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The Michigan Farmers Market Association is hiring a Hoophouses for Health Program Manager

Hoophouses for Health is a program designed to increase access to Good Food for vulnerable families while at the same time expanding the season extension capacity of Michigan farmers. This innovative program started in 2011 and has grown to involve more than 50 Michigan farmers, 20 community partners, 15 farmers markets and thousands of vulnerable families with young children.

About the Position:
The Program Manager will focus on administering and expanding the Hoophouses for Health program, which is a partnership between the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA), the Michigan State University (MSU) Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS), and the MSU Department of Horticulture. MIFMA advances farmers markets to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products. CRFS works to engage the people of Michigan, the United States and the world in applied research, education and outreach to develop regionally integrated, sustainable food systems. This critical position will provide an opportunity for the Program Manager to drive the work and program expansion with support from a dynamic, forward-thinking team.

This position reports to the MIFMA Executive Director. This is a part-time, 24-hours per week, hourly position with a starting pay rate of $15 per hour. For the right candidate, opportunities exist to increase to full-time as future funding supports. The position will be based in MIFMA’s East Lansing office with some state and national travel required.

Hoophouses for Health Program Manager Online Application

Position Duties:

• Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with all farmers, market sites, and community partners participating in the Hoophouses for Health program.
• Assist with making farm to school connections as needed.
• Coordinate Hoophouses for Health voucher distribution and track voucher redemption and farmer loan payback in all participating communities.
• Provide information, support, training, and technical assistance for participating community partners, school and early child care partners, farmers markets, and farmers.
• Facilitate and organize meetings with program partners to ensure cooperation and support implementation at the local level, including conducting monthly program-wide conference calls.
• Represent Hoophouses for Health and MIFMA at local and state meetings with the required ability to travel.
• Develop resources, publications, webinars and presentations.
• Develop content for program promotional materials and distribute program information.
• Document and share program work and accomplishments, maintain regular internal and external communication about program activities and develop and report on an annual plan of work.
• Participate in relevant MIFMA and CRFS work as interest and time allows.
• Report to and collaborate with the project team including Dru Montri, MIFMA Executive Director; Colleen Matts, CRFS Farm to Institution Specialist; Abby Harper, CRFS Farm to School Specialist; and Adam Montri and Erin Caudell, Department of Horticulture Hoophouses for Health Outreach Specialists.
• Supervise student assistants engaged in this work.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with a focus on community food systems, community engagement, public health, public policy, communications, and/or organizational development.
• At least two years of experience in project leadership, demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to balance multiple simultaneous projects and to easily shift between working independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to effectively engage and collaborate with farmers, market managers, community partners and families from diverse economic, educational and vocational backgrounds.
• An understanding of and commitment to social justice and racial equity in the food system.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills and experience using a broad range of communications tactics including public speaking and meeting facilitation.
• Knowledge and use of technology in completing job requirements including Microsoft Office Suite, web-based search and information systems, social media platforms such as Facebook, phone, and web conferencing systems including Zoom, project management software including Basecamp, and web-based content management systems including WordPress.
• Experience with data collection and analysis.
• Available to travel throughout the state and possession of a valid, current driver’s license.
• Passion for MIFMA’s and CRFS’s mission and work.

Application Process
Candidates should submit a complete application, cover letter explaining their desire for the position and why their skill set makes them a successful candidate, resume including education and work experience, and the names of three references (indicate relationship) by midnight on May 30, 2016.  Materials should be uploaded online. Incomplete applications or those not following this process will not be reviewed.

Interviews will be held in the MIFMA office in East Lansing on June 6 and 7, 2016. Ideally, the new Program Manager will start as soon as the week of June 13 to allow for a full month of cross training with the current Program Manager.  

Hoophouses for Health Program Manager Online Application

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