Farm to School Coordinator

Hueneme Elementary School District

Job Type: Independent Contractor

Service Contract Period: 20 month contract (August 2023 - March 2025)

Services Required: Farm to School Coordinator

Organization Description:

Hueneme Elementary School District (HESD) serves approximately 7,200 students across nine elementary, and two junior high schools. The Food Service Department has been developing the Farm to School program for the last ten years to include local fruit and vegetable procurement for school meals, scratch-cooked meals, farm-fresh salad bars, school gardens, and food and nutrition education.

Description of Service:

The Farm to School Coordinator will support the expansion of a robust Farm to School education program by assisting in school garden development, maintenance, and rejuvenation, and teaching whole food cooking and nutrition lessons for K-8 students. The Coordinator will work collaboratively with the Food Service Department, school site staff, teachers, students, food service staff, administrators, community organizations and parents to integrate learning experiences that connect local farms, school cafeterias, classrooms, and school gardens. The focus of the service will support goals outlined within Hueneme’s 2022 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Project, awarded by California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The work will begin in August 2023 and end March 31, 2025 with a possibility of extension depending on funding availability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the direction of the Food Service Director, and in coordination with school site staff, the Farm to School Coordinator will perform the following duties and responsibilities, in addition to ensuring goals and requirement outlined in the California Farm to School Incubator Grant Project are met and report upon by timelines deadlines:

Harvest of the Month
● Implement Harvest of the Month (HOTM) curriculum and taste testing in alignment with grade level and content standards.
● Teach whole food cooking with HOTM fruits and vegetables
● Work directly with Ventura County Farm to School to coordinate materials and supplies to support HOTM efforts within HESD.
● Implement the mindful tasting approach with students and staff.

School Gardens
● Expand school garden education programs by working with Hueneme teachers and staff to build and support existing school gardens and facilitate garden lessons and activities.
● Maintain all garden-related infrastructure and equipment, including garden beds, pathways, irrigation, and gardening tools.
● Establish a buy back procedure for garden grown produce to the Food Service department, utilizing best practices from other Farm to School programs
● Track all data related to nutrition and garden activities and write grant reports.

Environmental Education
● Develop and promote plant based meals promotional materials to encourage students to try new menu items
● Develop and promote food waste reduction materials and activities, such as composting, with student groups.

Grant Management
● Track expenditures, organize receipts, and manage invoices and progress reports for the CDFA grant.
● Attend all CDFA grant meetings to collaborate with project partners throughout the state.
● Collaborate with Ventura County Farm to School and other local CDFA grant recipients on projects and events.

Other Duties as Assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of:

1. Current nutrition, garden, and farm-to school related programs
2. Basic cooking and food preparation techniques
3. Sanitation and safety practices related to cooking, and serving food
4. Integrative pest management
5. Fruit and vegetable production and composting
6. Garden management and maintenance
7. Budget preparation and control
8. Oral and written communication skills
9. Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures
10. Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
11. Operation of a computer and other office equipment

Ability to:
1. Plan, coordinate and manage school gardens
2. Speak to large groups of students, parents, and teachers
3. Coordinate communication and serve as a technical resource concerning whole food cooking, nutrition, and garden development and maintenance
4. Maintain records and prepare reports
5. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
6. Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relations with others
7. Prepare and deliver oral presentations
8. Plan and organize work schedule
9. Meet schedules and timelines
10. Work independently and as part of a team
11. Observe health and safety regulations
12. Maintain regular and consistent attendance
13. Develop positive interpersonal relationships, cultivate successful work relationships with a diversity of staff and administrators and utilize sensitivity when working with students and staff
14. Effectively communicate orally and in writing
15. Attend district meetings as necessary

Physical Demands and Work Conditions
Ability to:

1. Hear and speak to communicate with others in a normal voice and on the phone
2. Lift, carry, push or pull objects weighing up to 40 pounds without accommodation
3. Handle frequent standing, walking, bending, stopping, kneeling, reachings and squatting required on uneven terrain
4. Work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e. hot, cold, windy, rain, muddy conditions)
5. Work around dust and dirt
6. Work in kitchens around hot foods, ovens, equipment and sharp tools
7. Physically perform the duties and responsibilities outlined without accommodations

Work Year Calendar
To be determined based on hire date.

Education and Experience
Any combination equivalent to provide sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and abilities and to perform the duties and responsibilities listed above. Typically, this would be gained through: bachelor’s degree in nutrition, dietetics, culinary arts, environmental science, agriculture or related field and/or completion of an internship or apprenticeship program; work experience in farm to school programs; experience managing gardens and implementing nutrition and garden-based education for school-age students.

License/Certification
Food Handlers Card acquired within 1 month from contract start date
Valid California Class C Driver’s License for use of private automobile
Certificate of Liability Insurance
Automobile Insurance

Contract Fee: $5000-6250/month DOE, for 20 months, paid through the California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program.

To Apply:

Please submit a letter of interest, resume and three letters of recommendation not later than Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Email application packet to Joanna Carino, Director of Food Service at jcarino@hueneme.org.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $5,000.00 - $6,250.00 per month

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Port Hueneme, CA 93041: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

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