Farmers Market Fellow

Overview

THIS POSITION WILL BE A SIX-MONTH FELLOWSHIP

 

 

The scope of work for this fellowship will include supporting the Farmers Market Coupon Program through market and vendor technical support, operations management, and evaluation. This is a part-time position estimated at 20-25 hours per week.

 

This position is ideal for someone interested in farmers' markets and food access program operations and evaluation. Within the internal OFJ team, the intern will work closely with the Program Manager but may be asked to contribute to other work in the office. 

 

Background:

 

The mission of the Mayor's Office of Food Justice is to build a food system that is equitable, resilient, sustainable, and just. In pursuit of this mission, OFJ will work to expand equitable access to nutritious food with respect to affordability, physical accessibility, and cultural connectedness, support Boston’s food economy, and promote environmentally sustainable and resilient food production.

 

Building on the work of the city's previous Office of Food Access, OFJ works to embed food systems and racial equity approaches into existing food access programming and to pursue whole-of-government strategies, in partnership with GrowBoston, that leverage city resources and partnerships to shift the city and region's food system, reduce food insecurity, and address the food system's impact on climate. This includes close partnerships with other city and state departments, along with facilitating a community of practice for organizations, businesses, and entities in the city that are addressing food insecurity and inequitable food access by developing a new food system. 

Responsibilities

Provide technical assistance for the Farmers Market Coupon Program:

• Support the Program Manager and the Program Coordinator in creating materials for the Market Manager training and technical support around program administration.
• Conduct site visits to Farmers Markets to monitor the program. 
• Liaise with community-based organizations and farmers markets to support coupon distribution and tracking.
• Share bi-weekly reports with markets and partner organizations.
• Assist market managers and vendors with additional program operations tasks related to the dissemination of coupons and reimbursement of markets.
• Assist with communications, volunteer engagement, and customer support as needed. 

Support reporting and evaluation of Coupon Program: 

• Support market managers' consistent and timely reporting of program data by support program evaluation.
• Enforce program rules and provide technical assistance as needed.
• Consolidate feedback from market managers, vendors, and volunteers.
• Support analysis of coupon redemption patterns and develop solutions to challenges that arise throughout the season.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications

To effectively perform the duties of this role, we seek a candidate with:

• Experience maintaining positive working relationships with internal and external partners, as well as constituents of all backgrounds.
• Demonstrated communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Experience with organizing primary programs or clinical data, including familiarity with Excel.
• Experience with social media strategy and implementation embedded within broader engagement strategies.
• Experience with low-wealth communities.
• Ability to function independently but also seek guidance as needed.
• Optimism and a desire to work efficiently, attention to detail, and an ability to make quick decisions.
• Familiarity with concepts of food insecurity, food justice, food equity, agriculture and/or health equity, etc.
• Experience working with Farmers Markets is a plus. 
• Multilingual applicants are strongly encouraged.
• Access to an MA driver's license and/or vehicle is ideal.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications and Google Suite.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.

 

 

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

 

Terms:

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/ $27.91 per hour

Hours per week: 20-25, Part-Time