Job description

Enterprise Programs Manager

Job Description

THE ORGANIZATION: Plant It Forward is a dynamic, Houston-based nonprofit organization that creates opportunities within the food value system for New American farmers to flourish. We envision a future where thriving farmers are nourishing, connecting, and enriching their communities. Founded in 2011, we work alongside skilled agriculturalists who arrived in America as refugees. We provide farmer production and small business mentorship programming, as well as sales facilitation and marketing programming. We are Houston’s largest network of urban farmers and pride ourselves on delivering high-quality produce to hundreds of families and restaurant patrons weekly. Our farmers specialize in growing diversified specialty and global crops, bio-intensively grown on compact farms. We were honored to have been featured on the late, great Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown: Houston” episode.

THE ROLE: Enterprise Programs Manager is responsible for managing the activities that produce income for our farmers and deliver nutritious, affordable food to our community: business development and sales of our farmers’ produce; implementation and enforcement of food safety measures; and grants management. This role manages the PIF Food Hub, where we aggregate the produce from our farmer network, conduct quality control/quality assurance, ensure food safety standards are met, and ultimately deliver the produce to consumers. The EPM oversees the Farm Share subscription program, through which we facilitate the weekly sale of ‘shares’ of the farm in a modified community supported agriculture (CSA) model; the Chef Sales and Wholesale program, through which we sell produce to regional distributors and top local chefs on behalf of our farmers; and our Food Access Initiative, whereby we provide affordably-priced Farm Shares to our neighbors in underserved communities.

THE KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Business Development and Sales

• Oversee the open and weekly communication with network farmers to keep produce availability listing up-to-date;
• Maintain day-to-day functionality of sales platforms to include Farmigo Farm Share platform, online store and Fresh Lists;
• Oversee highly responsive customer service;
• Ensure farmers are fairly paid and manage biweekly invoicing and payroll activities;
• Monitor profit margins, track business growth goals, and conduct customer- and farmer-facing pricing reviews;
• Cultivate lasting business relationships with produce buyers and restaurant clients and vendors;
• Forge lasting partnerships with Farm Share Pick-up Hosts to include ongoing responsive and proactive communication;
• Develop distribution and logistics plans that are sustainable, cost effective, and align with our business plan and mission;
• Solicit new business partnerships as appropriate to ensure reported produce availability is sold, at fair prices;
• Direct the calculation and coordination of weekly Food Hub harvest orders on a regular schedule;
• Oversee neighborhood-based Food Access Initiative;
• Engage with an ever-expanding network of local and regional farmers who might become vendors of the Food Hub.

Food Safety

• Serve as Food Safety subject matter expert for the organization;
• Oversee and implement Food Safety Manual and SOP completion, updates, and farmer & staff training series.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety regulations, and manage all aspects of food safety programs (FSMA, GAP, GMP and HACCP certifications)
• Provide training and support for other staff and partners in implementing programs;
• Maintain necessary permits, registrations, ensure equipment maintenance is handled on schedule;
• Oversee maintenance of Food Hub facilities, equipment and supplies;
• Oversee operation of washing and packaging equipment and cold storage units;
• Oversee expansions or installation of new equipment as necessary.

People Management

• Manage a team of employees, providing orientation, ongoing professional development, and performance feedback;
• Development of and upkeep of operations manuals and organizational systems.

Grants Management, Development & Organizational Strategy

• Serve as Project Director on existing USDA Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMPP) grant;
• Responsible for creating, adhering to, and providing strict accountability to a programmatic budget;
• Maintain metrics and reporting for program-specific grants;
• Serve as subject matter expert to grant-writer for program-focused grants, providing narrative, objectives, key metrics;
• Assist in the development of strategic plans for operational activity.
• Implement and manage operational plans.

Qualifications:

• Passion for supporting New Americans and an understanding of the U.S. refugee resettlement process;
• Strong agricultural and/or food industry background, with emphasis on sustainable methods used on diversified vegetable farms;
• Experience working in the food value chain highly desirable;
• Experience with community supported agriculture and familiarity with food access and justice landscape locally;
• Experience in managing a food safety program;
• At least 5 years experience with farm planning and record-keeping, in support of CSA Farm Share and wholesale programs;
• Meticulous organizational skills and a high degree of computer literacy, in support of record-keeping, communications, and sales platforms (knowledge of Farmigo and Quickbooks Online a plus);
• Keen, transparent communication skills and experience communicating cross-culturally and through interpreters;
• Proven leadership and personnel management skills; teaching experience a plus;
• Multicultural experience and tolerance for persons of different nationalities, ethnicities, faiths, genders, and physical capabilities;
• Ability to work independently and flexibly;
• Resourcefulness and ability to constructively work within budget and resource constraints;
• Positive attitude, sense of humor, and ability to prioritize but be responsive to changing needs;
• Fluency in a language spoken by a Houston refugee population is ideal, but not required;
• Willingness to roll-up sleeves, get a little dirty, and support farmers.

Hours: Salaried, exempt employee; approximately 40 hours/week; some weekends and evenings required with compensation time provided

Compensation: PIF Manager I-level salary ($50,000), competitive and negotiable based on experience. Benefits include 401K with 2% match, generous paid time off and paid holidays, weekly Farm Share subscription (valued at more than $2,000/year).

Reporting Relationships: Enterprise Programs Manager reports to the President. EPM is responsible for managing the Food Hub Coordinator, Food Hub Associates, Food Access Associate, Food Safety Intern(s). Works collaboratively with the Farm Programs team and Marketing / Development Manager.

Career Progression: There are three tiers with pay raises at the Manager level (I, II, III), with promotion to Director upon proven performance.

To apply, email cover letter and resume to careers@plant-it-forward.org.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Referral program
• Relocation assistance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Houston, TX 77025: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

• agriculture or food value chain (Required)

Work Location: In person

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