Position Title: Farm To School Coach
 

Supervisor: Farm To School Program Manager

Employee Status: Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Food Connects is an equal opportunity workplace that does not discriminate on the basis of disability or other legally protected categories. If an employee has a disability that makes it difficult to perform their job duties, they are encouraged to notify us to discuss reasonable accommodations. 

About Food Connects

Food Connects is a dynamic and quickly growing nonprofit organization based in Brattleboro, VT that delivers regionally produced food and educational and consulting services aimed at transforming regional food systems. Founded in 2013, Food Connects is a catalyst for food systems change by connecting the next generation with their food, regional farmers with new markets, and school chefs with regional food. 

Position Summary

Food Connects is seeking a Farm to School Coach to join our growing Farm to School team. As a member of the Food Connects Farm to School Program, the Farm to School Coach will serve as a motivational guide and knowledgeable resource for teachers, food service professionals, and school administrators to further develop and support Farm to School Programs throughout southern Vermont. 

As a FTS Coach, you will build capacity for schools to improve food, farm, and nutrition education and increase local food purchasing and school meal participation. This position requires an organized individual who is excited to have a varied workload. In support of your schools’ FTS teams, you may find yourself facilitating meetings, action planning, writing up newsletter articles, leading in-class lessons and activities, providing professional development training, or helping organize Food Connects FTS events. Experience and/or knowledge of school culture and curriculum is important, given your primary stakeholders will be school-based staff. Knowledge about gardening, local farms, nutrition, or community food systems is preferable but not required; there will be plenty of learning opportunities on the job!

Core Competencies

• Initiative
• Building Collaborative Relationships
• Effective Research
• Empowering Others
• Verbal and Written Communication Skills 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide general coaching support to school teams, including (1) using the Farm to School Rubric with each school as a general guide and (2) developing an Action Plan with each school.
• Provide in-class lessons and activities, such as supporting Harvest of the Month Taste Tests with member schools.   
• Contribute to the design and delivery of Farm to School professional development for local educators. 
• Support school nutrition professionals in identifying and accessing resources that help them increase student participation in school meal programs and accessing affordable local food.
• In collaboration with the Marketing Department, assist in storytelling to raise program awareness by writing newsletter articles, press releases, and social media posts.
• In collaboration with the Development Manager, support FTS school teams with grant writing and grant management. 
• Support member schools’ FTS teams in facilitating greater family and volunteer involvement in school­ based FTS projects and events.
• Attend and represent Food Connects at various school-based events for families (e.g., Wellness Nights and Open Houses).
• Provide Farm to School updates and presentations to School Boards or school administration as needed.
• Partner with relevant community groups as needed to advance FTS programming.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the FTS program through participation in planning, strategizing, and evaluation. 

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Schedule:

• 20 hours per week within the range of approximately 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.
• Occasional meetings and events on evenings and weekends (with plenty of advance notice).

Work Conditions: 

The Farm to School Coach is based in the Food Connects office in Brattleboro and will require frequent travel throughout southern Vermont. There will be opportunities for remote work, but office work and in-person meetings with school staff are an essential part of the position.

Physical Demands:

• The ability to lift 50 pounds.
• This position entails frequent travel to numerous locations under various weather conditions. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications 

• Professional experience in education, nonprofit or public health sectors. 
• Experience leading lessons and activities in K-12 settings and/or other educational contexts.
• General knowledge of veggies, fruits, and other locally-produced items.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal (in person, over the phone, email, text, etc.).
• Excellent group facilitation skills. 
• Excellent customer service skills. 
• Strong technological proficiency including Google Suite and spreadsheet use; comfort with learning new software platforms.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and in the face of changing demands.
• Strong organizational skills and natural proclivity for keeping detailed records.
• Cheerful, professional presence. 
• Self-starter who can work well independently.
• Ability to work effectively with others in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to quickly assess a situation and make necessary decisions; skilled at creative problem solving.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage workload in a fast-paced, ever-evolving work environment. 
• Reliable private vehicle for occasional regional travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Farm to School programs, school gardens, and/or the local food system.
• Experience providing professional development training to teachers and other educators.
• Knowledge of, or familiarity with, key State/Regional Farm to School partners, such as VT-FEED, Green Mountain Farm to School, VT Agency of Agriculture, Hunger Free VT, etc.
• Familiarity with, and enthusiasm for, working in southern Vermont.
• Experience with graphic design and visual communications.
• Experience coordinating events.