Food Systems Specialist

About this role

The Food Systems Specialist will concentrate efforts on broadening the scope of the local and state food system network. This position plays a key role in advancing initiatives that strengthen connections between Upstate New York producers and New York City consumers, helping to expand market opportunities for Upstate New York farms, improve access to locally produced foods, and support a more resilient food system. The Food Systems Specialist will participate in, coordinate, and assist with initiatives to strengthen the local food system economic infrastructure, enabling an efficient, sustainable food corridor within New York State. This initiative aims to educate, provide resources, and coordinate efforts of those integrated in the food supply chain, providing opportunity, sustainability, and enhancements in economic and infrastructure security to the agricultural community and larger New York food system. The Food System Specialist will integrate themselves into various tiers of the food system supply chain as a community resource for local food promotion while ensuring funding objectives are met by working with food system stakeholders to promote and enhance the economic prosperity of New York agriculture. The successful candidate is expected to work independently with a high level of autonomy while building and maintaining relationships with government officials, agricultural organizations, and community partners to support New York State food systems.      Required Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness, economics, marketing, business, or related field. • Working knowledge and experience related to agriculture and farming. • Ability to plan, manage, and/or implement projects and educational programs. • Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate (verbally and written) with and provide guidance to a variety of groups, including community partners, community members, agricultural stakeholders, government officials, and CCE staff to meet individual and community needs. • Ability to multi-task, prioritize and work as part of a team. • Demonstrated ability to manage grant projects and contracts. • Ability to meet the frequent travel requirements associated with this position. Willingness to work flexible hours including nights and/or weekends. • Demonstrated competencies in communicating via electronic technologies and software. • At least one year of professional experience dealing with the public or private sectors of agricultural industry and/or promoting and enhancing agricultural development within the context of more general county and region-wide economic development goals and vision. • Capacity to link industry and producer needs with available expertise and to apply expert information to local situations. • Experience with and knowledge of the challenges facing agriculture locally in New York State. • Proficiency or ability to learn and effectively use software including use of the internet and Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel).  • Ability to meet acceptable background check standards.

Preferred Qualifications: • Experience with Cooperative Extension or other similar educational organizations.  

Position Details: Expected Weekly Hours : 40 hours per week- Onsite Position.

Wage: Annual Salary of $65,000- $70,000

Location: Oneida County CCE office in Oriskany, NY . No remote work available.

Benefits: Great Benefits; including spectacular time off! • NYS Health Insurance Program (including FREE Dental Insurance) • NYS Retirement!!! • Long-Term Disability Insurance • Total Care Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Voluntary Tax Deferred Annuity Plan • Voluntary Flexible Spending Accounts • Voluntary Group Universal Life Insurance • Voluntary Personal Accidental Insurance • Voluntary Legal Plan Insurance • Voluntary Long Term Care Insurance • Voluntary Auto and Homeowner’s Insurance • Voluntary Pet Insurance 12 Paid holidays, 2 floating holidays (can be used at any time of year),21 vacation days, 4 personal days and 15 sick days per year

Program Development- 5% • Apply subject matter knowledge to provide input in the creation of innovative educational programs around developing successful agriculturally based businesses. • Support the research, identification, and selection of existing resources for the program. • Create program materials to address client needs in local farming communities. • Interpret Association program direction to create educational programs, ensuring program development is within local and statewide Plans of Work. • Maintain direct linkage with Cornell University faculty and program units and regional ag communities for program development guidance.

Program Delivery – 30%                • Apply subject matter knowledge of agricultural business development in the delivery of educational programming using a variety of methodologies including teaching program participants via workshops, consultations, and media. • Foster acceptance of program, methods, and policies to address community and individual needs. • Serve as subject matter resource in agricultural marketing and business development to provide moderately complex nonstandard responses to questions specific to individual farms/businesses. • Interact with food system stakeholders (farmers, processors, distributors, aggregators, food hubs, etc) in a positive manner, helping them make informed decisions to meet desired goals. • Coordinate positive relationships between local farms and other food system stakeholders to enhance agribusiness connectivity and encourage economic development within the agricultural sector. • Represent CCE before the public and local agricultural communities, community leaders, government officials, Cornell, or other land grant universities as part of program delivery. • Involvement in multidisciplinary and/or multi-association team efforts to deliver programming when appropriate. • Maintain direct linkage

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