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*Job Title: Food Navigator **(Hiring for 4 food navigator positions)*

This position will support the Michigan Farmers Market Association's
(MIFMA) work to expand and support Michigan farmers markets accepting
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Double Up Food
Bucks and other food assistance programs. *Food Navigators will be hired to
support the following eight farmers markets: Adrian, Battle Creek, Detroit
Eastern Market, Evart, Flint, Grand Rapids Fulton Street, Muskegon and
Saginaw.*

*Position Details:*
This is a part-time, flat fee contract position based on 10 hours per week.
Four Navigators will be hired for 25 weeks and placed in seasonal farmers
markets (Adrian, Battle Creek,Evart and Saginaw) and four will be hired for
50 weeks and placed in year-round farmers markets (Detroit Eastern Market,
Flint, Grand Rapids Fulton Street and Muskegon). Ideally, Navigators will
live in the community surrounding the farmers market where she or he will
be placed.

*Position Responsibilities:*

   - Develop a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in
   the usage of SNAP and other food assistance programs at farmers markets.
   - Attend mandatory training(s) to be held by MIFMA for all Food
   Navigators throughout the duration of this position.
   - Be onsite during farmers market operation (up to 8 hours per week) and
   available to welcome families using SNAP benefits. Food navigators will
   walk shoppers through the process of using their benefits in a farmers
   market setting, distribute Michigan Harvest of the Month materials and will
   focus on enhancing communication between shoppers and farmers.
   - Connect the farmers market to existing SNAP-Ed programming in their
   community.
   - Organize and promote experiential nutrition education programming at
   least once a month at each participating farmers market. This programming
   could include using Michigan Harvest of the month materials, cooking
   demonstrations, food tastings, storage and preservation demonstrations,
   and/or activities for children.
   - Assist with organizing, promoting and hosting a farmers market tour
   for market managers and SNAP-Ed educators to showcase SNAP-Ed nutrition
   education programming and evaluation efforts.
   - Develop content for and distribute outreach materials which promote
   farmers markets accepting food assistance.
   - Support and participate in evaluation efforts including recordkeeping
   for identified metrics and surveying families at the farmers market.
   - Share outcomes with the local community and present during MIFMA
   trainings and webinars on lessons learned.
   - Carry out additional responsibilities as identified in consulting
   services agreements or other contracts.

*Desired Qualifications:*

   - Ability to work independently and collaboratively to meet goals
   - Demonstrated ability to work with a wide variety of stakeholders and
   interests
   - Initiative to investigate potential partnerships, build relationships
   and try new communication efforts
   - Familiarity with food assistance benefits and how they can be used at
   Michigan farmers markets including SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, WIC Project
   FRESH, Market FRESH/Senior Project FRESH, Hoophouses for Health, and
   Prescription for Health
   - Familiarity with seasonality of Michigan produce and simple ways to
   prepare fresh ingredients
   - An interest in food access as well as experience related to farmers
   markets

*Desired Skills:*

   - Ability to drive this work in their community and be responsible to
   partners at a local and state level
   - Strong organizational skills
   - Strong written and verbal skills
   - Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact with a diverse
   group of shoppers
   - Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, web-based search and
   information systems, social media including Facebook, phone/web
   conferencing systems including Zoom, and project management software
   including Basecamp


*Application Process:*Candidates should complete an application and send a
cover letter explaining their desire for this position and why their skill
set makes them a successful candidate along with their resume and names of
three references (indicate relationship) by midnight on May 8, 2016.
Complete applications (online application, cover letter, resume, and
references) can be uploaded online, or addressed to Yadira Perez, MIFMA
Administrative Assistant, and emailed to [log in to unmask] with “Food
Navigator Application” in the subject line. *Incomplete applications or
those not following this process will not be reviewed*.
Interviews will be held in the MIFMA office in East Lansing on Thursday,
May 12, 2016. A mandatory training for all navigators will be held on
Thursday, May 19, 2016, in the Greater Lansing area.
*Click here to apply <http://mifma.org/food-navigator-position-applicaton/>*


With questions about the position, please contact Sydney Debien, Food
Access Coordinator at [log in to unmask] or calling 517-432-3381



-- 
*Samantha Collins*
Communications and Events Manager
Michigan Farmers Market Association
480 Wilson Road, Room 172
East Lansing, MI 48824
517.432.3381


*www.mifma.org <http://www.mifma.org>*

*MIFMA Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/michiganfarmersmarketassociation>*

*MIFMA Twitter* <http://twitter.com/farmersmarketmi>


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