Program Manager III – Farmers’ Market Access & Equity (FMAE)

ECOLOGY CENTER BACKGROUND

The Ecology Center’s mission is to inspire and build a sustainable, healthy, and just future for the East Bay, California, and beyond. The Ecology Center transforms the ideas of sustainability into everyday practice. We offer information you can act on, infrastructure you can count on, and leadership for lasting change. We are working toward a world of resilient communities, zero waste and toxics, equal access to healthy food, sustainable resource use, and a safe and stable climate.

Founded in the run-up to the first Earth Day in 1970, the Ecology Center has been a regional and national leader on a wide range of issues, turning vision into action and cementing it with advocacy. We operate the nation’s first and longest running curbside recycling service, nationally recognized food and farming programs, and model education and engagement activities.

We are a committed, congenial, and diverse staff dedicated to making the world a better place through action. Every employee is integral to the success of our organization. We value vision, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. If you are passionate and qualified, we encourage you to apply to be part of our team.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Program Manager III (PMIII) for Ecology Center’s Farmers’ Market Access & Equity (FMAE) program plays a pivotal role in maintaining and advancing the Ecology Center’s statewide food equity work. Notably, this role oversees our flagship “Market Match” program. Market Match is California’s largest healthy food incentive program, matching Calfresh/SNAP spending with vouchers for fresh produce at nearly 300 farm-to-consumer sites across the state. Further, this role oversees operations for the California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets by supporting a steering committee of industry professionals that work to develop capacity, increase accessibility and advocate for the interests of CA farm-direct sites.

The FMAE PMIII ensures the success of the program’s short and long-term goals, aligning them with organizational values and mission.

KEY ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Team Leadership and Supervision:

• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate FMAE staff.
• Cultivate a cohesive and efficient team
• Ensure staff compliance with policies and procedures.

Program/Org Leadership:

• Collaborate with the Program Director and Executive Director to strategize for the FMAE program’s long-term success.
• Lead all FMAE operations, including program structure, project planning, and adapting to innovations as they emerge
• Occasionally support in organization wide development and leadership activitiesA

Project Management:

• Lead a Project Manager who is responsible for developing and managing work plan tasks to execution.
• Use project management software (Asana) for project workflows/ tracking, with support from project manager.
• Oversee annual and quarterly planning to identify priority deliverables for multiple government and/or foundation grants.

Grant and Budget Management:

• Oversee multi-million dollar grants to meet deliverables.
• Develop and manage program budgets with scenario planning and forecasting, with guidance from the Finance Director.
• Ensure compliance with financial policies and audit needs.
• Manage subcontractor invoicing and monthly reporting and compliance for state and federal for grants
• Manage and conduct compliance visits at Market Match sites across the state

Grant Writing:

• Actively support foundation and government grant submissions to fund the FMAE program
• Help identify and conceptualize approaches, engage partners and develop budgets and narratives for grant submissions.

Communications / Outreach:

• Represent the Ecology Center to public, officials, media, and partners on Market Match and CalFresh/SNAP access.
• Participate in state and national committees and coalitions.
• Maintain partnerships with healthy food access programs.
• Lead program promotion through various channels including: social media, creating printed collateral, and developing/maintaining relationships with community stakeholders such as California Department of Social Services.

Community of Practice/ Coalition Leadership:

• Lead a statewide community of practice for approximately 60 subcontractors providing Market Match.
• Lead competitive RFA process to recruit, approve, and onboard subcontractors (partners) for Market Match.
• Lead planning for webinars, meetings and conferences to cultivate the state-wide Market Match community of practice.
• Lead team to collect and share information relevant to improving Market Match
• Attend national and regional nutrition incentive and related conferences in person and virtually
• Collaborate with California Farmers’ Market Industry Group Steering committee to establish and execute projects that advance, promote, and develop processional capacity for equitable and accessible farmers’ markets in California
• Lead cohort of participants in any Nutrition Incentive technology pilot projects to innovate the future of Market Match and healthy food benefit programs at farm-direct sites in California

Data and Reporting:

• Ensure high-quality data collection and data reporting from statewide partners.
• Prepare reports and fulfill data requests using Airtable.
• Lead/ develop maintenance plan for the Farmers’ Market Finder site with the Web Developer contractor.
• Lead data requests and analysis for state and national program evaluators
• Lead in writing grant progress reports using data collected to demonstrate progress and challenges to grantors.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated commitment to the Ecology Center’s mission, to sustainable food systems and to centering diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in work.
• Success in leading hybrid and remote teams.
• Strong project management skills; excels at detailed planning and execution
• Experience managing government grant funds and complex budgets.
• Experience leading or managing coalitions and partnerships
• Strong ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with healthy food access programs and federal nutrition programs.
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Office, and social media applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma/GED and five years of relevant work experience or Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of three years in management and supervision, program/project management, and grant management (Required)
• Valid California driver’s license and ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

Preferred:

• Lived experience with public benefits.
• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience managing staff in a union context.
• Bilingual/bi-literate, ideally in Spanish or Chinese

Physical Demands

• Regularly talk or hear up to 6 hours a day; Regularly sit, type, and use keyboard/ mouse up to 7 hours a day; Regularly sit and stand from chair up to 20 times a day; Occasionally stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms;
• Occasionally climb stairs and/or take elevator; Occasionally get in and out of car up to 6 times a day; and
• Occasionally drive in dry and wet weather, usually during daylight hours, but occasionally in the evening hours;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty five (25) pounds

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• Pay range $74,002.72 to $88,803.05 DOE, plus full medical and dental insurance, optional vision insurance, vacation, sick leave, holiday leave, employer-matched 401k plan, and Employee Assistance Program.

People of color, people LGBTQIA-identified, women, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. EOE/AA.