Seeking Director, Farm to Institution Programs

Hiring Organization: Center for Regional Food Systems
Employment type: Full-Time
Application Due Date: November 6, 2023

This outreach specialist position will provide overall direction and coordinate outreach, education, research, and evaluation activities for existing and future farm to institution efforts at MSU Center for Regional Food System.

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems seeks a full-time, fixed-term Director of Farm to Institution Programs. This Academic Specialist position provides a unique opportunity for an experienced, motivated, and resourceful leader to bring creative vision and support to the strong farm to institution foundation existing here in Michigan. The Director will work closely with partners from MSU Extension, state agencies, community-based organizations, institutions, farms and food vendors, funding agencies, and other state, regional, and national organizations.  

Within this highly collaborative role, the Director will provide overall leadership for the Michigan Farm to Institution Network, including coordinating the management team and advisory committee, communications, network activities, and more. Additionally, the Director will lead and support other projects related to CRFS’ statewide and national farm to institution and farm to school strategy, such as evaluating local food incentive program 10 Cents a Meal, maintaining Michigan Farm to School resources and communications, and providing technical assistance to Michigan based grantees of the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub.  

CRFS’s highly collaborative role in farm to institution work is well-established and requires a diplomatic leader with great organizational skills to collaboratively engage a range of existing relationships and diverse stakeholders. Using a racial equity lens in all outreach strategies, research, and communication efforts is an essential part of all CRFS programming.  

Salary: $66,000-$74,000, commensurate with experience, plus MSU’s benefit package. 

Applications will be accepted until 11:55 pm E.T. on November 6, 2023  

If you have questions about the position or search process, you may contact Megan McManus, Search Chair ( mcmanu60@msu.edu).  
 
Find the full position description on our website and on the Careers @ MSU Job Posting #900714 

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Position Overview 

The Director will provide overall direction and coordinate outreach, education, research, and evaluation activities for existing and future CRFS farm to institution efforts, including but not limited to: 

  • Overall leadership for the Michigan Farm to Institution Network (MFIN), and Cultivate Michigan, its local food campaign. Responsibilities include coordinating and/or supporting: 
    • a management team and advisory committee, network recruitment, membership; 
    • communications through various channels (website, email, social media, etc.); 
    • network activities and events, including virtual and in-person meetings, tours, trainings, and marketplaces and other buyer-seller events for institutional food service operators and farmers and food vendors, etc.; 
    • shared measurement tracking and other research efforts through Cultivate Michigan and other related projects; and,
    • gathering of regular feedback and needs from members to shape and guide network activities and overall direction. 
  • Lead or support other projects that relate to CRFS’ statewide and national farm to institution and farm to school strategy, which may include: 
    • serving as a state lead for the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub, recruiting and supporting applicants for a regranting program and providing technical assistance to grantees; 
    • evaluating and providing technical assistance for 10 Cents a Meal, including documenting and sharing program results; 
    • partnering with national organizations, consultants, and practitioners to provide outreach and education about school-based local food purchasing incentive programs (similar to Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal program); 
    • maintaining current Michigan Farm to School resources and communications and providing outreach and technical assistance for farm to school practitioners, farmers and vendors, and supporters; and, 
    • engaging with and contributing farm to institution expertise to federal and other grant-funded outreach projects as needed, led by CRFS and MSU staff or external partners. 
  • Staff supervision. 

Expectations for all CRFS academic specialists: 

  • Contribute to relationship-building and regularly convene and/or collaborate with CRFS staff and state and national partners virtually and in person; 
  • Engage with relevant networks led by CRFS and/or partners and appropriate professional organizations; 
  • Provide leadership for outreach, training, technical assistance, research, data collection and analysis, including through web-based platforms, electronic surveys, etc., and share results; 
  • Develop papers, resources, and other creative forms of scholarship in a timely fashion for diverse audiences, including practitioners, stakeholders, the general public, and academics. Publication examples include reports, fact sheets, guides, videos, webinars, and journal articles; 
  • Present on outreach, research and/or education projects and findings at conferences, meetings, and other venues, which may include scholarly, government, association, and community audiences; 
  • Document and share project work and accomplishments; maintain regular internal and external communication about project activities; write grant proposals and reports and pursue future grant funding; develop and report on an annual plan of work; 
  • Actively participate in CRFS staff and strategic meetings and stay current on CRFS projects, activities, resources and publications as relevant to this work; 
  • Represent projects and CRFS in a professional manner in all forms of engagement and communication; and 
  • Help to foster, facilitate, and maintain the CRFS culture of anti-racism, trust, support, and accountability. 

Qualifications 

  • Master's degree. 
  • At least five years of work experience in farm to institution or related field with at least two years in a professional or academic setting. Candidates with demonstrated experience fulfilling responsibilities such as program coordination and delivery, project management, data collection, analysis, and reporting, and provision of technical assistance, training, or outreach, preferred. 
  • Demonstrated leadership, facilitation, and project and team management skills in collaborative work environments. Experience as a program leader or director and team supervisor preferred. 
  • Demonstrated resourcefulness, collaboration, and ability to problem-solve and think critically. 
  • Proven ability to self-direct and balance multiple streams of programming, projects, and deliverables simultaneously and to easily shift between working independently and collaboratively, including as part of, or leading, a team. 
  • Demonstrated strong written and verbal communications skills and experience using a broad range of communication tactics. 
  • Demonstrated experience using an equity lens in food systems programming and working with multicultural and diverse populations. 
  • Proven ability to effectively and diplomatically engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholder groups such as institutions, farmers and food businesses, as well as nonprofit, academic, and governmental organizations and funders. Experience in network development, training or teaching adult audiences, and/or presenting desired. 
  • Understanding of, and committed to, a culture of anti-racism and inclusivity.  
  • High degree of knowledge of, and comfort and flexibility with, using technology in completing job requirements including Microsoft Office suite; online search, file-sharing, and collaboration platforms; electronic survey and data analysis software; and phone/web conferencing systems. 
  • Available and willing to occasionally travel by car throughout the state and by plane within the U.S., including overnight. Possession of a valid, current state driver’s license required. 
  • Residency within the state of Michigan. 

Required Application Materials 

Qualified applicants should submit: 

  •  CV or resume 
  • Cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position. Include a statement of your philosophy that specifically addresses the alignment between your goals and the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ (CANR) focus on excellence through diversity and inclusion, including summary of your experience with, or interest in, working in diverse communities and with diverse stakeholders.
  • Names and contact information of three references 


Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

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Center for Regional Food Systems

Food System Infrastructure, Planning and Policy

Michigan Good Food

Farm to Institution/School

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