Local Food Switchboard Central Operator & Convergence Event Coordinator

Overview

The Maine Food Convergence Project (MFCP) (mainefoodconvergence.org) works to build a coordinated, collaborative local food system that supports the well-being of people, communities, and the planet, with a focus on social and racial equity and environmental sustainability. Partnered with seven food system networks across Maine, we create spaces where people working on food, land, and climate issues can build relationships, explore collaborative solutions to complex challenges, and turn shared priorities into collective action. We work to grow community and deepen relationships so that, together, we can create more meaningful and lasting change.

MFCP is a fiscally sponsored project of Third Sector New Englance, Inc. (tsne.org)

Local Food Switchboard Overview

Hosted by MFCP and funded collaboratively by Maine foundations and federal grants, the Local Food Switchboard serves as a central hub for coordinating logistics services within Maine's local food system. Specifically, it acts as a “virtual assistant” to the School Food Marketplace (SFM). The Switchboard streamlines local food procurement, connects various interest-holders in Maine's food system, and increases local food sourcing in schools and beyond. It provides detailed information on a) food products and businesses, b) processing, distribution and other supply web infrastructure, and c) food system resources such as financial and technical assistance.

Besides increasing nourishing local food in schools, a key goal of the Switchboard is to build stronger connections with food producers and harvesters who face systemic barriers to capital and market access due to racism, transphobia, ableism, classism, and immigration status. By fostering collaboration, we aim to support their infrastructure, equipment, market access, and resource needs, creating a more equitable and resilient food system.

Convergence Event Overview

Held every two years, the Maine Food Convergence Event is MFCP's signature statewide gathering, bringing together farmers, fishers, food producers, processors, distributors, school nutrition professionals, community organizations, funders, and policymakers from across Maine's food system. The Convergence Event creates space for cross-sector relationship-building, shared learning, and collective problem-solving around the challenges and opportunities facing local food systems in Maine.

Consistent with MFCP's broader commitment to social and racial equity, the Convergence is intentionally designed to center perspectives and experiences that are too often left out of statewide food system conversations. From program design through facilitation, the event aims to be accessible and welcoming to participants with a wide range of backgrounds, languages, and levels of familiarity with formal food systems spaces.

Responsibilities

This role provides central coordination for MFCP's two flagship programs. MFCP's Switchboard is staffed by two Community Outreach Operators, who work directly in communities and along the supply chain, and two Central Operators, who steward the platform at a statewide level. This position is one of the two Central Operators, sharing and dividing central Switchboard duties with the other while supporting the Community Outreach Operators. This role also carries leadership of Convergence Event coordination — leading planning and logistics for the statewide gathering from concept through execution. Both programs are high-logistics, coordination-intensive efforts, and this role brings a consistent central-operations approach to each. Reports to the MFCP Coordinating Director; works closely with the Communications Manager.

This is a temporary position that is partially funded by the Sewall Foundation and through the USDA/Farm to School 2-year Grant that ends June 30, 2028. Renewal is contingent upon continued funding.

Essential Functions

Switchboard Central Operations (shared with the other Central Operator)

• Co-steward the Local Food Switchboard platform, maintaining data quality, consistency, and functionality across all regions and sectors.
• Support and coordinate with the Switchboard Community Outreach Operators, providing guidance, troubleshooting, and shared tools and resources.
• Work with Switchboard members to update and improve statewide listings, categories, and search functionality to reflect the realities of producers, fishers, processors, distributors, and institutional buyers.
• Identify platform-wide gaps in usability, accessibility (including language access), and functionality, and coordinate improvements with technical partners.
• Track platform-wide usage, connections made, and emerging needs; contribute to data collection and storytelling that reflects system-level impacts and gaps.
• Collaborate with the other Central Operator, MFCP staff, and Community Outreach Operators to align platform development with statewide strategy.
• Assist with outreach to business and organizational sponsors to sustain the project.

Convergence Event Coordination & Outreach

In close collaboration with staff and network partners:

• Lead event planning, logistics, and sponsorship outreach for a statewide Convergence held every two years.
• Develop the event format and sessions.
• Coordinate securing presenters, speakers, facilitators, and sponsors, with attention to ensuring that the process and event are inclusive and informed by diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Support the Communications Manager in creating outreach and promotional materials for events, sponsorship campaigns, and the project in general.
• Manage the event budget.
• Support coordination for additional MFCP convenings and events as needed between Convergences.
• Leverage the event to generate financial support as well as future partnerships for MFCP.

Collaboration & Learning

• Work closely with the other Switchboard Central Operator, the Switchboard Community Outreach Operators, and MFCP staff to align program and statewide efforts.
• Participate in team learning, feedback loops, and iterative development of the Switchboard model.
• Share platform and event insights to inform policy, investment, and program design conversations.

Qualifications

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

We recognize that no one candidate will have all qualifications. We strongly encourage applicants with lived experience and diverse backgrounds to apply.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects, relationships, and priorities, including budgets.
• Ability to navigate complex systems and translate between different interest-holders (e.g., producers, institutions, sponsors, and presenters).
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to work across diverse sectors and communities.
• Experience in event planning, logistics coordination, or program/project management, ideally including large or statewide convenings.
• Experience improving accessibility (e.g., language access, engagement practices).
• Experience with data tracking, analysis, directories, marketplace tools, and/or CRM systems.
• Proficient in organizational and communications platforms such as Google Workspace, Zoom, Airtable, Slack, etc.
• Experience with outreach, facilitation, and community outreach work.
• Interest in system change and collaborative problem-solving.

Additional (not required but valuable)

• Ability to build and foster relationships within rural, Wabanaki, immigrant, Amish, or other underrepresented communities.
• Experience in creating deep connections to food production, fisheries/aquaculture, processing, or distribution.
• Expertise in value chain coordination.
• Experience working with school nutrition programs / Farm & Sea to School systems.
• Experience with sponsorship outreach, fundraising, or partnership development.
• Familiarity with regulatory environments related to food production, processing, distribution, and procurement.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed remote in Maine - with travel within Maine as appropriate for the work; with occasional evening or weekend hours for events and regional engagements. Part-time staff position, 30 hours per week, generally Monday–Friday during business hours.

Compensation: The hourly range for this position is $27.00 - $29.00/hr and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): twelve paid holidays, prorated vacation and personal holiday time, and ability to accrue up to 487.5 hours of health leave time for benefited staff.
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost Harvard Pilgrim/Point32Health Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care.
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employer-paid Pension and Employee-paid 403b plan through TIAA.
• ...and more!

TSNE/MFCP strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/MFCP prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/MFCP celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/MFCP's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.

TSNE/MFCP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the application and hiring process. If you need an accommodation to apply or participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [email protected]. Requests will be handled confidentially and shared only as needed to evaluate and implement the accommodation.