Real Food Project Advocacy & Education Coordinator

Reports to: Executive Director

Pay: $20,800/annually, 20 hours/week

FLSA Status: Part-Time, Non-Exempt 

About the Position:

The Real Food Project Advocacy & Education Coordinator (RFPAEC) is a strategic and compassionate leader who expands the reach of GOFM’s Food Access Programming and coordinates and manages GOFM’s Real Food Project Community Meals & Cooking Classes. The RFPAEC is an integral conduit between low-income households and GOFM’s many initiatives designed to bolster their fresh food-buying power, build relationships around food, provide nutrition & human connection to local food-insecure individuals and discover/create pathways of outreach and communication with the Latinx Spanish-speaking community in Galveston County in order to increase their comfort with GOFM’s operations and encourage increased usage of Food Access Programming.

The RFPAEC performs regular duties including but not limited to: management of regular monthly meals & cooking classes, data entry, onsite volunteer management, development of new partnerships & organizing outreach opportunities that focus on Spanish-speaking & low-income communities. The RFPAEC acts as the “host” of the party at meals/classes, they schedule/support chefs to teach our cooking classes, and work in partnership with GOFM’s Community Engagement Coordinator to recruit and cultivate volunteers.

In a typical month, there are four total RFP events, including 1 dinner or 1 cooking class per week; occasionally, there are 2 events per week. To promote GOFM’s Food Access initiatives, the RFPAEC will organize or participate in an average of 3-5 outreach/education events per month, that will occasionally include participation at the Sunday farmers market.

This position will often work as a team with the Community Engagement Coordinator and Market Manager in order to most effectively amplify GOFM’s outreach to Galveston County residents who could benefit from GOFM’s Food Access Program and Real Food Project activities.

How to Apply:

Apply by (1) completing the job application & (2) sending your resume to info@gofarmersmarket.com

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Reports to Executive Director for assignments and feedback. Meets weekly to discuss status of current projects and to take on new and shifting tasks. 

• Pilots the role by regularly checking in to discuss effectiveness, & maintains flexibility as responsibilities are adjusted.

• Manages the meals & classes by ensuring all operations are carried out efficiently and safely. 

• Responsible for supporting the existing community environment GOFM has built through cheerful & professional interactions with community members, clients, vendors, volunteers & site staff.

• Manages primary calendar of all Community Meals/Cooking classes & communication with hosts

• Maintains all RFP equipment and dishes including cleaning up after every event.

• Spends within budget & includes ingredients purchased from GOFM vendors at RFP events.

• Supports GOFM’s commitment to reducing waste by using reusable materials wherever possible

• Provides guidance and direction to volunteers. Demonstrates GOFM’s appreciation for volunteer time and efforts through actions and words, and through maintenance of the RFP Social Club

• Inputs raw data from all events into relevant spreadsheets, Google forms and other documents as needed. Coordinates with Director of Finance to ensure payments are made to relevant parties.

• In partnership with designated staff, conduct regular outreach to promote food access programming to target audiences ( food banks, corners stores, churches, service providers, etc)  

• Attends weekly staff meetings and other GOFM meetings, trainings, events, etc. as needed

• Provides a monthly written Program Report for GOFM Board Meetings.

• Conducts regular inventory of supplies and cares for equipment. 

• In partnership with designated GOFM staff, create & execute targeted food access outreach plans

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Fluency in Spanish language, written and spoken

• Experience and passion for cooking and eating healthy, seasonal foods

• Comfortable speaking to and instructing a crowd

• Comfortable working with adults & children

• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal and communication skills

• Extremely detail-driven and highly-organized

• Time management skills and self-motivating focus

• Strong customer service skills- displays enthusiastic, outgoing, and helpful behavior

• Ability to finish projects with minimal management

• Aptitude for prioritizing and completing multiple tasks within time restraints

• Knowledgeable and adept at Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, etc.) applications

• Willingness to learn and expand job skills

• Must have reliable transportation and access to a computer with internet connection and printer

Education/Experience:

• Culinary background or education is a bonus, but not required.

• Passion for farmers’ markets, local food and sustainability. Believes in the value of fresh, locally-grown goods and increasing food access for all demographics on the island. 

• Experience in the hospitality industry is preferred, but not required.

• Experience in event planning and coordination preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Should be able to lift ~30 lbs. and stand, walk, or sit for prolonged periods of time

• Must be able to travel to community sites at least 1x/week

*Sample Schedule*

• Monday: 4 hrs, GOFM Meetings + administrative duties (9:30a–1:30p)

• Tuesday: 4 hrs, Outreach event (one block of time within 9am-5pm)

• Wednesday: 4 hrs, Networking + administrative duties (one block of time within 9am-5pm)

• Thursday: 4 hrs, Community Meal at ACCT/Gulf Breeze (9:30a–1:30p OR 3:30p–7:00p)

• Friday: 4 hrs, Cooking Class with Galveston College (3:30p-7:30p)

• *Consider: ingredients shopping, emailing with partners, meeting with potential partners, GOFM team meetings on side projects/marketing, cooking demos at Sunday market, etc.)