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.