Program Officer, Full Lives (Food Security)

To apply, please follow this link: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=198298&clientkey=F27F8F72CDB4E2061D90DF55F0638D8B

OUR COMMUNITY

We live in a world where division, disparity, and poverty affect everyone. When we unite as changemakers at Greater Twin Cities United Way we can disrupt systems, unlock human potential, change narratives, create equitable solutions, and advocate for policies that result in lasting change. 

As an interconnected community focused on equity and inclusion, we can draw from our best minds, courageous leaders, responsive services and collaborative partnerships, and bring forth working solutions to shape our future together.

Your Role in Participating:           Program Officer, Full Lives

Your Department:                           Community Impact                

Your Reporting Manager:             Associate Director, Innovation

OUR MISSION AND VALUES

Mission:  Unite changemakers, advocate for social good and develop solutions to address the challenges no one can solve alone.

Values:  Equity, collaboration, agility, and transparency

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF YOUR ROLE

The Program Officer, Full Lives, will lead the Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) Full Lives initiative, which focuses on advancing food justice and developing a thriving, equitable regional food system in the Twin Cities. This role entails setting the strategic direction, shaping project goals, and identifying key partners to drive systemic change. The Program Officer will oversee the Full Lives Advisory Group, manage RFP/Grantmaking processes, and create innovative programs to enhance the initiative’s impact.

The Program Officer will collaborate closely with community and grantee partners, leveraging extensive knowledge of community food systems to foster strong partnerships and integrate diverse perspectives. Additionally, the role includes supporting fundraising efforts in conjunction with the Associate Director of Innovation.

The ideal candidate will be a proactive leader with substantial experience in food justice, sustainability, and local food economies. They should employ a strategic approach to guide their work and demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing racial equity and promoting an inclusive environment.

ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategy & Vision (30%)

• Lead the strategic direction of the Full Lives initiative by connecting the overall vision, goals, and activities with community partners, ensuring clear links to outcomes, impact, and progress measures.
• Manage the budget and timeline, and adjust plans as needed to respond to changes in community needs, funding, or policies, while maintaining strong communication strategies.
• Contribute to and integrate into strategy and activities best practices and research in food justice, local food economies, and community food systems, including culturally responsive approaches and whole systems thinking.
• Exercise thought leadership in communicating the Full Lives initiative’s vision and impact.

Program Management (25%)

• Lead the Full Lives initiative, providing strategic oversight and direction.
• Collaborate with internal teams, departments, and external stakeholders to ensure effective execution of the initiative.
• Facilitate collaboration and co-creation with community stakeholders to ensure that inclusive and equitable community voices are integrated throughout the initiative.
• Plan, execute, and oversee all workstreams, including grantmaking activities, peer learning facilitation, and technical assistance workshops for the Full Lives community of practice.
• Create, organize, and facilitate a Full Lives community advisory group to provide guidance on initiative design and impact. 
• Develop and maintain project work plans.
• Develop, manage, and track initiative budgets and expenses.
• Develop, review, and provide oversight to grants, memoranda of agreement/understanding, and contracts.
• Advocate for equitable food systems and food justice when coordinating with community food systems partners, policy advocates, and government entities.

Field Building & External Relationship Management (25%)

• Build and strengthen partnerships to enhance the Full Lives initiative’s impact on community food systems and support local food security efforts.
• Lead the Full Lives community advisory group to meaningfully shape initiative design and impact.
• Develop and nurture relationships with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, field experts, and other key stakeholders to advance community food systems initiatives and enhance local food security efforts in collaboration with Associate Director of Innovation.
• Coordinate work across nonprofit partners, networks, and collaborations.
• Represent and communicate compellingly the work and value of GTCUW and the Full Lives initiative externally.
• Stay abreast of trends in community food systems to ensure the initiative remains current and responsive.
• Build relationships with a wide range of individuals and organizations across sectors related to community food systems.
• Lead opportunities to bridge and shape community food systems narratives beyond emergency food programs, focusing on broader systemic impacts and solutions.

Fundraising (10%)

• Partner closely with fundraising teams to generate additional resources for key work including donor cultivation and stewardship.

Measurement, Learning & Evaluation (5%)          

• Partner to develop and execute evaluation of the project toward stated outcomes. 
• Ensure progress is regularly communicated including successes and effective strategies, short-term measures and outcomes, and ongoing improvement and learning.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Contribute to the Community Impact Grantmaking team’s strategy by helping develop future initiatives, investigating community challenges, and generating innovative ideas and solutions.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Six+ years of experience in program management and/or grantmaking, with direct experience working in community food systems or related fields required.
• Strong understanding of community food systems, including principles of food justice, sustainability, and local food economies. Proven experience with collaborative approaches to enhance food access, equity, and community resilience.
• Understanding of the Twin Cities region and our unique local opportunities, assets and challenges.
• Experience in addressing systemic inequities in community programs or services, with a focus on creating equitable solutions and improving access and outcomes for communities that have been disproportionately impacted by inequitable systems.
• Embody GTCUW core values of equity, agility, transparency, and collaboration. 
• Exhibits leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to tailor communications to unique and varied audiences of stakeholders
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Excellent relationship management skills.
• Ability to lead adult learning; experienced facilitation skills.
• Advances a positive work environment.
• Familiarity with data collection processes and analysis skills to track trends and outcomes.
• Ability to relate to and work with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Ability to travel within the nine-county metro area.

APPLY ONLINE

To apply, please follow this link: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=198298&clientkey=F27F8F72CDB4E2061D90DF55F0638D8B