Metro Denver Gleaning & Food-Systems Coordinator

Overview

• Job Title: Metro Denver Gleaning & Food-Systems Coordinator
• Job Status: 40 hours per week: June 1-Oct 31; 20 hours per week: Nov 1–May 31
• Job Term: This role is currently a non-exempt, grant-funded one-year position, ending (May 31, 2024). There is the potential for an evolution of this role into a multi-year position and UpRoot staff are working to realize this goal
• Pay: $19-$20 per hour, depending on skills and experience
• Preferred Start Date: May 1, 2023
• Current benefits: Flexible work schedule, November–May. Healthcare stipend. Paid sick leave. Colorado SecureSavings Roth IRA. Tech stipend. Mileage reimbursement of $0.35 per mile for role-specific duties.

Our Gleaning & Food-Systems Coordinators are responsible for our Gleaning Initiative in specific geographic regions of Colorado: conducting outreach; recruiting and managing volunteers; connecting with farm partners and potential farm partners; coordinating and leading gleaning events to harvest surplus food from local farms and fruit trees; connecting and collaborating with hunger-relief partners; coordinating the distribution of gleaned food; performing organizing, equity, and advocacy work; writing, editing and sharing communications; educating the community about our food-system.

Primary responsibilities include:

Outreach & Communications

• Nurturing existing relationships with local producers, fruit-tree stewards, hunger-relief and social-service agencies, and community partners
• Implementing strategic outreach to farmers and fruit-tree stewards through emails, phone calls and in-person visits in order to expand UpRoot’s impact and producer network for gleans
• Expanding current gleaning efforts by introducing UpRoot’s work to hunger-relief and social-service agencies and other entities with whom we have not yet partnered; including local businesses, houses of worship, foundations, civic-minded groups, schools and universities, and nonprofit organizations
• Conducting volunteer outreach and recruitment, and assisting with weekly volunteer communications taking photographs at gleaning events, and coordinating with UpRoot team members to create event flyers and social media posts about past/upcoming events

Event Coordination & Volunteer Management 

• Communicating with producers on a weekly basis to determine what is available for gleaning and/or pick-up
• Organizing and leading gleaning events, including: collecting waivers, training and supervising volunteers, and transporting food to hunger-relief organizations
• Implementing staff and volunteer safety and food-safety best practices at gleaning events
• Sharing educational information with volunteers on the topics of food justice, local food systems, causes of food surplus and household food waste, food and nutrition insecurity, etc., contributing to increased cultural food wisdom
• Communicating with hunger-relief and social-service agencies to coordinate distribution of gleaned food
• Ensuring all physical program supplies and equipment are organized and maintained
• Supporting development of Volunteer Harvest-leader program

Data Tracking & Program Administration

• Once donations are weighed, issue a tax-donation receipt form (or forms) to farmers
• Ensuring all outreach and program data is tracked accurately and in a timely manner
• Providing program data for use in funding applications and reports
• Supporting program evaluation, including gathering feedback from farmers, fruit-tree stewards, volunteers, hunger-relief agencies, etc.
• Basic administrative tasks including documenting activities, scheduling events, responding to inquiries, etc.

Advocacy & Coalition-Building 

• Participating in working groups and coalitions, and cultivating collaborative partnerships to work toward shared goals
• Engaging in legislative advocacy by initiating relationships with elected officials

Other duties as assigned

• Attending weekly team “huddles” and individual meetings with regional co-director
• UpRoot Colorado is a young yet growing organization. The Coordinator may be required to assist with tasks in addition to the responsibilities outlined above.

Must haves:

• Metro-Denver based; we work in the communities where we live
• Direct experience working in the food-systems sector and/or experience working on agricultural lands
• A passion to establish food equity, food justice and positive food-systems change
• Organizing, campaigning or outreach experience (e.g., outreach to volunteers, farmers, customers, community groups, elected officials, etc.)
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication, and organizational skills
• Experience and comfort coordinating volunteers and speaking publicly
• The ability to think critically and creatively
• The ability to work independently and comfortably in an entrepreneurial environment
• The ability to enthusiastically engage with people from diverse backgrounds to promote trust and collaboration
• Comfort working outdoors and in a variety of weather conditions
• The ability to lift 40 lbs. comfortably
• A valid driver’s license and reliable, personal transportation (you will be required to deliver gleaned food in your own vehicle)
• Comfort and proficiency with technology (such as Google Workspace, Salesforce, MailChimp), and/or a willingness to learn about these technologies

Great to have:

• An entrepreneurial spirit and a flexible schedule
• Agricultural or food-systems experience
• Food-safety experience
• An outgoing personality and can-do attitude
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Social media experience

UpRoot Colorado is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discriminatory practices against anyone on the basis of age, race, religion, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, and any other protected category. We value—and are working to create—a culture of equity, honesty, transparency, gratitude, clear communication, respect, and continuous learning. We acknowledge that food justice is not achievable without racial justice.

Candidates must align with these values and want to contribute to the creation of a new status quo: an equitable food system where all enjoy access to nutrient-dense and locally-produced food, where farmers are valued and made economically whole, and agriculture contributes to the health of both people and our environment.

It is important that the communities we serve are centered in our work. Therefore, people who have experienced nutrition insecurity are encouraged to apply.