Upcycling and Sustainability in Food Systems VISTA
Full Time
Seattle, WA 98104
Posted
Job description
Upcycling and Sustainability in Food Systems VISTA
| 2023
Position Description
START/END DATE: 6/5/2023 - 6/4/2024
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
**UWKC AmeriCorps members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the first day of service.** Supporting FareStart’s goals of having transformational impact for individuals to thrive and poverty to be disrupted, the VISTA will build capacity for FareStart’s Food Recovery program to develop, grow, and scale Value Added Processing. The Value Added Processing aspect of FareStart’s Food Recovery program aims to reduce regional food waste while supporting the local food economy and benefit those that have least access to nutritional food. The VISTA will build this capacity through community engagement and collaboration, building shared knowledge around our regional food system, while also understanding and incorporating FareStart’s student-centered and trauma informed job training program into this work. The VISTA will fight poverty by building the capacity of the organization to create engagement opportunities for food security organizations and individuals. Will also work to improve the agency’s ability to provide incoming students experiencing homelessness new skills for jobs in food service, job readiness training, and life skills training opportunities they need to achieve economic mobility and financial stability. Whether FareStart students are coming from poverty, are in recovery, or have been formerly incarcerated, FareStart’s job training program provides self-empowerment and job skills training that will have a lasting and formative impact.
MEMBER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Build capacity for value-added processed upcycling products to distribute in the hunger relief system.
- Participate in current food recovery projects to get hands-on experience to inform understanding of the high-level state of the gaps in our regional food systems’ supply chain and identify the biggest challenges.
- Produce a comprehensive report detailing the gaps and challenges based on research and your hands-on experience on the food security team, as well as how farestart’s current work could scale to meet at least one of these identified gaps in year 2 and year 3 of this vista project.
- Creation of strategies to sustainably supply farestart’s food security work to ensure it can continue long term.
Position Length: 12 months
Benefits & Compensation
:
- Bi-weekly stipend of $1027.88 (pre-tax)
- $6,895 Education Award or $1,800 End of Service Stipend upon successful completion of
- Loan deferment and payment of interest accrued during service year on qualified student loans (loans must be federally-backed; personal/private loans not eligible)
- Noncompetitive eligibility for federal jobs for up to one year after completing service
- Health benefits that meet the minimum standards of ACA compliance
- Childcare assistance
- 10 days sick leave, 10 days personal leave plus 11 federal holidays
- Enrollment in an assistance program with 24-hour access to phone counseling
- Access to emergency assistance program to mitigate unforeseen financial emergencies that put your continued participation in AmeriCorps service at risk
- Monthly team meetings, high-quality training, professional development, and networking opportunities
- Lifelong friends and colleagues who are passionate about service!
Professional Development Benefits:
- Robust professional development to support your personal, professional, and service goals and growth
- Skills to be gained include but not limited to: Interpersonal and Intercultural communication, community outreach, adaptability, relationship building, conflict management, customer service, resource navigation, data entry, knowledge of WA public benefits, knowledge of inner workings of non-profits and community college systems
- Career development trainings provided by UWKC AmeriCorps team
- Previous trainings include: How to Network, Resume Workshops, Mock Interviews, How to make your LinkedIn Profile Shine
- Networking opportunities within United Way and Community Partners
As a member of this cohort, you will be supported with a robust orientation, ongoing professional development opportunities, training, check-ins, and the tools and resources you need to succeed.
What We’re Looking For:
- Hunger and poverty disproportionately affect people who identify with multiple intersections of marginality—including people that identify as Black, Native, POC, queer, trans, disabled, first generation, etc. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage those that identify with these communities to apply
- Understanding of systemic racism and commitment to anti-racist work to ensure outputs are relevant and accessible to community members
- Flexibility and quick problem-solving skills to balance the variety of service activities and any potential shift in program priorities
- Experience working on multiple projects at once and ability to self-manage
- Ability to communicate clearly with staff members, partners, and AmeriCorps members
- Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with team, partners, and community members.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills including public speaking skills
AmeriCorps Program Eligibility:
- Must be over 18 years old on the first day of service
- Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States. Unfortunately, F1 visas are not sufficient.
- Must be available 40 hours per week. Exact hours may vary by site placement, but will primarily be Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Must undergo a Washington State Patrol background check, FBI background check and National Sex Offender Registry Check, plus state of residence background check if not currently living in Washington
- High school diploma/GED
- Per United Way of King County Policy, AmeriCorps members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the first day of service. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. If you are a selected candidate, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination. Please reach out to unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org if you need information on medical or religious accommodation.
Please note that United Way of King County has moved to remote and limited in-person operations. As such, be prepared to participate in interviews remotely and to complete service responsibilities in a hybrid environment (in-person and remote) should we move forward with your candidacy. If technology presents a barrier to applying, interviewing, or accepting the position, please reach out to
unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org
for accommodations.
Additionally, per United Way and public health guidance, all AmeriCorps members must be able to transition from working hybrid to commuting to their site to serve 40 hrs. per week at any time during their service year. Service schedules will be based on your service site’s needs.
To Apply: Create an application on My AmeriCorps Portal or click here:
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=117106
- The application process moves quickly, please expect a response within 1-2 days.
- Please contact unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org with any questions.
If you do not have the preferred knowledge, experience, or qualifications, please do not be discouraged from applying. We offer professional development, support, and on-the-job learning.
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