CitySeed is seeking a part-time Kitchen Program Manager to oversee grant-funded programs for Kitchen at CitySeed. Our commercial kitchen opened in fall 2015 with a mission to promote locally grown food, build community, and address racial, social, and economic barriers to healthy fresh food. Our kitchen functions as a space for education, entrepreneurship, and sharing. We host a variety of community-based cooking classes, support small food business incubation, and serve as an event space for community gatherings or fundraisers.

Initially, the Kitchen Program Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of two Kitchen-related grants CitySeed has recently been awarded: (1) The healthy cooking education component of the City of New Haven’s 2017 Health in Your Hands program, which involves developing, planning, and implementing a curriculum of cooking and nutrition education classes tailored to the needs of New Haven residents (March – August 2017); (2) A refugee cooks and food entrepreneurship program, which involves coordinating and implementing 10 refugee-led cooking classes and a 10-week food incubator training program for four refugee food entrepreneurs (June 2017 – early 2018.)

The Kitchen Program Manager works under the supervision of CitySeed’s Executive Director and in close collaboration with other CitySeed staff, partners, volunteers, and community members.  She/he will develop an understanding of the relationship of Kitchen at CitySeed within CitySeed’s broader mission and strive to leverage the Kitchen to enhance CitySeed’s broader goals. Close management of the grants’ budgets and in-kind resources is required. Please note that the position as outlined runs through early 2018.  Based on additional funding streams CitySeed may acquire, there is potential for this position to continue beyond that date. Please inquire if interested.

Required Qualifications

• 3-5 years of relevant experience: kitchen/cooking experience, healthy cooking or nutrition education experience, culinary training, food business management
• Program management and/or teaching experience
• ServSafe Food Manager or equivalent certification (or ability to acquire during first month)
• Ability to multitask, prioritize activities and work independently
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Physical requirements: able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in communities of color, community groups, and/or with refugee populations
• Enthusiasm for connecting communities through food and a passion for food justice
• Flexibility, maturity and a sense of humor
• Basic understanding of Spanish and/or Arabic a plus

Responsibilities

• Conduct “community conversations” or focus group discussions in New Haven neighborhoods to inform healthy cooking curriculum
• Work with staff and partner organization to develop 6-week healthy cooking and nutrition education curriculum, tailored to the needs of New Haven’s low-income neighborhoods and based on healthy choices for chronic disease prevention, cultural relevance, affordability, and accessibility
• Coordinate and conduct community outreach in relevant neighborhoods
• In coordination with partner organization, conduct 2-day training for cooking instructors
• Supervise a team of cooking instructors
• Coordinate 20 one-time cooking education events and implementation of 6-week healthy cooking curriculum in three neighborhoods of New Haven
• Coordinate all aspects of 10 refugee-led cooking classes for 10-15 participants, including: logistics (coordinating and scheduling, food procurement, translators, recipes and handouts, kitchen equipment, presentation layout, etc.), oversight of CitySeed Kitchen use for meal planning and day-of events, facilitation of cooking demos/classes alongside a refugee cook, volunteer coordination
• Coordinate all aspects of 10-week food incubator training program for 4 refugee participants, including: participant selection, logistics (coordinating and scheduling, translators, use of kitchen space and equipment, etc.), coordinating training for participants (food safety, business planning and marketing, procurement and budgeting, legal requirements, farmers’ market participation and guidelines), overseeing use of CitySeed Kitchen for product development and testing
• Coordinate with CitySeed marketing staff to promote all events related to the refugee cooks program via flyers, newsletter, social media, TV and radio.

Compensation and Start Date: This position is part-time starting in March 2017, approximately 20 hours per week, and pay starts at $18/hour. There are no other benefits offered at this time.

To Apply: CitySeed is looking to hire for this position immediately. Candidates must send a cover letter, resume and the names and contact information for two references to info@cityseed.org. Please forward any questions to info@cityseed.org. We will reply with a confirmation email that we have received your application. This position will be posted until filled.

CitySeed is an Equal Opportunity Employer and especially invites applications from members of underrepresented groups.