Program Coordinator Food Hub

Tufts University•Beverly, MA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Food Hub is an extension of our educational programming for new farmers and is a practical training platform and curricula to educate producers on all aspects of business development, food safety and commercial direct market and wholesale readiness. The Food Hub embodies a unique relationship between beginning farmer producers and consumers, which benefits consumers, small-scale limited-resource farmers, local communities, and the environment. The Food Hub Program Coordinator supports the development and day-to-day coordination of New Entry's Food Hub initiatives that expand access to locally sourced food across the Greater Boston area. This is a hands-on, in-person role overseeing the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and Farm to School programs and supporting Food Hub operations. The coordinator is actively involved in operations and logistics, including produce packing, marketing, sales, deliveries, customer service, record keeping, and food safety management. They oversee the onboarding, training, coordination, and support of Food Hub volunteers and interns. They strengthen program reach by creating and sharing resources with customers and partners and by conducting community outreach and Farm to School programming to increase engagement. In addition, the coordinator supports evaluation of program effectiveness through survey administration and data analysis to inform continuous improvement. This role blends operational logistics, supervisory skills, community outreach, customer service, and program evaluation responsibilities to support the long-term success of the Food Hub.

Requirements

Associate's Degree in related discipline
3-5 years demonstrated experience in working with people in an entrepreneurial environment which includes communications, recordkeeping, and an understanding of community-based food systems
Teaching and/or volunteer leadership and volunteer management experience
Ability to perform varied and repetitive warehouse tasks including manual lifting of boxes between 25 – 50 pounds, in conditions that vary from hot and humid, to cold and wet, and up and down stairs or ladders
Experience in building relationships; excellent customer service skills
Working knowledge of computer software (MS Office, especially Excel database and spreadsheets, social media, Salesforce CRM, website content development, graphic design)
Highly organized and attention to detail
Ability to meet strict deadlines
Strong leadership and diplomacy skills
Self-motivated and directed; works well within a rapidly changing environment
Effective communication, interpersonal skills, and strong writing ability
Demonstrated ability to identify best practices and share between local and national projects
Flexible schedule needed, including evenings and weekends
Clean driving record and access to reliable private transportation necessary

Nice To Haves

Experience with Local Food Marketplace
Ability to drive and safely maneuver a refrigerated van or box truck in urban traffic and congested city streets or willingness to learn
Food safety or food handler training
Forklift training and experience or willingness to learn

Responsibilities

Manage Food Hub CSA programs by coordinating warehouse logistics, share packing, and distribution to clients and partners.
Support site hosts, customer service requests, and oversee on-farm pickup logistics (including coordination of Pick-Your-Own and ancillary on-farm sales).
Onboard, train and supervise volunteers and interns assigned to support CSA packing and Food Hub operations.
Provide Food Hub logistics coordination in the warehouse. Engage in packing, selling, driving, and sanitation for all Food Hub programs.
Support the improvement and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and logs. Maintain records in accordance with food safety standards to comply with third-party audit requirements.
Track and evaluate key metrics to assess the impact and effectiveness of Food Hub programs. Support evaluation planning, survey administration, and reporting.
Support training and technical assistance for beginning farmers to access wholesale markets. Support farmers in completing certifications and required food safety compliance documents.
Provide Food Hub logistics coordination in the warehouse. Engage in packing, selling, driving, and sanitation for all Food Hub programs.
Support the improvement and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and logs. Maintain records in accordance with food safety standards to comply with third-party audit requirements.
Track and evaluate key metrics to assess the impact and effectiveness of Food Hub programs. Support evaluation planning, survey administration, and reporting.
Support training and technical assistance for beginning farmers to access wholesale markets. Support farmers in completing certifications and required food safety compliance documents.