Job Description:

General Statement of Duties: This position seeks an individual to assist the Nutrition Specialists in the RI Department of Education’s Child Nutrition Program, school districts, child care centers, adult care centers, community organizations, wellness coalitions and food service management companies to further the state’s Farm to Child Nutrition Program efforts.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the Director of Statewide Efficiencies with wide latitude to exercise independent judgement. Work is subject to review on a periodic basis or upon completion for results achieved. 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Will work closely with the Farm to School consultant. May work as part of teams and in collaboration with others with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgement to achieve results.

Scope of Work:

This position will be responsible for implementing activities funded by the recently awarded USDA State Agency Farm to School Formula Funding grant. This position will work closely with RIDE’s Farm to Child Nutrition Program Consultant and the RI Farm to School Network (RIF2S) to collaboratively move forward RI Farm School Network functions, activities and programs. Responsibilities will include supporting the Farm to Child Nutrition Program Consultant and other Farm to School Network members, collaborating with community partners on farm to school efforts, and the development and dissemination of training materials, outreach communications, and resources. Priorities will be guided by the Farm to Child Nutrition Program Consultant.

Over the last three years, the RIF2S Network, lead by RIDE, has been working to engage partners to develop, expand, and strengthen local procurement, education and gardening initiatives through unified advocacy, organization, and funding to address the growth and sustainability of a statewide program. As the Network expands, additional capacity is needed to manage the administrative and logistical functions of running the Network’s programs in order to expand its reach and impact. This position will fill that need.

Specific tasks to include:

Supporting the administrative functions of the RI Farm to School Network including assisting Community of Practice and Action Committee Chairs with meeting facilitation (set up, coordinator, taking notes, sharing notes), management, onboarding for new Network members, and managing network stakeholder directory and email databases.

Conducting outreach and networking with Farm to CNP stakeholders throughout the state; responding to email inquiries, and connecting stakeholders with appropriate resources to support their farm to school goals.

Working with the Farm to Child Nutrition Program Consultant and other RI Farm to School Network members to develop and distribute outreach communications, including publishing a monthly Network electronic newsletter, and social media posts as necessary.

Share important announcements in RI food system partner newsletters. Update the RI Farm to School website when required.

Event Management and Facilitation: Manage event logistics, specifically for the annual RI Farm to School Institute, and other major stakeholder outreach events such as the annual Farm to School gathering.

Supporting the RI Farm to School Network and RIDE Curriculum team by updating a database that matches community partners with educators looking for experiential education opportunities that match their curriculum/science standards.

Knowledge and Skills: Knowledge of child nutrition programs and/or farm to school, principles and practices; Skilled in event planning and meeting facilitation; Skilled in communicating effectively; both verbally