Food Systems Program Manager - Office Of Environmental Programs

ABOUT THIS POSITION

The Food Systems Program Manager professional is assigned to the Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) provides independent technical expertise and environmental leadership to City management, serves as a technical and/or management resource for operating departments, and leads in the creation and implementation of city-wide environmental policies and programs to reduce environmental risk and liability in City operations. OEP coordinates sustainability programs, including climate action, sustainable purchasing, and food systems.

The Food Systems Program was established in 2021 with the purpose of achieving the City Council-approved goal of a resilient, sustainable, equitable, and thriving local food system with healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food for all in Phoenix.

The Food Systems Program Manager will provide professional-level assistance to the OEP, city management, and elected officials on the development and implementation of strategic plans, policies, communications, and evaluation tools pertaining to the food system. The incumbent will conduct policy development and coordination and provide strategic analysis of current and emerging policies to identify new initiatives to develop and implement food policy city-wide. This position will conduct program development and implementation of the 2025 Phoenix Food Action Plan and the next iteration of the plan, as well as manage existing programs under the Phoenix Resilient Food Systems Initiative, including circular food economy, food waste reduction, prevention, and rescue, agri-food technology innovation, workforce development, urban agriculture, and backyard gardens. Engagement and development of relationships with stakeholders within all spectrums of the food system is essential. The Food Systems Program manager will directly supervise staff.

Additional knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiencies:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of food systems, public health, social services, planning, agriculture, or related field.

• Demonstrated commitment to food justice and racial equity work.

• Ability to institute, facilitate, and lead collaborative policy development processes.

• Ability to provide leadership, guidance, and support to interdepartmental teams.

• Strong community leadership, communication, facilitation and negotiation skills.

• Grant writing and management.

The selected candidate will be required to:

• Promote a local sustainable food system that is less harmful to the environment, while better serving the needs of Phoenix's growing population.

• Coordinate food program and specific food projects with city departments, private organizations, nonprofit organizations, and community members.

• Act as a liaison between the City and other public and private local, state, and federal entities dealing with the development of food systems policies and programs.

• Implement food entrepreneurship and innovation projects in concert with the Community and Economic Development Department.

• Conduct research, develop strategies, and lead grant writing efforts to enhance program funding from public and private resources.

• Report on program progress to City leadership, partners and community members.

• Develop content for external facing websites, presentations and other materials.

• Design and facilitate active, equitable community engagement efforts.

• Engage community stakeholders, including with citizen committees, special interest groups, non-profit organizations and neighborhood groups, through active participation in coalition meetings and other community partnership collaborations to address common concerns about food policy, including topics such as food security, agricultural policy, healthy food policy, food waste reduction, climate and environmental impacts, health, and nutrition.

• Collaborate with a variety of community stakeholders including farmers, nonprofit organizations, chefs, restaurants, food distributors and aggregators, food justice advocates, and city and state officials.

• Develop content for workshops, seminars, and training sessions related to food systems issues.

• Participate in the evaluation of food consumption greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and measures for reduction of GHGs.

• Coordinate with climate staff on progress reporting for implementation of local food system actions identified in the Phoenix Climate Action Plan.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator, easily adaptable, a great team player, exceptionally organized, has strong presentation skills, and can manage competing priorities.

SALARY

Pay Range: $86,590.40 to $134,326.40 annually.

Hiring Range: $86,590.40 to $116,022.40 annually.

Pay Range Explanation:

• Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.

• Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

BENEFITS

A comprehensive benefits package is offered which includes:

• Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information

• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions

• Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans

• Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan

• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually

• Dental, vision, and life insurance options

• Employer paid long-term disability

• Free Bus/light rail pass

• Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year

• Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days

• Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period

• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi

For more details, visit: Unit 007 Benefits

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in sustainability, economic development, organization development, urban planning, public administration, business administration, project management, or a related field.

• Five years of professional experience in food systems, nutrition, health, sustainability, social sciences, program and project management, preferably within a government or public sector environment.

• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted

• The City job description can be found here.

• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.

• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.

• For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus:

• Experience supervising professional-level staff.

• Experience managing federal, state, education, or philanthropic grant programs.

• Experience with public speaking, developing and coordinating public forums, stakeholder meetings, and conducting outreach efforts for complex programs.

• Experience in developing, managing, and implementing food systems programs or projects, such as circular food economy, food waste, agri-food tech innovation, sustainable and regenerative agriculture, workforce development, and backyard and community gardens.

RECRUITMENT DATES

Recruitment closes May 21, 2024. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online by completing the required information and attaching, as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.

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REFERENCE

Program Manager, JC:08600, ID# 54369, 05/07/2024, USM, MA, Benfits: 007

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City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.