Job Description

Do you love food and connecting with kids? Are you interested in learning the ins and outs of what kids eat at school? Looking for an engaging and meaningful experience that will provide you with enriching professional development opportunities and connect you with a national network of changemakers? Interested in being paid for these experiences? Are you available now through the beginning of July 2023? You might be a perfect FoodCorps AmeriCorps Service Member candidate! 

Who We Are

FoodCorps is a nationwide team of AmeriCorps leaders that partners with schools and communities to nourish kids’ health, education and belonging. We do that by placing motivated leaders in limited-resource communities for a year of public service. Serving under the direction of local partner organizations, our School Nutrition Pilot service members focus on three areas of service:

• Healthy school meals: support nourishing school meals that engage student voice and choice, are culturally relevant, locally sourced and/or scratch-cooked and foster a safe, joyful and inclusive cafeteria environment 
• Culture of health: advance the long-term vision and goals of district partners and help districts and schools engage families and community stakeholders
• Hands-on learning: support district-wide opportunities for students to learn about fresh, locally sourced and culturally relevant meals. 

What We’re Looking For

• Passion for building a healthier future for school children
• Commitment to working hard in service of local communities in order to make a difference
• Demonstrated leadership ability
• Motivation to serve full-time in a limited resource community
• Perseverance and flexibility in the face of challenges and creativity in finding solutions
• Respect for diversity of opinion, experience, and background
• Experience working in or studying food systems, agriculture, public health, education, school nutrition, culinary arts, community organizing, or public service
• Experience working or volunteering in education, youth development, or other teaching setting
• Knowledge of the culture, history, and/or language of the communities we serve
• Desire to gain hands-on experience for your career
• Demonstrated ability or dedication to performing the activities listed below

To be considered for a FoodCorps service member position, you must:

• Be 18 years or older by the start of your service term
• Be a legal, permanent resident of the United States
• Hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent

Individual service positions differ by location. There may be additional requirements depending on the site to which you apply.

What You’ll Do

Service members work with schools, service site organizations and local communities to promote nourishing school food environments. They do this in a variety of ways:

Essential Functions

• Service members support district-wide school meals goals by establishing and supporting feedback loops, coordinating student-led advisory groups and collaborating with other service members on school meals related projects. They may also support culturally relevant, locally sourced and/or scratched cooked meals by contributing to the operational aspect of local procurement efforts, marketing and promotion of these items or participating in committees that support menu development. 
• Service members advance and promote nourishing school meals through collaboration with food service staff, coordinating and supporting skill-building for school staff, and contributing to community partnerships that support school meal initiatives. They help engage families and community stakeholders through coordinating parent/community advisory groups, improving communication between the nutrition department and school community, and engaging with the community through event coordination and participation. 
• Service members support district-wide opportunities for students to learn through hands-on education. The educational offerings support holistic social and emotional development, empower students and celebrate cultural identity/practices, and center justice and support consumption of nourishing meals. 
• If the service site also hosts food education service members, school nutrition pilot service members will actively partner with them to deepen connections between the cafeteria and the classroom.
• Service members spend time learning and participating in cohort-specific trainings and leadership development offerings, helping FoodCorps and schools assess the impact they are having, and raising money to help support the local projects when allowable.

Non-Essential Functions

• Service members may be called upon to provide direct support to the foodservice operation including food preparation and service, maintaining safety and sanitation standards, recordkeeping and lifting heavy boxes
• Service members will stay abreast of relevant USDA regulations that affect the operational aspect of their school nutrition program
• Service members may work with garden equipment and supplies such as shovels, wheelbarrows, soil, seeds and knives 
• Service members will support the school nutrition program in raising resources or grant writing including keeping up to date records and coordinating grantees on updates and storytelling 
• Service members may seek out press and publicity for FoodCorps related projects, including writing blogs and documenting success stories 

What You’ll Gain

• Up to $27,500-32,500 living stipend for Service Members, paid bi-weekly. 
• $6,495 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award, upon successful completion of your term of service
• Health insurance*
• Partial childcare reimbursement, if you qualify
• Student loan forbearance, if you qualify
• Training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities

*Participation in the FoodCorps health insurance option is required if you cannot provide proof of existing coverage.

Where You’ll Serve

FoodCorps is currently filling positions in: GA, MA, NJ, OR. See a list of all open positions here. You can learn more about each of our service sites at: https://foodcorps.org/apply/where-youll-serve/. 

The Details

In order to successfully complete your term of service, you must, at a minimum, serve 1,700 allowable hours. The FoodCorps 2022-2023 service duration is August 8, 2022 – July 7, 2023. Remaining positions will begin as soon as possible and will end on July 7, 2023. 

FoodCorps service members report to the designated supervisor at their service site. FoodCorps state and national staff provide additional guidance and oversight.

Service members are expected to abide by rules of conduct set forth in their member contract and will be evaluated for performance twice during the term: at the midpoint and end of service. Performance is evaluated based on progress toward achieving goals set forth in your unique service plan as well as general professional conduct in the service environment. Service members who break the rules of conduct may be suspended and/or terminated at any time.

FoodCorps is a proud member of the AmeriCorps network. All FoodCorps service members are full-time AmeriCorps members and are therefore bound by AmeriCorps rules and regulations, including abiding by AmeriCorps prohibited activities and ensuring that volunteers abide by prohibited activities, which can be found in your member contract and your FoodCorps Service Member Manual. See www.americorps.gov for more information about AmeriCorps service.

All FoodCorps service members must pass a three-part background check to be eligible for service, including clearing the National Sex Offender Public Registry, state background checks in your state of service and residence at time of application, and an FBI criminal history check (fingerprint-based). This position includes access to vulnerable populations (individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and/or youth). To successfully perform their duties, service members must be able to stand for extended periods of time to teach; supervise groups of children in- and outdoors; perform manual labor in the school garden, including digging, getting up and down, lifting garden equipment; aid children in the garden; coordinate and organize meetings; recruit and manage volunteers; and travel to and from National Orientation and Gatherings as required.

Your position is unique to AmeriCorps and does not displace organization staff or volunteers.

FoodCorps is an equal opportunity organization and we respect diversity. FoodCorps does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local laws, regulations or ordinances. 

FoodCorps provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees as required by law. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation at any point in the employment process.

All service positions at FoodCorps are at-will. Service positions, though designed to last for one year, are not guaranteed for a set period of time. Both service members and FoodCorps have the right to terminate the position at any time. FoodCorps reserves the right to conduct employment, education, and background checks upon which your position may be contingent.

Because we prioritize the health of communities and kids, FoodCorps has decided to require COVID-19 vaccination for staff and service members, to the extent permitted by applicable federal, state, and local law. We came to this decision after much discussion and consultation and recognize that some people and partners might have to make tough decisions because of it. More information about this requirement and the exemption process to apply for a legally-required exception to the vaccination requirement will be provided during onboarding, should you receive an offer from FoodCorps.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Sustainable Agriculture / Food. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: education, food education, food justice, school food, and sustainable food. Salaries: 20,000 - 40,000.

Apply for this Job