Lowell, MA - World PEAS Food Hub MANAGER

We are looking for a strong leader with a clear vision and an entrepreneurial spirit to help us grow our World PEAS Food Hub – apply today!

New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, a fiscally sponsored by Third Sector New England and a program of Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, is hiring for the position of World PEAS Food Hub Manager. This is a full time, year-round, salaried position with generous benefits based in Lowell, MA. We strongly encourage online applications. To apply, visit http://tsne.org/world-peas-food-hub-manager-new-entry-sustainable-farmin...

Job Description

World PEAS Food Hub is a project of New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, a beginning farmer training program. Our 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 World PEAS Food Hub Manager will head up the Local Food Access and Distribution Team at New Entry. This person will manage all activities associated with the $300,000+/year multi-farmer World PEAS Food Hub; including leading the Food Hub team in maintaining a high level of reputation for World PEAS products.  World PEAS Food Hub distributes fresh, locally-grown produce to over 35 distribution points around the greater Boston area through a 400-member CSA program, a low-income food access program, and an institutional market program. The Food Hub also provides market training and technical assistance to new and beginning farmers who are the main suppliers of the Food Hub. As a team leader, this person will contribute to decision-making and program planning for the organization as a whole.

Key Job Elements

Administration and Fundraising

Provide oversight and management of World PEAS Food Hub by working with Food Hub staff to ensure that objectives are met in a timely manner with measurable results;
Lead resource and fund development, including pursuing diverse funding sources, setting goals and raising funds from corporations, foundations, government agency grants and individual donors to support the World PEAS Food Hub, including low-income food access partnerships;
Ensure continued financial viability of the World PEAS Food Hub through controlling Food Hub expenditures to ensure sufficient human, financial, technological, informational and material resources are available to meet goals;
Develop annual business and operational plans, with performance targets, that are aligned with the World PEAS Food Hub annual budget.  Analyze and evaluate results and establish long-term growth/ sustainability options;
Hire and train the World PEAS Food Hub team. Conduct yearly staff performance evaluations;
Track activities through CRM software (Salesforce) to ensure adequate documentation for reports to funders and the community.

Logistics and Farmer Training

Provide leadership to the World PEAS Food Hub team in managing daily operations, including maintaining a 2,000 sq. ft. packing and distribution facility, conducting quality assurance with producer-suppliers and on-time produce delivery with good customer service to buyers;
Network with peers and implement best practices from other food hubs;
Lead Food Hub Team in analyzing, evaluating and interpreting customer and farmer preferences and trends in the community.  Continuously implement changes where needed to meet the needs of these stakeholders;
Manage shareholder communications and customer service;
Develop, maintain and manage on-line purchasing tools for over 400 CSA customers per year plus low-income outlets and institutional markets;
Develop and conduct sales, marketing/advertising, outreach and education programs to reach potential individual customers and institutional markets to generate revenue;
Develop system for produce quality assessment, documentation and feedback to farmers to ensure customer satisfaction;
Provide technical assistance to farmers in post-harvest practices to yield optimal produce quality;
Manage farmer bidding process and develop crop production schedules to maximize farmer income;
Manage annual farmer financial survey process to capture stats regarding farmer income;
Provide referrals to farmers to connect with other market opportunities.

Partnership Building

Build strategic partnerships and collaboration opportunities to grow the Food Hub with institutional, wholesale and retail customers as well as low-income food access community partners;
Manage efforts to build food access and equity around the greater Boston area through World PEAS Food Hub activities;
Oversee evaluation of partnerships for reporting to funders and the community.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree required or 5 years of experience overseeing Food Hub operations may substitute for degree. Master’s Degree preferred;
Prior entrepreneurial experience in supervising/managing a produce operation or agricultural business is essential. Demonstrated experience in working with people in an entrepreneurial business environment, which includes a level of business development, strategic thinking, business management and understanding of community based food systems;
Experience in building relationships and educating consumers;
Excellent customer service skills;
Community organizing and cross-cultural experience helpful; prepared to build relationships with beginning, immigrant and refugee farmer participants;
Minimum of 3 years supervisory experience required;
Highly organized and attention to detail;
Strong leadership and diplomacy skills;
Self-motivated and directed; works well within a rapidly-changing, high performance environment;
Ability to meet strict deadlines;
Effective communications, interpersonal skills and strong writing ability;
Clean driving record;
Working knowledge of computer software (MS Office, especially Excel database and spreadsheets, social media, Salesforce CRM, website content development, graphic design);
Access to reliable private transportation necessary;
Flexible schedule needed, including evenings and weekends.

Special requirements

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, cold and wet and up and down stairs.  Ability to drive and safely maneuver a 14’ or 16’ commercial box truck in urban traffic and congested city streets (no special license required, but must pass physical exam).

To Apply

We strongly encourage online applications. To apply, visit the employment section of our website at http://tsne.org/world-peas-food-hub-manager-new-entry-sustainable-farmin... . We also accept applications by mail or fax. Apply by mail to: Third Sector New England, Attn: Employment Manager, NonProfit Center, 89 South Street, Boston, MA  02111; or send by fax to: 617.523.2070.

Apply Now: http://www.tfaforms.com/282323?tfa_416=New%20Entry%20Sustainable%20Farmi...