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Food Exeter Co-ordinator - Job Description

February 2018

Summary

Food Exeter, a partnership working to rediscover and redevelop localised food systems in and around Exeter, seeks a coordinator to help the partnership develop a food poverty action plan and to support its work on other food issues. The job requires a self-confident, motivated organiser, with experience of collaborative working and excellent communication skills. The job will be based in central Exeter.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to: .

Deadline for applications is 12.00am Monday February 26th 2018

Interview date is March 6th2018,central Exeter

1. Our Organisation

Food Exeter is part of the Sustainable Food Cities Network [1]and of the Food Power Alliance[2].

We work with any individual or organisation that wants to help achieve our aims, which are to:

  • Promote healthy and sustainable food to the public
  • Tackle food poverty, diet-related ill health and access to affordable healthy food
  • Build community food knowledge, skills, resources and projects
  • Promote a vibrant and diverse sustainable food economy, including production of and growing food
  • Transform catering and food procurement
  • Reduce waste and the ecological footprint of the food system

Food Exeter was originally set up as the Exeter Food Network in 2014 as a forum to bring together organisations in and around the city concerned with food. These include over 20 organisations representing anti-food poverty groups, educational initiatives, faith communities, food sustainability work and neighbourhood growing schemes as well as emergency food providers.

Food Exeter is managed by a Steering Group with representatives from organisations including Exeter City Council, Devon County Council Public Health, the Diocese of Exeter, Exeter Community Initiatives, Exeter University, a farmer (Shillingford Organics), and a retailer (The Real Food Store and Café).

During 2016-17 Food Exeter consulted on and developed a Strategy that identified three priority areas for action:

  • Launching and pursuing the Sugar Smart campaign
  • Developing a secure network of holiday food clubs around the city
  • Creating a local food distribution hub

Thanks to funding recently secured from Sustainable Food Cities and the Food Power Alliance, in 2018 Food Exeter will be employing a Co-ordinator to develop these, and related goals and grow the strength of our network. Additional goals made possible thanks to this funding are:

  • To secure a bronze Sustainable Food City award for Exeter
  • To develop a Food Poverty Action plan, as part of the Food Power programme

2. Job Description
Title / FOOD EXETER COORDINATOR
Contract type / 4 days / week; 1 year fixed term contractcommencing April 2018. Potential to extend, subject to funding
Location / Exeter
Reports to / Food Exeter Steering Group
Direct Report / None
Role Purpose / To work with the Food Exeter Steering Group to enhance, develop and deliver Food Exeter’s evolving strategy
Responsibilities / Key aims of the role are:
  • To raise the profile of Food Exeter amongst community groups, businesses and agencies in Exeter and the West Country
  • To create an effective and vibrant learning network that engages people from all sectors in the work of Food Exeter
  • To develop a robust food poverty action plan for the city, working with a wide range of stakeholders and prospective delivery organisations and agencies
  • To harness the energy of the network to create change in Exeter’s food systems
To achieve these goals, the Coordinator will:
  • Produce a regular E-newsletter and maximise our presence on social media
  • Attend partner meetings and events; make presentations on the work of Food Exeter
  • Support the Food Exeter Network as needed, including planning network meetings and developing new activities to develop the Food Exeter Strategy and engage people in the partnership
  • Keep website content up to date and add relevant content.
  • Keep the Food Exeter email account and database up to date e.g. new contacts, create groups as needed
  • Research and support new food groups / businesses to join the network / working groups
  • Act as point of contact for and support cooperation with the various bodies and groups we have relationships with and ensure information is well shared.
  • Carry out basic research on topics needed by the Steering Group e.g. funding, finding simple facts as requested by Steering Group ienot academic, specialist research
  • Support the Chair in production of Food Exeter Steering Group agenda and securing necessary advance papers from Steering Group members. Attend Steering Group meetings& produce minutes.
  • Act as liaison point for Food Exeter working groups, as appropriate and agreed. To carry out / facilitate small pieces of work for working groups
  • Lead on application for SFC Bronze Award
  • Apply for any funding bids as directed by Steering Group

3. Person Specification
Qualifications / No specific qualifications required.
Essential skills and experience /
  • Strong project management experience and attention to detail
  • Ability to work collaboratively and transparently with team members and external delivery partners
  • Experience of multi-sector partnership working
  • Ability to manage partners effectively
  • Making presentations to different audiences
  • Good networking skills
  • Ability to write accessibly and communicate concisely
  • Strong administrative skills
  • Flexibility and pragmatism
  • Experience working within communities and delivering change at a local level
  • An interest in food policy issues

Desired skills and experience /
  • Experience of working in the food policy sector, either employed or as a volunteer
  • Ability to plan and facilitate workshop style meetings
  • Knowledge of content input to Wordpress website
  • Experience of delivering social media campaigns

4. Basic terms and conditions
Remuneration Package /
  • Salary £27,668 per annum (at the FTE rate; 4 days / week = £22,435)
  • Pension: employee contribution 3%; employer 5%
  • Holidays: 25 days (pro rata for part time) plus 7 Statutory holidays
  • Hours: 30 per week. Worked flexibly as required to fulfil the role, including some evening and occasional weekend work

Food Exeter.

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