due to racism, transphobia, ableism, classism, and immigration status. By fostering collaboration, we aim to support their infrastructure, equipment, market access, and resource needs, creating a more equitable and resilient food system.

The Maine Food Convergence Project (MFCP) seeks a Central Operator to coordinate and expand the Local Food Switchboard. The Central Operator will serve as the primary steward of the Local Food Switchboard, ensuring it is an accessible, up-to-date, and trusted tool for connecting Maine’s food supply web. This role will bridge the phases of development to implementation. The priorities outlined below represent responsibilities to be taken on over the course of the position. Many of these are supportive rather than solo efforts, often in collaboration with and in support of other staff members. As the project evolves, so too will the focus of this role - the expectation is not to carry them all at once.

Essential Functions

User Support & Accessibility

• Operate the Switchboard help line (e.g., phone, chat, text) and offer direct support to users.
• Assist users with account creation, troubleshooting, and onboarding, accommodating varying levels of digital literacy.
• Post in real time on behalf of users who face barriers to participation (e.g., language, comfort level, accessibility).
• Serve as an “analog” connector by supporting offline and in-person access to Switchboard services.
• Uphold community standards, help navigate disagreements, and encourage user autonomy to strengthen relationships across the supply web.

Data Management & System Maintenance

• Regularly vet, validate, and update data, including on products, infrastructure, and resource contacts.
• Ensure privacy and security of sensitive data, especially for vulnerable populations.
• Monitor and moderate community activity to prevent spam or harmful behavior.
• Identify gaps or underused assets in the food system and flag emerging trends.

Matchmaking & Coordination

• Act as an intermediary to connect producers, processors, distributors, and institutional buyers.
• Support coordination around storage, aggregation, seasonality, and logistics.
• Use Switchboard platform tools to help identify easy matches; step in directly to resolve complex coordination needs.

Relationship Management & Outreach

• Build and maintain strong relationships with food producers, buyers, processors, distributors and regional partners in Maine and New England, with a particular focus on building trust with underrepresented and historically marginalized communities.
• Support MFCP staff to communicate the value of the Switchboard to allies, funders, and policymakers; share success stories and lessons learned.
• Support marketing and outreach strategies to expand Switchboard use, in collaboration with MFCP’s marketing and communications team.
• Collaborate with the MFCP team and consultants to advocate for Switchboard adoption and scaling.

Reporting & Learning

• Track user activity, successes, and challenges; compile reports on gaps, opportunities, and emerging needs.
• Contribute insights to advocacy, investment, and policy efforts.
• Help identify and prioritize areas for iteration and platform improvement.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below. We encourage applicants with a mix of relevant skills and experiences to apply. If you are passionate about strengthening Maine’s food system and believe you can contribute to this work, we want to hear from you! 

• Experience in food systems, supply chain coordination, and/or community-based program management (Maine-specific experience preferred).
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to engage with various team members, producers, buyers, and community partners across diverse regions.
• Comfort with data entry, validation, and basic analysis; experience maintaining shared databases or inventories.
• Ability to troubleshoot and support users with varying levels of technical comfort.
• Experience with outreach, training, and facilitation (e.g., small workshops, help sessions).
• Familiarity with equity-centered practices; ability to work respectfully with historically marginalized communities.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple priorities, and follow through on commitments.
• Adaptability, creativity, and a solutions-oriented mindset in a collaborative, evolving project.

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.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed remote, with required frequent travel, state-wide in Maine, for in-person meetings and events.

Compensation: The hourly range for this position is $26.00 - $29.00/hr and is commensurate with experience.

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

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): twelve paid holidays, vacation, personal holiday, and the ability to accrue up to 487.5 hours of health leave time for benefited staff.
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost Guardian Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care.
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employer-paid Pension and Employee-paid 403b plan through TIAA.
• ...and more!

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