Program Manager, Rethinking Farm to School

The Center for Ecoliteracy is seeking a Rethinking Farm to School Program Manager to join our dynamic team. The Center for Ecoliteracy supports CalFresh Healthy Living, UC Local Implementation Agencies (LIAs) to expand and enhance local procurement initiatives in California school districts. This team member will bring a depth of experience, curiosity, energy, and insight to our collaboration with the CalFresh Healthy Living, UC State Office.The Center for Ecoliteracy has a hybrid work environment in the landmark David Brower Center in Downtown Berkeley, California.About this RoleThe Rethinking Farm to School Program Manager will lead the Center for Ecoliteracy's work to expand Rethinking Farm to School: Strategies for SNAP-Ed, collaborating with public school districts to drive sustainable and equitable food systems. This role will support the implementation of approved policy, systems, and environmental change (PSE) interventions to increase access to healthy food for students in SNAP-ed-eligible school districts.The Rethinking Farm to School Program Manager position requires superior verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish; excellent presentation skills; attention to detail; a deep commitment to relationship management across diverse communities and geographies; and a willingness to travel up to 25% for statewide site visits, national conferences, andor events. This leadership role should have professional experience in designing and facilitating training, program management, and strategic partnership cultivation.  This is a full-time, exempt position that reports to the Senior Program Manager and works collaboratively with Center for Ecoliteracy staff and the CalFresh Healthy Living, UC State Office.Background on CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California Cooperative Extension (CFHL, UCCE)The CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE (CFHL, UCCE) program helps people eligible for CalFresh (known nationally as SNAP) lead healthier lives. California's SNAP-Ed mission is to inspire and empower under-served Californians to improve their health by promoting awareness, education, and community change through diverse partnerships, resulting in healthy eating and active living. Program staff and academics provide evidence-based nutrition and physical activity education and engage local communities in policy, system, and environmental change strategies that are supportive of community health and food and nutrition security. ResponsibilitiesPlan, coordinate, and conduct in-person and online training sessions, such as statewide webinars, regional calls, town halls, and anize and attend learning trips to SNAP-Ed-eligible school sites and county offices to gain hands-on experience and gather case studies highlighting programming that leverages Rethinking Farm to School. Provide technical assistance to CFHL, UCCE Advisors, Managers, Supervisors, and Educators to achieve local procurement goals, navigate regulations, and build partnerships within nutrition services departments, school administrations, and student bodies. Collect data on training attendance, types of training, and participant confidence, and contribute to assessment reports summarizing the final results.Deliver presentations to diverse stakeholders and seek opportunities to promote resources by attending andor presenting at conferences and events.Execute a communications plan that includes newsletters, case studies, social media, success stories, and other relevant web content.Assist other team members on the recruitment and orientation of SNAP-Ed-qualified school districts through one-to-one emails, phone calls, newsletters, events, and site visits.Collaborate with subcontractors on the development of marketing materials, educational resources, and co-facilitation of regional and statewide training.Serve as a lead content developer in collaboration with the program team on new Rethinking Farm to School offerings such as training sessions, virtual events, resources, publications, and networking events.Assume responsibilities for other program duties as needed.Required Skills and ExperienceMinimum two years of experience working in or with school nutrition programs, or school andor community gardens.Minimum of two years of experience designing and facilitating professional development for diverse adult audiences using engaging, hands-on methods in multiple formats (in-person, virtual, etc). Ability to manage deadlines and competing priorities using project management best practices, executing assignments with attention to detail and adherence to specifications.Spanish proficiency is required. Must be able to read, write, and effectively converse in Spanish. Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Community Health, or related field of study or equivalent education. Demonstrated excellence in written communications, including formal correspondence, research briefs, case studies, relevant newsletters, or professional resources. Computer knowledge, including skills in Google Suite tools, Slack, Zoom, and MS Office. The Center for Ecoliteracy runs in an Apple environment.Flexible as a team player; a proactive person who takes initiative, collaborates easily, and is solutions-oriented.Preferred Skills and ExperienceDeep understanding of the CalFresh Healthy Living, UC program and SNAP-Ed programming in the state.Experience navigating public school district partnerships. Basic understanding of federal and state curriculum standards in TK-12 education.Experience incorporating cultural competencies in school-related programming resources and activities. Research skills relevant to policy, public health, or advocacy related to food andor nutrition education (i.e., literature review, qualitative and quantitative data analysis).Personal and professional interests in California's sustainable food systems, institutional procurement and equitable supply chains, public health, andor research. About the Center for EcoliteracyThe Center for Ecoliteracy advances change in TK-12 education and school food systems to support students and the people who nourish them. We create original resources, collaborate on advocacy, and cultivate a growing network of leaders in our California Food for California Kids® initiative. Our 30-year history of successful systems change has resulted in millions of public school students receiving more fresh, local food and education about sustainability and food systems.Learn more at and .Our Commitment to Equity and Racial JusticeThe Center for Ecoliteracy pursues change in TK-12 education and school food systems to provide a more just, sustainable, and equitable experience for students and the people who nourish them. We recognize the harm that systemic racism, gender bias, and structural inequalities create in our public education, food, and labor systems, and strive to mitigate the health and educational inequities affecting low-income households and children of color. We amplify the voices of people who are marginalized and shape our work according to their messages. By listening and taking action to identify and include missing voices, we seek to shift power in both policy and decision-making. We are privileged to learn from our partners and will continue to grow and evolve our work to embody this commitment.Our Workplace CultureThe Center for Ecoliteracy supports a culture that prioritizes integrity, high professional standards, and working successfully with diverse colleagues, program beneficiaries, and community partners. This includes active participation in promoting a healthy workplace culture through organizational diversity and program assessment for equity and inclusion. We strive to build a culture of cooperation and mutual support and value flexibility, resilience, optimism, curiosity, and a sense of shared purpose.Equal Opportunity EmployerThe Center for Ecoliteracy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, or disability.SalaryThis is a full-time, exempt position. The salary is based on experience and ranges from $85,000 to $95,000 annually. A comprehensive benefits package is included.How to ApplyPlease email a personalized cover letter, relevant writing samples (such as case studies, training manuals, or other external reports), and your resume to with the subject line "[Last Name, First Name]: Program Manager, Rethinking Farm to School Application." Interviews will be conducted in February 2025.Do not use the "Easy Apply" feature on LinkedIn.

Created: 2025-02-21