Title: Food Literacy Manager
Reports To: Food and Education Department (FED) Director
Hours: Fulltime permanent position

The Food Literacy Manager is a values based leader with an emphasis on food literacy and food justice. The Manager oversees and supports the food literacy programs and activities of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society (GVFB).  This position develops and collaborates on curriculum that builds upon the food literacy and food justice understandings and competencies of GVFB community: staff, volunteers, members, agency and school partners, school aged children, youth, adults, elders and donors.

The Manager researches and identifies best practices, policies and funding trends for Food Literacy programming and fosters relationships with the GVFB community, along with health and educational professionals, to develop and implement a comprehensive and continuously evolving approach to food literacy, food justice, and community engagement.  This multipronged strategy is anchored in the GVFB Food Philosophy and combines food skills education with asset-based community development; it advances FED’s community education and capacity development priorities while also advocating for dignified access to affordable, healthy, and culturally relevant foods. The position requires both close attention to detail and the ability to think and vision broadly.

Main Duties

• Build upon, implement and monitor the plan for GVFB food literacy programs and activities. Integrate internal and external programs and activities to create a comprehensive GVFB food literacy/food justice continuum engaging children, youth, adults and elders across our catchment.
• Collaborate to develop education curriculum frameworks that build upon the food literacy and food justice understandings and competencies of the GVFB community.  Manage the evaluation of these frameworks to continuously refine operational planning and implementation.
• Oversee, contribute to and support workshop development and food literacy engagement processes, and ensure all administrative systems and data collection are aligned with FED and GVFB practices.
• Lead the Project CHEF team to ensure full integration into all GVFB departments by beginning of 2018 fiscal.
• Work with an evaluator and FED team to develop and implement assessment tools (e.g. formative, summative and developmental) for specific initiatives as appropriate.
• Work closely with the FED team to ensure the educational strategies align with the GVFB’s Food Philosophy and reflect current theory and research on food literacy, food justice and best practices for lifelong learning. These strategies will also reflect GVFB’s commitment to diversity, social justice, and the creation of opportunities for empowerment and leadership development.
• Work with the FED team and the Development Department collaboratively to develop funding proposals based on current research, policy trends, and stakeholder input. Ensure data and community impact are shared with both the Development Department and funder as needed.
• Work with the Communications Department to ensure clear and timely articulation of Food Literacy programs and activities.
• Develop, implement and manage the Food Literacy operating budget in collaboration with FED team members
• Create and monitor partnership contracts and Memorandums of Understanding as necessary.
• Lead, inspire and support the Food Literacy team to identify and build upon on personal assets, aspirations and goals that are aligned with GVFB’s values and objectives.
• Oversee and monitor alignment of Food Literacy staff team with the GVFB Total Reward Compensation philosophy.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred in education, social work, community development, land and food systems, or combination of significant related professional experience
• Preferred minimum of 7 years’ experience in program and community development
• Preferred minimum of 5 years’ experience in project management
• Experience managing staff and/or volunteer teams with a demonstrated ability to mediate and/or de-escalate conflict, mentor others to grow in confidence and ability.
• Record of asset-based community development among marginalized, diverse, and vulnerable populations
• Knowledge of local and global food insecurity issues, understanding of food literacy and ability to link these issues to the GVFB mission and FED objectives
• Effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills that support a balanced approach in a fast paced environment with multiple competing priorities
• Familiarity with principles and practices of education and lifelong learning
• Leadership style and work ethic that promotes collaboration, creativity and communication as well as independent decision making
• Familiarity with program evaluation concepts and approaches, including outcome measurement
• Working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• A valid and clean BC driver’s license appropriate to the class of vehicle being driven is required.
• Food Safe Level One certification is an asset
• Practical experience fostering facilitation and teaching skills is an asset.
• Proficiency in a language other than English is an asset.

Physical Requirements

• May require climbing stairs throughout the day and knowledge of proper lifting techniques of up to 50 lbs required.

Closing date is 5pm December 9, 2016. All interested applicants please email a cover letter and resume to Sieglinde Malmberg at siegmalm at gmail.com.

SOURCE: Greater Vancouver Food Bank