Job description

Coordinator of Access to Healthy Food
Lowell, MA;

Part-time Staff – Mar 07, '23

About Middlesex Community College:

Middlesex Community College (MCC), established in 1970, provides access to affordable education for a diverse community from all ethnic backgrounds and identities, preparing individuals for success and lifelong learning. We promote academic excellence, provide workforce development opportunities, and empower all learners to become productive and socially responsible members of our local and global communities.

The College provides a broad range of services that are essential to attract, reward, and retain talented faculty and staff. The MCC community promotes a culture of inclusion in which our employees feel supported and empowered to best serve our diverse student population. We are proud to offer our classes on both the Bedford and Lowell campuses, as well as a robust online course offering. MCC is committed to transforming lives as we educate, challenge, and support all students as evident in our strategic plan.

As an Affirmative Action employer, MCC strongly encourages members of underrepresented groups, minorities, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and all persons committed to diversity and inclusive excellence to apply.

Please apply directly to this position via Middlesex Community College's Employment Opportunities webpage: https://middlesex.interviewexchange.com

Job Description:

Title: Coordinator of Access to Healthy Food
Unit: Part-Time, Non-Unit Support Staff
Department: Student Support Services
Reports To: Coordinator of Essential Needs
Date: March 7, 2023
General Summary: The Coordinator of Access to Health Food is a grant-funded position that will play a key role in expanding MCC's current strategies to address food insecurity among students on campus, with a focus on healthy food options. Based on the Lowell campus, this position will oversee the two grab and go food stations located in the Cowan Center. This position will dedicate time to purchasing/securing fresh food items on a weekly basis to stock the stations, both via retail purchases or targeted and ongoing food drives on campus, including a Harvest Food Drive during July-September. This position will communicate with students to gain feedback on their dietary needs and/or preferences to ensure that the stations offer healthy options that meet the needs and considerations of a diverse student population. This position will also gather qualitative data on use of the stations and student feedback on the impact on their health, wellbeing and academic performance.

The coordinator will play a key role in the college's campaign to destigmatize food insecurity and promote health and wellbeing by offering healthy food options including fresh fruits and vegetables to students at risk of hunger.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain two separate grab and go stations on the Lowell campus and ensure that stations are stocked with fresh, nutritious, grab n' go style food items that meet the dietary needs and/or preferences of student users.
• Determine and implement best practices for food safety, in order to minimize risk of food-borne illness. This includes providing clear instructions about cleanliness of donated food, as well as how to clean food before consuming. Also, making sure stations are kept clean, organized, and aesthetically appealing, including prompt removal of expired/over-ripe produce.
• Make weekly food purchases to keep the stations stocked.
• Coordinate ongoing food drive, throughout the academic year, to invite students and employees to donate fresh produce for the grab n' go stations
• Work collaboratively with coordinators of the MCC Community Garden to include their produce at the grab n' go stations (July-September).
• Connect with local farms/gardens (such as Mill City Grows) to explore collaborative opportunities.
• Manage all relevant quantitative data, including money spent on food, amount of food being taken, and amount of food being donated (whenever possible).
• Communicate with student users to gain feedback about station impacts on various aspects such as health/wellness, sense of belonging, quality of life, and academic performance/persistence.
• Oversee communication to students, faculty and staff to promote the stations as part of the college's overall student wellness campaign - this may include social media, information tabling events, classroom visits, or informal events/activities to increase awareness and participation and decrease stigma.
• Facilitate informational programs/events/activities to educate students/employees about the importance of healthy eating.
• Oversee Harvest Food Drive (July--September) to encourage members of the MCC community to donate excess fruits, vegetables, and herbs from their own gardens to the grab and go stations and food pantry.
• Provide end-of-year presentation/summary to share quantitative and qualitative results of the initiative, including process, perceived impact, strengths, challenges, and suggestions for improvement.
• Maintain ongoing correspondence with the Coordinator of Essential Needs for training, setting goals, establishing priorities and timelines, receiving feedback, and getting support and guidance as needed.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree preferred, especially in field related to health/wellness/nutrition
• Must have transportation to/from work and purchasing groceries from stores
• Ability to manage budget and spreadsheets
• Comfortable with occasional public speaking (classroom visits, informal presentations)
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Personal/professional interest in nutrition, healthy foods, and equity/access
• Experience with equity-minded work and/or understanding of individuals of diverse identities such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic level, sexual orientation, veterans, and individuals with different academic preparation levels and varying physical and learning abilities.

Additional Information:

Hourly Rate: $23.75 per hour
Location: Lowell Campus with occassional travel to Bedford Campus as needed Hours: 18.5 hours per week, schedule to be determined upon hire
Expected Start Date: April, 2023 through September, 2024
Application Deadline: March 28, 2023

Application Instructions:

Please apply directly to this position via Middlesex Community College's Employment Opportunities webpage: https://middlesex.interviewexchange.com

All applicants must apply online by submitting:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three (3) professional references

Pre-Employment Requirements:

The College will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Candidates for employment should be aware that all Middlesex Community College students, faculty, and staff are required to be fully vaccinated. Accordingly, initial employment is dependent upon receipt and verification of full vaccination status records; details of how to fulfill vaccine record verification requirements will be provided during the hire and onboarding process. Please review the College's COVID-19 Vaccine Policy for Employees for more information.

Successful applicants will be required to complete a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI/SORI) request.

Middlesex Community College only accepts application materials through our online application system. We are unable to accept application materials through mail, email, fax, or hand delivery. If you do not have access to a computer, please contact Human Resources at careers@ middlesex.mass.edu.

Middlesex Community College strives to make the application and interview process accessible for all applicants but understands that applicants may still encounter barriers due to ability, language, or technology. If we can make the process any more accessible for you, contact Human Resources at 781-280-3549 or careers@ middlesex.mass.edu.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $23.75 per hour

Work Location: One location

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