Director of Food Security #LI-PG1

NEBRASKA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOUNDATION: 

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation is a nonprofit created to support children, young adults, and families with the overall goal of giving our state's kids what they need to thrive. We do this by building strong communities that support families. Our mission is to create positive change for Nebraska’s children through community engagement and we believe in a Nebraska where all children will have the resources and support to thrive. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

If you envision a food system that is local, responsive to local customers, equitable, and sustainable, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation has a position that will enable you to take meaningful action toward bringing that food system into being.

The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) is a federal investment designed to increase market access for socially disadvantaged farmers & producers and provide food to underserved communities experiencing high levels of food insecurity. Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, the sub-awardee for LFPA in Nebraska, seeks an Director to manage the program’s implementation. This position will lead the efforts to expand economic opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers & producers while providing access to fresh, local, and healthy food in underserved communities across the state.

LFPA sits at the intersection of economic development and social services. As such, the Director of Food Security will work with individuals and organizations across the food supply chain – from Nebraskans who produce the food to organizations providing food pantry services that distribute the food to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. This position is ideal for the socially-minded entrepreneurial type who enjoys working with a broad range of stakeholders at a mission-driven foundation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

At the core of this position is the Director’s focus on facilitating and organizing activities across the food supply chain to ensure that LFPA funds are used efficiently, and the program’s impact is maximized for the intended beneficiaries.

Partner Collaboration

• Recruit partners with the necessary expertise to help Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (NC) carry out the LFPA work plan as outlined in the grant application approved by USDA.
• Convene and lead the Nebraska Local Healthy Foods Committee that provides technical expertise to LFPA participants.
• Work closely with the Local Food for Schools (LFS) program, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), and Nebraska Extension.
• Work with Nebraska Emergency Management Agency’s Nebraska Food Security Task Force to amplify the impacts of LFPA.
• Identify and activate community-based organizations and advocates to increase LFPA participation on the production and distribution sides of the program.
• Provide regular updates to partners and stakeholders.

Production Side of the Supply Chain

• Work with organizations active in agriculture business development to identify and enroll farmers and producers (“producers”) in LFPA.
• Facilitate the delivery of technical assistance to producers enrolled in LFPA to help align planting strategies with local needs.
• Track the producers involved in LFPA and provide regular reports on the impact of LFPA funds to USDA.

Distribution Side of the Supply Chain

• Work with Community Collaboratives to identify underserved communities experiencing high levels of food insecurity and help the Collaboratives develop a community-driven plan to connect food pantries to producers participating in LFPA.
• Manage the purchase order process.
• Track LFPA-supported food deliveries to pantries and provide regular reports to USDA.

Long-Term Sustainability

• Engage with business development partners to help LFPA producers sustainably scale up their operations to meet market demand.
• Engage with business development partners to help LFPA producers sustain their operations once LFPA funds have been expended and the program has ended.
• Work collaboratively with partners across the food supply chain to form Communities of Practice to facilitate the sharing of lessons learned and best practices around the domains of food supply chain resiliency and emergency food distribution networks.
• Convene working sessions to address underserved communities’ challenges in obtaining fresh and healthy foods.

Other duties may be assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

WORK DIRECTION RECEIVED: Works with minimal direction.

SCOPE/NATURE OF DISCRETION: Authority to initiate and carry out actions that are deemed essential for this work.

EQUITY AND DIVERSITY: Commit to and actively work toward equity, diversity, and inclusivity in all aspects of duties related to staff, internal and external stakeholders, contractors, consultants, trainers, and external agencies. 

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty independently and satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. 

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: An equivalent combination of education, work experience, volunteer experience, and lived experience will be considered. We recognize that individuals will meet these requirements in different ways and encourage all that do to apply.  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 or more years of experience, preferably in food systems, agriculture, business, operations, organizational development, or related field.
• Applicable, demonstrated experience in management, operations, collaborative leadership, and successful implementation of new processes.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to consistently manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge and experience with Microsoft productivity suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and project management systems.
• Knowledge and experience working with core organizational operations functions.
• Knowledge of collaborative leadership, consensus building, and change management.

Abilities:

• Experience working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ability to conform to shifting priorities, demands, and timeliness utilizing effective analytical and problem-solving capabilities. 
• Ability to generate cooperation from various sources, including academic, commercial, government, partners, management, and other NC staff and departments.

Preferred:

• Background in food systems, agriculture, economic development, business development, or agribusiness.
• Entrepreneurial mindset.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. 
• The employee frequently is required to use their hands.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to drive.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends. 
• Willingness to occasionally travel.