ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Farm to Institution New England (FINE) serves as the backbone for the growing and dynamic network of nonprofit, public, and private entities working collaboratively across six states to mobilize the power of New England institutions to transform our food system. FINE supports this network through various activities and functions that can be summarized as:

• Convening stakeholders to build relationships;
• Providing communication tools for information sharing, and;
• Developing metrics to better understand the system we are working to change.

FINE also coordinates innovative programs to address key barriers in the supply chain and to set a policy and programmatic agenda for the region’s farm to institution stakeholders. For example, the New England Farm and Sea to Campus program focuses on the college and university sector and the Food Service Program provides strategies to help institutions integrate local and sustainable food values into contracted food service operations.

Finally, FINE coordinates communities of practice for peers who seek a pre-competitive space to share promising practices and develop collaborative strategies. As we mark our seventh anniversary, FINE is at a pivotal point in our evolution. We are a small team of talented staff, well-connected and knowledgeable advisors, with effective fiscal sponsorship services provided by TSNE MissionWorks, and committed institutional partners who are seeking to source more local food for their dining operations from regional providers. Challenges? Sure, we have those. And we are eager to take them on. Interested in joining us? Read on.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Programs is a new position. The individual hired will play a senior strategic and management role for FINE. Specific responsibilities include management of the New England Farm and Sea to Campus Program and the FINE Food Service Program. The Director of Programs will also play leadership roles in fundraising and internal operations. All FINE staff work remotely in highly collaborative teams, and are driven by a commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in everything we do. There is potential for all FINE staff to take on more responsibility over time.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The Director of Programs will directly perform — or supervise staff, interns, or consultants to perform — the following functions:

• Coordinate the activities of the FINE Farm and Sea to Campus Network steering committee and support four working groups focusing on supply chain, tracking and evaluation, education and engagement, and campus farms;
• Coordinate a monthly series of virtual forums (webinars) featuring content experts and discussion on cutting edge topics related to strengthening campus food system efforts;
• Manage the FINE campus dining operator listserv;
• Coordinate the FINE Campus FoodShift initiative that convenes teams of technical experts to provide customized assistance to a cohort of a few colleges and universities each year to shift their local food programs;
• Coordinate the FINE Food Service Program that conducts research, develops tools, and provides direct assistance to institutions regarding strategies to better incorporate regional food system values into food service management contracts and operations;
• Develop and implement creative funding strategies to support our work, including fee for service practices, and fostering relationships with potential private business and public funding partners;
• Manage a portion of the organization’s operational functions, which are to be determined based on distribution of tasks among other team members;
• Work with all staff on organizational planning, communications, events, metrics, and evaluation of our work to ensure continuous improvement and to maintain a sense of humor .

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The Director of Programs  must:

• Reside in New England;
• Have access to a computer, reliable internet and phone service;
• Have the ability to travel (primarily within New England) one or two times per month.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience and knowledge in food production, distribution, processing, and food service;
• Experience in institutional food service operations;
• A Bachelor’s Degree and five years’ experience in related fields or Master’s Degree and three years’ experience;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Excellent facilitation and project management skills;
• Experience working within nonprofit organizations;
• Experience working with government agencies;
• Proven commitments to participatory systems, active democracy, and social justice;
• Familiarity with Google Apps, as well as Basecamp;
• Three to five years’ of experience supervising staff;
• Good sense of humor greatly appreciated;
• People of color, people with disabilities and people of diverse cultures, sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities are encouraged to apply.

COMPENSATION

Competitive salary based on skills and experience. A generous benefits package is included.

TO APPLY

We strongly encourage online applications. Please attach your resume and a cover letter.

Apply online here.

We also accept applications by mail or fax. Send to:

TSNE MissionWorks
Attn: Human Resources
NonProfit Center
89 South Street, Suite 700
Boston, MA  02111

Or fax to: 617.896.9393.

TSNE MissionWorks envisions a society grounded  in principles of social and economic justice . As such, we strive to achieve excellence through a diverse and inclusive workplace that honors each individual as a whole person.  Our vision and values are reflected in all our employment-related decisions, including hiring practices. Accordingly, TSNE MissionWorks actively seeks people who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in our work. We value the unique talents and contributions of each of our employees.

As an EOE/AA employer, TSNE MissionWorks will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status, or any other factor prohibited by law.