Planning & Research Associate II (Institutional Market Development Coordinator) - Local Food Procurement - 0994

Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry•Augusta, GA

41d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is recruiting to fill a full-time Institutional Market Development Coordinator (Planning and Research Associate II) position with the Division of Agricultural Resource Development at its Augusta headquarters. Remote work options are available subject to management approval. The person in this position plays a key role in Maine’s local food systems. Maine Revised Statute Title 7, §214-A Food and Food Policy established a Local Foods Procurement Program. Unlike previous local food procurement policies, this program includes a specific goal that, by no later than 2025, 20% of all food and food products procured by state institutions are Maine food or food products. Correlating to this program, is the Maine Climate Action Plan Goal to increase the amount of food consumed in Maine from state food producers to 30% by 2030. This professional position plays a key role in developing and implementing a Local Foods Procurement Program to increase the use of local food by state-funded institutions and other entities (such as hospitals, higher education, and correctional facilities). This position will assist in developing connections between state purchasers, Maine food producers, distributors, and other institutional stakeholders. The selected candidate will establish guidelines to assist state institutions in assessing their ability to procure local foods, provide department education and outreach to farms, farmers markets, community supported agriculture and seafood providers to increase the sale and purchase of local foods by state institutions and food supplement programs. Work involves assessing baseline data and establishing objectives; developing rules, policies, and procedures; recruiting participation in and maintaining a database of wholesale producers; developing written reports and online media; and collecting, analyzing, and reporting data outcomes. This position is situated within the Department’s Division of Agricultural Resource Development (ARD) which deploys several statewide programs benefiting farms, food producers, and the general public. The position provides administrative support to accomplish Division goals and objectives.

Requirements

Direct experience in local food system work with nonprofits or municipal or state government.
Robust project management experience and ability to action plan and achieve benchmarks.
Experience in convening stakeholder groups and helping such groups achieve consensus.
Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex projects under deadline.
Experience developing policies for an organization or network.
High degree of comfort with public speaking.
Creativity ability to write copy, create graphics, and develop basic marketing tools.
Highly organized written communication skills, including succinctly yet thoroughly conveying program outcomes and objectives in written reports.
An eight (8) year combination of education, training, and/or experience providing a knowledge of planning and research principles, practices, and techniques.

Nice To Haves

Excellent organizational, writing, communication, teaming, problem-solving, consensus-building, and process skills are essential.
Bachelor’s degree in sustainable agriculture, food systems, natural resources management, public policy, or a directly related field and four (4) years of professional experience in food systems management, supply chain or market development coordination, and/or related field.
A master’s degree would be helpful.
Related training and experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
Knowledge of grant administration processes and inter-organizational coordination.
Familiarity with federal funding processes and program management.
Knowledge of application management, contract management, and technical support.
Strong analytical skills.
Knowledge of monitoring, reporting, data collection, audit practices, and analysis.
Experience developing and implementing budgets and knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a Local Foods Procurement Program to increase the use of local food by state-funded institutions and other entities.
Assist in developing connections between state purchasers, Maine food producers, distributors, and other institutional stakeholders.
Establish guidelines to assist state institutions in assessing their ability to procure local foods.
Provide department education and outreach to farms, farmers markets, community supported agriculture and seafood providers to increase the sale and purchase of local foods by state institutions and food supplement programs.
Assess baseline data and establish objectives.
Develop rules, policies, and procedures.
Recruit participation in and maintain a database of wholesale producers.
Develop written reports and online media.
Collect, analyze, and report data outcomes.
Provide administrative support to accomplish Division goals and objectives.

Benefits

13 paid holidays
12 days of sick leave
3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums
Health Insurance Premium Credit
Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums
Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.11% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
Gym Membership Reimbursement – up to $40 per month
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
Living Resources Program – employee assistance program
Parental leave – forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave
Voluntary Deferred Compensation – MaineSaves 457(b) account