Colorado Food Business Center Coordinator Part-time

Description of Work Unit

DARE’s mission is to improve the societal well-being of the people of Colorado and beyond by creating and sharing tools and information aimed to solve economic, managerial, educational, and policy related problems within the agri-food and resource systems. We deliver value by means of disciplinary and multidisciplinary research, undergraduate and graduate education, and extension and outreach programming, helping to guarantee safe, secure and sustainable agri-food and resource systems.

Position Summary

The USDA Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center seeks applicants for a state coordinator in local and regional food systems and a coordinator for building meat supply chain capacity. The USDA Regional Food Business Centers are designed to support a more resilient and equitable food system by providing localized support for small to mid-sized food producers, harvesters, processors, distributors, and retailers and developing more robust local and regional supply chain linkages.

This part-time (50%) position will coordinate the USDA Northwest and Rocky Mountain Food Business Center program in Colorado State and collaborate with a wider six-state team. This will require collaboration across Extension, government agencies, and community groups to build stakeholder networks that can identify assets and gaps in access to resources and work to address them. Preferred candidates will have the skills and expertise to conduct participatory research and extension that engages underserved audiences in co-creating pathways to strengthen economically viable and resilient local and regional food systems. We seek candidates who are eager to contribute to the community engagement and service mission of a land-grant university and foster our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the food system.

This hybrid position will require in-person and remote hours; specifics negotiable. An office will be provided in Fort Collins, with the expectation that the individual resides within Colorado. Traveling in your own vehicle to events and meetings around the state will be expected, but mileage will be reimbursed. Applicants should be aware of the possibility that this position may become a permanent full-time position (details will be discussed during candidate interview process).

Required Job Qualifications

• Completed Master’s degree
• Minimum 3 years professional experience in project management related to agriculture, food systems, public policy, community development, or business-related field.
• Expertise in working with Microsoft Office suite.
• Strong ability to work in a team environment while also working in self-directed context to identify and achieve institute goals and objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead discussion groups, engage diverse stakeholder groups, build consensus decisions, and organize goals.
• Demonstrated the ability to listen to group discussions and identify commonality to build consensus.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate work among complex groups.
• Excellent facilitation skills in both in person and virtual meetings.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written).
• Excellent organization skills.
• Ability to keep organizational goals in mind and remain focused.
• Demonstrated commitment to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience raising and managing external funds.
• Ability to pass both CSU background and USDA background checks.
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Strong background in issues relevant to food systems and business development.
• Demonstrated experience working with and commitment to Land Grant Universities, Extension, and engaged activities.
• Expertise in one or more social science disciplines related to food systems.
• Experience in event planning and external stakeholder engagement.
• Bilingual Spanish-English
• Experience working in multilingual settings
• Experience working in multicultural settings
• Substantive knowledge of Colorado State’s agricultural and food sectors and government and non-profit entities and state, local, and federal programs that support regional food and agricultural business development.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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