Associate Director

FoodWhat is a youth empowerment and food justice program (of Life Lab) that uses food, through sustainable agriculture and health, as the vehicle for growing strong, healthy, and inspired teens. We partner with low-income and at-risk youth to grow, cook, eat, and distribute healthy, sustainably raised food and address food justice issues in our community.

Youth from Watsonville to Santa Cruz join the FoodWhat Crew through spring internships, summer jobs, fall business management positions, and leading large community events on the farm. We create a safe space where youth engage in leadership development, personal growth, and job training. At FoodWhat, we inspire personal transformation by supporting teens in finding their voices and developing lasting confidence in themselves.

Life Lab is a nonprofit organization located on the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems Farm at UC Santa Cruz. Life Lab teaches people to care for themselves, each other, and the world through farm- and garden-based programs. Life Lab is a leader in the field of garden-based learning and has been providing educational programs and curriculum resources to schools and educators throughout California, the U.S. and internationally since 1979.

Position Overview:

FoodWhat is seeking to add a third member to our team with a primary focus on development and capacity building. Program support and building relationships with our youth will also be a key component to this work.

FoodWhat was founded in 2007, serving 5 youth our first year. This year we had more than 200 youth applying for 50+ Spring Positions. We have also grown through our major youth events, benefit events, webs of meaningful relationships, and proven success in our mission. We are looking for a highly competent and driven person to join our staff to steer the development growth of FoodWhat to empower our work further.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Management as part of a Team (5%):

• Support ongoing program development while holding FW vision central to all outreach and fundraising activities.
• Co-create and manage annual program budget with FW Director.
• Participate in annual strategic planning sessions with FoodWhat staff.
• Participate in regular Life Lab staff planning and coordination.

Fundraising (50%):

• Lead FW fundraising efforts, without mission drift, in consultation with FW Director and Program Manager as needed.
• Implement and manage quarterly fundraising calendar in collaboration with the FW team and other Life Lab staff.
• Grant research, writing, editing, and reporting, including check-in with FW Director on goals and objectives.
• Coordinate annual FW benefit dinner, including making major decisions and executing/delegating a range of necessary tasks.
• Develop and maintain relationships with mid-level to major donors.
• Create and facilitate opportunities for all level donor interaction by FW team.
• Coordinate FW grant and donor database entry and maintenance with Life Lab information and development staff.
• Work with, recruit, train and supervise interns and volunteers.

Marketing (15%):

• Lead in-house production of marketing materials and solicit/contract outside help as needed, maintaining the FW "vibe."
• Create and maintain content for FW web and social media presence.
• Collaborate with FW Director on creation and distribution of annual program report.
• Coordinate local outreach and speaking opportunities for youth.
• Represent FW in community events and networks.

Program support and leadership (30%):

• Tangible presence with youth in program.
• Primary coordination of 3 major youth education events each year (Spring, Summer, Fall).
• Program support in collaboration with FW Director and FW Program Manager.
• Potential co-leadership of youth workshops.
• Potential role in individual youth mentorship, particularly with resume writing and job search.

Qualifications:

• Proven success in developing a diversified revenue stream for nonprofits, particularly youth programs.
• Experience working with low-income youth (teens), preferably from an empowerment perspective.
• Understanding of and commitment to social justice.
• Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Experience working with, recruiting, training and supervising interns and volunteers.
• Ability to carry the brand and be the face of FoodWhat.

Preferred:

• Bilingual Spanish speaker.
• Experience and understanding of Latina/o culture.
• Farming or gardening experience and skills.

Compensation: Salary $48,000 full time equivalent. Full medical, dental, and vision benefits provided. Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays. 403(b) retirement plan available. Full-Time Position (Three-quarter time possibility if desired).

Rolling interviews starting September 10th, 2012

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume to FoodWhat Director Doron Comerchero. No phone calls please.

FoodWhat is an anti-discrimination, pro-equity program. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

The FoodWhat Farm, office, and surrounding farm are designated non-smoking areas.

Life Lab/FoodWhat is committed to a policy of non-discrimination as an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment candidates and employees will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, or any other basis in accordance with applicable law