Hiring: Network Manager – Massachusetts Food System Collaborative

The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative (mafoodsystem.org) supports collective action toward an equitable, sustainable, resilient, and connected local food system in Massachusetts. The Collaborative was created following the completion of the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan in December 2015.

Our relationships with organizations, public sector agencies and policymakers, and other food system stakeholders around the state inform the Collaborative’s priorities. We work toward policy change that will contribute to a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system by building broad support for advocacy campaigns and providing training and other resources to allow partners to participate effectively. We bring together players throughout the food system in an effort to demonstrate the breadth of the food system, and facilitate opportunities for stakeholders to work collaboratively.

Through these networks, we lead advocacy campaigns around items in the Plan that emphasize cross-sectoral collaboration; support equity, sustainability, and resilience in the food system; and have the potential for significant impact through coordinated grassroots efforts. These efforts work toward systemic solutions to targeted problems, increase communication among key stakeholders, and highlight and promote the sharing of best practices.

The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative is fiscally sponsored by TSNE (tsne.org).

The Network Manager develops, implements and manages projects that support a sustainable, equitable, and resilient local food system. The Network Manager works with a portfolio of stakeholder organizations to build their understanding of public policy issues that affect their work and their constituencies, helps build their capacity to engage in advocacy to change those policies when needed, and facilitates and coordinates those advocacy efforts. Projects include coalitions, campaigns, and other network-based efforts that support policy change.

Campaigns and Projects

• Develop project objectives and goals, including policy priorities, in partnership with the Policy Director.
• Build and facilitate networks to support and inform projects.
• Develop and implement resources to support partner organizations in engaging in campaigns and projects:
  • research and develop written and online reports and other materials to engage and support partners;
  • plan and coordinate meetings, trainings, and events; and
  • develop and implement tools (databases, listservs, webinars, etc.) to facilitate communication.
• Develop and implement external communications tools to support projects, including e-newsletters, websites, social media, earned media, and other publications, in partnership with other staff.

Network building

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and organizations important to the Collaborative’s mission.
• Represent the Collaborative at public events, conferences, and organizational meetings as needed.
• Assist in organizing and coordinating regional and statewide meetings and events.
• Assist with grant research, writing, and reporting.
• Attend and participate in regular project and governance meetings, in person and by zoom or phone.

Other duties, as needed.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Experience in managing projects that involve various stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and work successfully ng with persons of diverse backgrounds, including people with different racial, ethnic and class backgrounds, people of different genders, and people with disabilities.
• Must be detail-oriented; effectively prioritize, multi-task and problem-solve; pay attention to deadlines and details; have good organizational skills; communicate clearly and confidently; must demonstrate flexibility.
• Strong facilitation skills, including facilitation of remote meetings with participants from diverse racial and class backgrounds.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• An understanding of the food system’s functions and activities.
• A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in program management, coalition development, and communications.
• A commitment to the goals of the Collaborative.
• Ability to handle multiple complex projects at once.
• Ability to travel to meetings, as needed.
• Familiarity and comfort with MS-Office, Outlook, Google Office, website management, teleconferencing platforms, and social media platforms.
• Reliable personal computer and internet connection with video and voice conferencing capabilities.
• Reliable personal phone.

TO APPLY

Candidates must include a resume and a cover letter that describes how qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of MAFSC. Click here to apply.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Ability to sit and/or for extended periods of time in front of a computer screen is an essential aspect of the position.
• There may be a need to lift and/or move materials or equipment up to 25 pounds.
• Talk, hear and see in the normal range with or without correction.
• Use hands or fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls.
• Move, Traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); reach with hands and arms; occasionally Ascend/Descend; and position self (to), move.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight.
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Primarily remote from personal home office, in Massachusetts. Occasional in-state travel to meetings and events.

Schedule: 37.5 hours per week. Occasional evenings or weekend hours may be required.

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $58,500 – $68,000/yr and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and health leave time for full-time staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost Guardian Dental and Vision;
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care;
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance;
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA;
• …and more!

TSNE/MAFSC strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/MAFSC prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/MAFSC celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/MAFSC’s EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.