Gleaning Coordinator

Position Overview

In partnership with the Gleaning Planning Team, the Gleaning Coordinator supports reducing food insecurity and food waste in the region through the harvest and delivery of excess produce from local farms to emergency providers and other food access sites across the county.

The Coordinator is responsible for the overall functioning of the gleaning group, including day-to-day activities, volunteer coordination,  outreach and communication, data collection and reporting, partnership development, and systems improvement.

The Coordinator will further the group’s goal to establish gleaning as a necessary and integral piece of the local food system, and to increase access to nutritious foods to all in our communities, both rural and urban. They should be a highly organized individual who thrives in a self-directed work environment. Due to the nature of the volunteer-driven program, they should be flexible and prepared for a wide variation in members’ abilities and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Organize and facilitate Gleaning Planning Team meetings
• Ensure timely communications with the network, including farmer partners, distribution sites, and the general public through email and other platforms. 
• Coordinate outreach and communication strategy for onboarding new farms, and volunteers. 
• Create and maintain a recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategy for volunteers.
• Create a social media strategy with volunteer support for platforms, including but not limited to the Facebook group and LinkTree account. 
• In partnership with farmers and farm leads, create and help implement a seasonal gleaning schedule 
• Ensure daily/weekly gleaning activities are successful, including fielding  requests/questions from Farm Leads, and acting as a farm lead when needed 
• Stay abreast of food and agriculture-related happenings in the area 
• Engage in multi-stakeholder meetings to continue the growth and understanding of food security issues. 
• Pursue funding to support the Coordinator role and the sustainability of the group. 
• Facilitate pop-up gleaning coordination. 
• Lead/support community engagement events (i.e., fundraisers, food processing events, celebrations, etc.) 
• Reporting responsibilities include Harvest for Hunger, farm tax info, reports to share with the public, and farmer thank you notes.

Qualifications

Required

• Must have a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record, and a vehicle to use. Must have the ability to work from home with their own computer and internet.
• Experience or passion for local food systems or farming work. 
• Team player with the ability to foster a collaborative and supportive work environment. 
• Computer competency: proficient in Zoom platforms and Microsoft Office Suite,  including Excel and Google Suite.
• Enjoys outdoor work; comfortable with and able to perform the physical labor required to manage and care for gardens, including regular bending, lifting, and carrying up to 50  pounds and working in a variety of weather conditions. 
• Enjoys creating inclusive spaces, activities, and programs for people with a wide range of abilities and lived experiences. 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 
• Strong program management skills. 
• Experience with collaborative work and building strong partnerships; able to represent the Gleaners in community settings. 
• Experience with and ability to work alongside, support, and engage people from diverse backgrounds and communities, including people dealing with the impacts of poverty, trauma, and insecurity in diverse realms of their lives.

PREFERRED

• Experience designing, leading, and assessing youth engagement programs.
  • Ability to communicate verbally in Somali, French, Portuguese, Arabic, or other languages is a plus. 
• Certification in CPR and First-Aid preferred. 
• Comfortable with learning new technology, including design tools (i.e., Canva or Venngage) 
• Customer service experience.

The Gleaning Coordinator is a part-time position with hours fluctuating seasonally. The work schedule is flexible but requires regular monitoring, communication, and responsiveness. Pay is $XX per hour. This position is grant-funded for one year with the intent to extend or grow funding in years two and beyond. 

• 18 hours per week, June-November. 
• 5 hours per week December-May 
• This position has the potential to be 100% remote with frequent local travel. 
• Possibility for office space in Lisbon Falls or Lewiston if needed. 

This is a contract position, and as such, does not qualify for benefits.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).