We're Hiring

Position Description:
Community Nutrition Education Coordinator

Background: 
The Spokane Farmers’ Market Association (SFMA) was created by a group of local farmers’ in 1999 to address the need for a farmer-centered market in Spokane, in order to enhance the ability for regional growers to sell their wares direct to the public.  In the past nine years the Spokane Farmers’ Market has seen consistent and impressive growth. The SFMA board, known as the Market Council, is made up of Farmers’ Market vendors who volunteer time to the running of the market.

In 2007, the Spokane Farmers’ Market secured a grant from the USDA’s Farmers Market Promotion Program that will fund several activities in the 2008 season including an intensive and focused ten-year anniversary promotional campaign, implementation of Food Stamps (EBT) acceptance at the market (also debit/credit card capability) and establishment of a Community Nutrition Education Program (CNEP) to provide on-site nutrition education through hand-out literature, guest presentations, cooking demonstrations and special events.

Subsequent to receiving the USDA grant, the Spokane Farmers’ Market Association entered into a partnership agreement with the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) to closely collaborate with SRHD in carrying out CNEP at the market during the 2008 season. This partnership agreement provides that SRHD will be providing staff to “offer engaging activities on basic food and nutrition twice per week at agreed upon times when the market is open.” The SRHD staff person is in addition to the position described in this document.

The Community Nutrition Education Coordinator is a part-time contract position with responsibilities associated with the implementation of the 2008 CNEP plan, the execution and tracking of EBT/Debit/Credit transactions as well as those associated with the ongoing joint state/federal Farmers Market Nutrition Programs (WIC and Senior). Many activities will center around the dedicated CNEP booth at the market. The CNEP Coordinator will be expected to be present each market day to set-up the CNEP booth (7:00am), take it down (1:00 – 2:00pm) and reconcile each day’s EBT/Debit/Credit/FMNP transactions after take-down (done by 3:pm).

Applicant Qualities:
We seek a candidate who is personable as well as professional, very communicative and highly self-motivated. This person must be able to take individual initiative while accepting guidance from the Market Council. We seek an individual who is meticulous and detail oriented. Applicants must be capable of lifting up to 50 lbs. without injury or strain.

Position Outline: 
We are expecting this position to involve up to 568 hours beginning April, 2008 and continuing through the end of the market season in October, 2008. The pay rate is $13.50 per hour.

A Market Council liaison will be appointed as the main communication channel between the council and the CNEP Coordinator.

During each market day the CNEP Coordinator will assemble and disseminate nutrition education through handouts, answer customer questions or refer customers to the appropriate resources, coordinate special market activities including chef demonstrations, guest presentations and special CNEP events. The CNEP Coordinator will work closely with SRHD and its staff person to ensure the smooth operation of all CNEP activities and maintain professional and friendly relations with SRHD.

In addition, the CNEP Coordinator will perform EBT/debit/credit transactions, distribute tokens, endorse WIC & Senior FMNP checks, perform record keeping related to tracking EBT, debit/credit and FMNP transactions, and assist in CNEP participant surveys.

When not present at the market, the CNEP Coordinator will network with other non-profit organizations, University Extension, and government agencies to develop educational themes, develop literature to distribute from the booth and make arrangements for guest presentations and special events. Some of these other organizations include:

WA State Dept. of Social & Health Services

Feed Spokane (a project of the Spokane Neighborhood Action Program)

Washington State Department of Agriculture

Second Harvest Food Bank

The Children’s’ Alliance

The WIC Program of Spokane County

Communication with Market Council:
Every Wednesday, the Promotions Coordinator will submit to the Market Council Liaison (and cc the Market Council President) via email a general status report of the week’s activities as well as observations and suggestions. Every two weeks on the 1^st and the 15^th of the month, the CNEP Coordinator will submit via email to the Market Council Liaison (and cc the Market Council President) a detailed, itemized invoice that reports each billable task and the time expended on each task (to the nearest quarter hour).

Hiring Timeline:
We will hire a candidate for this position by April 1, 2008.  Please send your resume, two references and a short cover letter to before February 10, 2008 to:

Mailing Address:

Spokane Farmers’ Market Association
PO Box 1103
Spokane, WA 99210-1103

Or 

Via email: farmers@spokanefarmersmarket.org