Location: Ames, IA
Status: Half-time salaried position with health insurance.
Reports to: Education Director.
 
The Iowa Farmers Union Education Foundation seeks a half-time project
coordinator for a two-year grant-funded Farm-to-Institution project
(2007 – 2008)
 
The Iowa Farmers Union Education Foundation (IFUEF) was formed in 1999
with a 501(c)3 status to help meet increased needs for education among
farmers, rural residents, and consumers. Its mission statement is: “To
promote a viable system of sustainable agriculture and high quality of
life in rural communities through education of farmers, rural
residents, and urban consumers; cooperation among farmers; and
community activism.”
 
Position Summary:
Half-time (20 hrs./wk.) position to develop and administer two-year
IFUEF Farm-to-Institution project; provide budget monitoring, data
management, event coordination, inter-agency and public outreach and
communications for the project.
 
This project is intended to increase sales of locally grown foods such
as fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, dairy, wine, nuts, etc., to Iowa
institutions such as universities and colleges, schools, hospitals,
care facilities and other commercial and institutional food buyers. The
coordinator will serve as a facilitator for farmers and institutional
buyers to create business relationships and expand the sales of local
foods into these markets, for the economic benefit of farmers and their
communities, and the health benefit of institutional clients.
 
Required qualifications:

* Bachelor's degree in agriculture, business, marketing and public
relations, food science or related field pertaining to sustainable
agriculture.
* Experience in budget and data management.  

 
Preferred qualifications
* Familiarity with food systems and project management, public speaking
experience, familiarity with the Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe
InDesign or Microsoft Publisher software.
* Self motivation, the ability to organize workload and work
independently in a multi-project environment, and conduct oneself in a
professional manner.
* Experience with or passion about working with farmers to increase their sales of locally raised foods to Iowa institutions.