Community Innovation Associate
Full Time
Columbus, OH 43219
Posted
Job description
ECDI’s mission is to invest in people to create measurable and enduring social and economic change. ECDI helps nascent and expanding low-to-moderate income (LMI) entrepreneurs achieve their small business dreams through incubation and acceleration programs, capital access, coaching, and more.
We're based in Columbus, with offices in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron, Portsmouth, and Toledo. For small business clients in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, we serve a one-stop resource center.
Our Recruiting Process:
- 20-minute call with recruiter
- 60-minute on site interview with hiring manager
- Reference checks
- Job offer
ECDI is looking for a Community Innovation Associate for our Columbus headquarters.
ECDI runs the Food Incubation Services program, which provides services and resources for food-based entrepreneurs. This includes industry-specific coaching and training programs, access to the Food Fort- ECDI’s shared commissary kitchen spaces, and the ECDI Community Gardens and Free Farmstand project. The Community Gardens were created to provide free, fresh produce to ECDI’s neighbors, who live in a designated food desert, and to those working in the Food Fort. The Community Garden Summer Associate will help ECDI staff grow the Community Gardens and increase volunteer and community engagement.
In partnership with the AmeriCorps VISTA program and Ohio CDC Association, the Community Innovation Associate will assist ECDI’s Food Incubation Services department by building out the Community Garden and Free Farmstand and helping launch the new ECDI Farmers Market project. The Associate will develop community engagement materials and increase volunteer involvement with the Community Garden. They will also work with staff to run the project, overseeing the planting and harvesting of produce and implementation of the free Farm Stand. The Associate will work with staff to develop procedures for the new Farmers Market project, engaging with clients and the partner nonprofit running the markets to ensure smooth operations on all sides. The Associate will work with ECDI Marketing to create marketing materials to share in the community, with partners, and at the markets to drive awareness of both the project and ECDI small business clients.
This position is a fully onsite role, starting on June 20, 2023, and lasting for a period of ten (10) weeks. It will require travel between different ECDI sites and events within the city of Columbus.
AmeriCorps provides a modest living allowance while you are serving in the VISTA program. The living allowance covers basic necessities, such as housing, food, and utilities. All Ohio VISTAs have a biweekly stipend of $675.08.
Candidates for this position must be located in the Central Ohio Area.
Responsibilities:
Community Garden Responsibilities:
- Manage and execute the upkeep and harvest the garden beds to provide produce for farmstand events.
- Assist with developing a sustainable local food system for Food Fort members and neighborhood residents.
- Coordinate volunteer events to facilitate harvests, garden maintenance, and Food Fort/ECDI campus cleanup.
Outreach Responsibilities:
- Establish new and further develop existing relationships with local organizations, including local churches and neighborhood community organizations, as well as Food Fort members.
- Create a monthly Food Fort newsletter providing updates and member highlights.
- Create an outreach playbook documenting successful strategies and previous volunteers and projects.
- Collaborate with Marketing to create social media content spotlighting Food Fort and Community Garden activities.
- Build volunteer capacity and awareness of distribution events, meeting defined key success outcomes while assisting with strategy and approach to objectives.
Farmers Market Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with Food Incubation Services staff and external stakeholders to develop policies and procedures for Farmers Market client vendors.
- Collaborate with ECDI Program Managers to synthesize information about previous projects in order create effective strategy for reaching target market clients.
- Communicate, schedule, and ensure supplies for staff and vendors at the summer Farmers Markets.
- Staff a stand at the Farmers Markets as a representative of ECDI to increase awareness of the organization and our clients, and to distribute materials on ECDI programming and client success stories.
Other Responsibilities:
- Maintain accurate client and volunteer files, documents, and profiles for necessary paper files and in appropriate tracking systems.
- Maintain a thorough working knowledge of and adhere to all ECDI policies and procedures.
- Participate in meetings and provide suggestions for improvement for the department.
- Perform other related activities, as required, to assure department and organizational success.
Minimum Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills required in order to coordinate with Food Fort members, external partners, and creation of marketing materials.
- Computer Skills - Experience with and knowledge of computer operation; knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.).
- Comprehensive knowledge of standard office practices, procedures, equipment, and techniques.
Education and/or Experience:
- High school diploma required.
- One or more (1+) years of experience with community organizing and/or volunteer recruitment.
Special Requirements:
- Occasional after hours required.
- Must have access to transportation in order to travel to and from different ECDI sites, to meet with stakeholders, and to and from events.
Other:
- This position is a fully onsite role.
- Typically, the employee must be able to remain in a stationary position 25% or more of the time. The person in this position will frequently move about inside and outside the office to access file cabinets, gardening equipment, etc., and operate a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a copy machine and computer printer as well as gardening equipment.
- Positions self to move items up to 50 pounds, such as food preparation equipment and gardening supplies.
- Outdoor work involves frequent exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, toxic chemicals, biohazardous materials, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, and/or loud noises.
- Must avoid risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated, as well as outdoor environment, e.g., safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.
- Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. We are committed to attracting and retaining diverse talent while providing learning and professional advancement opportunities for our employees. We strive to advance our mission and bring equitable opportunity to all those we serve and employ.
The Economic and Community Development Institute is an Affirmative Action Employer and members of underrepresented communities and demographics are particularly encouraged to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ and people with disabilities.
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