Advertiser's description (via University of Minnesota):
About our Organisation
The UMN Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) are a program of the University of Minnesota Extension. Community-driven University partnerships based in five regions throughout Greater Minnesota work to foster active community leadership, achieve sustainable development (focusing on natural resources, clean energy, sustainable agriculture and food systems and resilient communities), and create a vital relationship between the community members of the State and their land grant university. For over 25 years, the RSDPs have worked with communities to build sustainable food systems..
An example of a project is the USDA NIFA-funded project entitled, Building a Bidirectional Supply Chain for Farm to Rural Grocery to Wholesale. The project is developing operational systems and logistics to enable farmers to sell products through mainstream wholesale distribution systems by utilizing their local rural grocery stores. The project requires networking and relationship building with University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and students; farmers and producers; rural grocery store owners; and grocery and produce wholesalers throughout the state. See more information about the RSDP http://www.extension.umn.edu/rsdp/ and Extension http://www.extension.umn.edu/
About the Opportunity
This position will contribute to current RSDP projects and programs addressing issues such as: rural grocery stores, food policy, aggregation and distribution, marketing and merchandising for farmers and retailers, winter production, supply chains and logistics, and other areas of interest to small- and medium-sized farmers in Minnesota. This position also provides leadership and program development for the statewide sustainable agriculture and food systems suite of projects guided by RSDP multi-regional priorities and by harnessing relevant trends in sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Position Responsibilities
- Manage grant project activities to move the research and outreach objectives forward, and ensure grant and project deliverables are achieved
- Initiate and coordinate project arrangements that involve interested parties
- Build relationships with project stakeholders
- Assist in conducting research and developing case studies.
- Analyze economic, food safety, logistic and regulatory aspects, such as of a novel Farm to Rural Grocery to Wholesale supply chain
- Create outreach and education materials such as fact sheets, articles, and other media targeting stakeholders
- Conduct public presentations
- Work with RSDP Director of SAFS to develop, write, and lead sustainable agriculture and food system grants and projects.
- Ideate, build relationship, and garner resource for projects that develop new tools and strategies to maintain and improve the viability of sustainable food systems
- Provide support (communicating with partners, assisting with writing and reporting, conducting internet research, planning events) to RSDP regional SAFS work groups as assigned by the RSDP SAFS director
- Conduct ‘inreach’ to the University to identify, engage and work with University of Minnesota faculty and staff to support community projects in collaboration with the RSDP SAFS director
- Expand relationships with a wide range of community members and organizations in the area of SAFS
- As needed and in keeping with areas of expertise, work with the five RSDP Executive Directors and Clean Energy Resource Teams leadership to coordinate projects and outreach activities
- Communicate program opportunities to target audiences using traditional and social media outlets.
Our Benefits
- Education Program Specialist positions have annual University academic professional appointments.
- University of Minnesota appointment and benefits. Benefits package available https://hr.umn.edu/Jobs/Applicant-Center/About-Working-U/Benefits-Working-U-M
- Reimbursement for travel and subsistence is available in accordance with University policy.
- Salary commensurate with education and experience.
Terms of Employment
Full-time
Location
In-person
