The Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC) is a statewide network established in 2011 with a mission to promote a more equitable, accessible, economically vibrant, and environmentally sustainable food system. We cultivate partnerships, develop and implement high-impact projects, and advocate for good food policy. We center equity in our work, which touches all parts of the food chain – production, harvesting, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management. We operate with a small, all-hands-on-deck, collaborative professional staff, 25 engaged and diverse council members, and hundreds of stakeholders from across the Ocean State. More information about RIFPC can be found at www.rifoodcouncil.org.

The RI Food Policy Council, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), seeks a full time Food Access and Equity Program Manager. The primary objective of the person in this role is to facilitate collaboration and information sharing across multiple food system stakeholders. This individual will work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, in service to the Hunger Elimination Task Force’s goal to reduce hunger and increase access to healthy, culturally appropriate food for all RI residents. They will support implementation of food access activities of the state food strategy, and coordinate food security and food access programs and work groups across the state. This work has become critically important as a part of COVID-19 response and recovery for those Rhode Islanders who struggle with food insecurity and for those Rhode Islanders who must quarantine and isolate. 

The ideal candidate for this new position will possess excellent verbal communication and facilitation skills and strong writing skills. We seek a person who has demonstrated expertise coordinating and convening groups of diverse individuals in a collaborative environment, sharing resources with/across community-based organizations, and contributing substantively to state-level, multi-stakeholder planning processes. We seek a team player who is focused and organized. Strong project management skills are also desired for this position. Dedication to eliminating hunger and passion for advancing equitable, community-based solutions to entrenched food access problems is essential.

The Food Access and Equity Manager reports directly to the Network Director, and works closely with other RIFPC staff, Council members, and stakeholders on food security-related issues. The Food Access & Equity Manager will liaise with staff at RIDOH and the RI Director of Food Strategy and work regularly with staff in other state agencies on food security-related issues. This position is funded through the RIDOH’s CDC-RFA-TP18-1802: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response.

This is a full-time, salaried position (37.5 hour per week). The position is based in Rhode Island with a home office location and virtual work expected. Regular meetings in Providence are also expected, and work will be executed across the state as conditions allow. Funding for this position is secured through June 30, 2023. 

Responsibilities

1. Connect/Coordinate
2. Facilitate collaboration/information sharing across many food systems stakeholders
3. Lead monitoring of statewide response to food insecurity and serve as the central liaison between state, nonprofit, and community-based programs, projects, and pilots
4. Lead coordination of the RIFPC Food Access Work Group, the RI State Agency Food Access Work Group, the RI Hunger Elimination Task Force
5. Support development of new connections between community-based/new food access programs and long-standing/structural food access programs

2. Educate
3. Lead sharing of public and private food access and equity resources across a broad group of public, private, and community-based entities, ensuring coordination and decreasing duplication of efforts
4. Lead informing of relevant audiences about food security and food access opportunities, programs, trainings, and research
5. Support Network Director and Council in educating legislators about challenges related to achieving food access and equity for all residents, including systemic challenges

3. Research
4. Develop and maintain a database of community-driven food access initiatives, both long-standing and newly emerged
5. Support evaluation of food access and equity pilots, projects, and programs
6. Contribute to the development of medium and long-range plans to eliminate hunger, and to policy briefs aimed at increasing food security, access, and equity

4. Build Capacity
5. Assist a wide variety of food access and equity programs in Rhode Island – large and small, public and private, new and long-standing – to grow and thrive by identifying potential funding streams for them and supporting their grant applications

Requirements

• 5-7 years of relevant, progressively responsible professional experience focused on addressing food insecurity
• Highly effective in facilitation and information sharing with diverse stakeholders
• Solutions-driven thinker within the food systems/food equity space
• 3-5 years of experience with coordinating collaborative, multi-stakeholder processes
• 3-5 years of grant writing experience
• Strong project management and strategic planning skills
• Strong verbal communication, writing, and time management skills required
• 3-5 years of experience with spreadsheet/database management
• Knowledge of Federal nutrition programs strongly preferred
• Knowledge of the Rhode Island/New England food system preferred
• Bachelor’s degree; master’s degree in public health/public policy/nutrition preferred
• Ease in working with a broad range of demographically, experientially, and cognitively diverse people required

RIFPC encourages applications from individuals who possess the key competencies and a demonstrated ability to execute the responsibilities, even if they don’t have every listed qualification/skill. If you want to promote a more equitable, economically vibrant, and environmentally sustainable food system in Rhode Island, please send a cover letter with salary expectations and resume with “Food Access and Equity Program Manager” in the subject line to jobs@kkandp.com. The RI Food Policy Council is offering a competitive salary, full benefits, and a flexible workplace with a collegial environment where individuals are valued for their social/group identities. 

Qualified candidates will be contacted by email. Employment history and/or background check including 3 references are required of final candidates. The RI Food Policy Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values the benefits of a diverse organization. We encourage qualified applicants who have lived experience of inequities within our food system to apply.