Local food jobs. Apply now!
Growing rural jobs and building community health is the purpose of the West Central Missouri Food Value Chain Project.
Partner organizations are now working to fill three positions on this regional team.
A food value chain is a coordinated network of people, businesses, and organizations working collaboratively to meet market demand for food produced locally and regionally.
Successful applicants will work with project partners and other staff to strengthen the production, processing, distribution, and marketing of local foods from and within the nine-county west central Missouri region (Bates, Benton, Cass, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, Morgan, St. Clair, and Vernon counties).
The open positions are:
1. Food Value Chain Coordinator
2. Food Systems Associate
3. Supply Chain Specialist
Please see job descriptions and details below. For additional information, contact Project Director Katie Nixon at <knixon AT wcmcaa.org>.
Application deadline for all positions is 5 p.m. Central March 23, 2020.
POSITION 1: Food Value Chain Coordinator – Job Posting #030420-A
Employer: West Central Missouri Community Action Agency
Start date: April 1, 2020
Work Schedule: M-Th, 9hr days, 36/week
Location: M- Appleton City, MO; T-Th Raymore, MO
Pay: $17-$20/hour (depending on experience) + full benefits.
To Apply:
• Complete online application located at <www.wcmcaa.org> under “Employment” and then “Application.” Include job title and posting number on the application.
• Submit cover letter and resume to Food Systems Project Director Katie Nixon <knixon AT wcmcaa.org>.
The Food Value Chain Coordinator will be employed by the West Central Missouri Community Action Agency. The FVCC will be part of West Central’s New Growth community economic development team.
Responsibilities
• Put practices and processes in place to track relationships and activities in the regional food value chain.
• Meet with regional buyers to learn how West Central Missouri Food Value Chain Project can help them get access to local food, and helping the project and partners implement strategic programs to manage risks inherent in growing, harvesting, storing, and packing fresh produce.
• Facilitate food value chain partners’ collaborative relationships and operational development (i.e., technical assistance).
• Work for the entire food value chain on challenges and opportunities prioritized through the project’s annual WealthWorks value chain mapping and planning.
• Maintain all data and related information collected from this feedback system
• Work closely with project partners MU Extension, KC Food Hub and KC Healthy Kids to fulfill the activities and objectives of the project.
Qualifications and Requirements
• Experience and knowledge of food systems and/or agriculture, with supplemental logistics or supply chain knowledge preferred.
• Independent self-starter with excellent people skills.
• Proven ability to develop goals, objectives, and action steps and work in collaboration with partners to accomplish these.
• Proficient written and verbal communication. Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience in a related field.
• Public speaking and audio-visual and social media experience helpful.
POSITION 2: Food Systems Associate – Job Posting #0911219-A
Employer: West Central Missouri Community Action Agency
Start date: April 1, 2020
Work Schedule: M-Th, 9hr days, 36/week
Location: M- Appleton City, MO; T-Th Raymore, MO
Pay: $16-$17.55/hour (depending on experience) + full benefits.
To Apply:
• Complete online application located at <www.wcmcaa.org> under “Employment” and then “Application.” Include job title and posting number on the application.
• Submit cover letter and resume to Food Systems Project Director Katie Nixon <knixon AT wcmcaa.org>.
The Food Value Chain Specialist (FVCS) will be employed by the West Central Missouri Community Action Agency. The FVCS will be part of West Central’s New Growth community economic development team.
The FVCS is responsible for creating relationships between west central Missouri farmers and Cass County institutional food service buyers (schools, hospitals, residential facilities etc.). The primary goal is to expand sales and use of local food in these institution’s kitchens. This person will be working on behalf of West Central’s Food Systems Programs and in conjunction with community development corporation New Growth to develop a local food buying program and execute activities of the project.
The applicant must be a well-organized, team-oriented problem solver and a self-starter. Applicants must have a high school diploma and at least one year of experience in a related field.
POSITION 3: Supply Chain Specialist (job posting # not applicable)
Employer: Kansas City Food Hub
Application Deadline: March 23, 2020
Start date: April 1, 2020
Time commitment: 30-40hr/week
Wages: $18-$22/hour, depending on experience
Work schedule: Negotiable
Work location: Kansas City Region
To Apply: Send cover letter and resume by March 23 to katherine.m.nixon@gmail.com
Questions: Contact Katie Nixon, president, 816-809-5074 or katherine.m.nixon@gmail.com or Alicia Ellingsworth, Sales and Production Director, 913-313-8456 or Alicia.ellingsworth@gmail.com
The Kansas City Food Hub (KCFH) is a farmer-owned, farmer-run cooperative of seventeen small and medium-sized family and non-profit farms aggregating produce, protein, and value-added goods to meet the demands of KC’s middle market including schools, restaurants, corporate cafeterias and grocery stores. Our farmers grow on 300 acres, have 250 years of collected experience, and operate thirty high tunnels and greenhouses for four-season production.
The KCFH improves the economic viability of sustainable local agriculture by coordinating year-round production, supporting emerging growers, and by bringing farmers and buyers together. The KCFH creates a more food secure metro by connecting its residents with food produced locally.
The Supply Chain Specialist will work alongside the Sales and Production Director to advance the supply and demand of locally grown and made goods through the KCFH. They will also work with our partners and collaborators on projects currently funded. The person will fill many roles in this small but growing cooperative. S/he will need to work adaptively and be able to navigate the KC regional food system.
Sales (Est. 40% time):
• Gather market information (i.e., identifying who ready buyers are, where they are, and what they want) and communicate with suppliers (i.e., farmers);
• Build a steady and increasing flow of local and regional food through the hub and grow the regional buyer base.
Supply (Est. 40% time):
• Meet one-on-one with producers to understand what they can or could supply;
• Work specifically with beginning farmers to help them scale-up;
• Administer the Farmer Mentor Program;
• Work with wholesale buyers to understand their demand and communicate this to suppliers;
• Work with West Central Missouri Community Action Agency and the project’s Food Value Chain Coordinator to identify and recruit farm suppliers from the region.
Marketing (Est. 20% time):
• Create marketing materials for The KCFH’s local food products;
• Help grow the brand and increase the visibility of The KCFH to buyers.
Qualifications and Requirements
• Experience in sales and marketing and/or agriculture;
• Knowledge of the Kansas City local food system;
• Independent self-starter with good people skills;
• Organized problem solver;
• Must be able to adapt and work with the team to accomplish the overall goals of the organization;
• Proficient written and verbal communication;
• Bachelor degree or two years of experience in related field;
• Must have valid driver’s license and a working vehicle with proper insurance.