Value Chain coordinator job posting

Food and Growers Association – serving Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Ohio, and Ripley Counties along the Southeast Indiana Food Corridor seeks a Value Chain Coordinator.

Job Summary 
The Value Chain Coordinator will be responsible for developing and managing the SEI Food
Corridor. The Coordinator will be responsible for the following primary activities:
1) providing/connecting farmers with the support and resources needed for market readiness, 2) establishing a virtual food hub (growing into a future satellite hub) to aggregate farmer and food products; 3) collaborating with distributors to connect farmers to local and regional retail and wholesale markets; 4) participating in the development and vetting of a regional collaborative business or network model that positions the Corridor for financial viability.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Farmer Recruitment and Support
 Create and implement an outreach plan to inform the farming community about corridor opportunities and recruit farmers for secured markets
 Assist producers with production planning to ensure a continuous supply that meets secured market demand
 Create, administer, and track coordinated production plans for corridor farms and secure corresponding grower agreements that match farmers’ interest and experience level
 Organize in-person and virtual trainings for farmers with subject matter experts to increase their market readiness and success
 Conduct and/or coordinate site visits with corridor farmers to monitor and identify issues with production, quality, food safety and/or regulatory compliance, etc.
 Connect farmers with local/regional experts and resources to help troubleshoot issues
 Maintain ongoing communications with farmers regarding planting and harvesting schedules, quality requirements and rejections, GHP/GAP and regulatory compliance, post-harvest handling procedures, packaging and labeling standards, and delivery Aggregation and Distribution Logistics
 Identify strategically located aggregation points with necessary infrastructure, equipment, and personnel to coordinate farm and food products
 Provide support, training, and ongoing communication to virtual food hubs to ensure
successful aggregation, storage, grading, packaging and labeling, and regulatory compliance
 Collaborate with private distributors to develop new or tap into existing delivery routes that distribute produce between food hubs and/or to end markets
 Identify backhaul and outgoing delivery opportunities to ensure routes are financially viable
 Coordinate logistics of farmer’s produce delivery to virtual food hubs, and distributor pick-up and delivery of produce between food hubs and/or end markets

Project Management
 Oversee and manage internal and external project team and related grants, including work plans, budgets, metrics collection, and reporting
 Professionally represent the FGA and the Corridor during community outreach meetings,
conferences, and other events
 Work with consultant/partners to explore business or network model for the Corridor

Required Skills and Expertise
 High school diploma, or any equivalent combination of experience and training which
provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Bachelor's degree or higher, preferred.
 Proficiency with basic software and technology including MS Office Suite, Google Drive,
smart phones, copier, webinar platforms, etc.
 Dependable and resilient self-starter with an interest and experience in taking on new
challenges and overcoming obstacles with little supervision
 Outstanding organizational, record keeping and data management skills
 Superior listening, verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
 Demonstrated ability to network and collaborate with multi-agency/state initiatives
 Ability to present information clearly and concisely to groups of farmers, buyers, etc.
 Solid business acumen
 Familiarity and experience in postharvest handling, wholesale produce quality standards,
regulatory compliance, and GHP/GAP food safety regulations

Preferred Skills and Expertise
 Knowledge of and comfort with agriculture production, farms and farmers
 Experience selling to, buying from, and/or operating a food hub
 Experience teaching or training farmers
 Leadership skills with proven project and team management

Additional Information
Salary: $22 per hour
Hours: 20hrs per week Monday - Friday with occasional evening and/or weekend work.
Incumbent has the flexibility to adjust their schedule at their discretion.
This is a contract position, with no benefits that is partially funded by a three-year USDA
Local Food Promotion Program Grant Award. The position is expected to become a full-time, long-term position.

ANYONE WISHING TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION MAY DO SO BY SENDING THEIR
RESUME TO contact@foodandgrowers.org.