Buy Fresh Buy Local Coordinator - Community Alliance with Family Farmers (Gilroy, CA)

Buy Fresh Buy Local Coordinator
Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Gilroy, California

Title:   Buy Fresh Buy Local Coordinator
Location:  Gilroy office, CA – South Bay region
Compensation: Competitive salary offered. Medical, dental, and vision benefits offered. The position is currently available at 1.0 FTE.
Start Date:   December 9, 2013

The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for California family farms and sustainable agriculture. CAFF is a membership organization guided by a board of directors that includes family farmers and others who are passionate about food, farming and the environment. CAFF runs Regional Food Systems projects such as Farm to School projects, Buy Fresh Buy Local campaigns, and providing technical assistance in accessing new markets to farmers around the state. Our main goals are to increase the economic viability of California family farmers and to connect communities with their local producers. See http://www.caff.org for more information.

The Buy Fresh Buy Local Coordinator will be primarily responsible for supporting the Regional Food Systems Manager in the South Bay field office by overseeing and implementing the Buy Fresh Buy Local South Bay campaign and the Santa Clara Valley Local Food Guide printed guide. This position is a full-time, temporary position funded through December 31, 2014, with the possibility of extension pending additional funding. The position will be located in Gilroy, CA with travel throughout Santa Clara County and the Bay area region. This position reports to the Regional Food Systems Manager.

Buy Fresh Buy Local is part of a national program that promotes the consumption of fresh produce grown by local small and mid-size family farmers. CAFF’s Buy Fresh Buy Local program partners with restaurants and food service providers to help them procure and market local food to consumers through events and marketing materials. CAFF is the Regional Buy Fresh Buy Local chapter for the state of California.

Essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Overall Campaign Management:

• Ability to oversee the broad campaign and manage the detailed aspects of the program. 
• Lead extensive outreach efforts, including cold calling, door to door outreach, tabling at events, and more.
• Provide consulting and marketing services to farmer and business members. 
• Develop and manage Buy Fresh Buy Local consumer education & media efforts. 

Member Outreach: 

• Consult with food buyers to identify local purchasing opportunities & potential marketing strategies.
• Coordinate new member outreach and existing member relations
• Conduct outreach to and consult with our local farming community with regard to restaurant and institutional scale sales opportunities
• Respond to public inquiries regarding Buy Fresh Buy Local Santa Clara Valley
• Plans & implement marketing outreach and events to highlight farmer-chef relationships

Local Food Guide Publication 

• Outreach to local restaurants, institutions, tech companies, distributors, and grocery stores to be a part of the Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign and to be listed in Local Food Guide
• Coordinate content generation for the regional Local Food Guide 

• Support editorial process and copywriting of Local Food Guide
• Oversee graphic design consultants.
• Recruit and manage volunteers & interns to work on Local Food Guide research and other program activities.

Marketing & Communications 

• Create and maintain marketing and communications materials, including sales packets, fact sheets, brochures, fliers, and press releases.
• Manage the program’s online communications and outreach, including social networking and monthly e-newsletter.

Administration

• Maintain meticulous records and manage program tracking; collect & document purchasing data from partners.
• Monitor program budget.
• Write quarterly reports for funders.
• Coordinate invoices with vendors as necessary.

Qualifications:

• Excellent organizational skills
• Experience in Microsoft Office, InDesign and iWorks a plus
• Marketing background a plus
• Experience with social media 
• Excellent writing and communication skills 
• Confidence in public speaking
• Working knowledge of the restaurant and food service industry
• Working knowledge of the principles of sustainable agriculture and local food system development
• Skillful in establishing and maintaining professional relationship and networks
• Ability to organize work, track progress, and maintain productivity with indirect supervision
• Ability to work with diverse teams
• Ability to multitask with careful attention to detail

To apply: 
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three references to southbay@caff.org. The position will be open through November 23rd, 2013.

CAFF’s policy is that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation.