Local Foods & Nutrition Educator

This position will serve as a Local Food and Nutrition Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Jefferson County.
This educator will coordinate various aspects of our efforts to improve food and physical activity access throughout the region.
These efforts include attracting and training new community partners, updating and maintaining data collection and evaluation, increasing awareness of SNAP/EBT and other food benefit programs, reducing barriers to being active, and completing monthly reporting related to activity goals.
This will also include providing information via social media, electronic and print newsletters, and other relevant venues in accordance with the Nutrition Program Area’s plan of work.
Program topics will include but are not limited to local food systems, nutrition, and physical activity for chronic disease prevention, food preparation, food budgeting, healthy food incentive programs, and emergency food resources.
As part of this role, the educator will provide ongoing technical assistance to produce prescription partners, including tracking the distribution, redemption, and reimbursement of fresh produce vouchers.
They will also organize several community events to promote healthy lifestyle choices and assist the Nutrition Program Manager with marketing efforts for nutrition and local foods programming and resources.
There may be further opportunities to implement nutrition, cooking, food demonstrations, physical activity, and food access educational programs and program activities to the public in a variety of settings to include, but not limited to: the CCE Teaching Kitchen, grocery store and farm tours, farmers markets, food pantries, public parks and recreation locations, and other community group workshop locations.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS: PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING All applicants must apply online by close of day on January 22, 2024 to be considered for this position.
All applicants must submit a complete application online, which includes: cover letter, resume and three (3) references.
All External Applicants (including applicants currently employed by Cornell Cooperative Extension in Associations other than the Association advertising this career opportunity) must submit his/her application materials via the "APPLY" button located within this job posting.
All Internal Applicants (current employees working for the Association advertising this career opportunity) must apply online via his/her Workday account, which may be accessed here: https://workday.
cornell.
edu/.
Please contact Jane Pearson, Association HR Coordinator at 315-788-8450 with questions.
POSITION DETAILS: This position is a full-time non-exempt position, 40 hours per week.
The hourly rate for this position is $20.
00.
This position, based on eligibility, offers a comprehensive benefit package, to include: health and dental insurance, NYS retirement, vacation, sick and personal leave.
POSITION INFORMATION: Required Qualifications: Bachelors Degree or Equivalent Education (Associates Degree and two (2) years of transferable program/functional experience) in public health, nutrition, food justice, chronic disease prevention, or a related field relevant to the role of the position.
Experience relevant to the role of the position.
Familiarity with MyPlate, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and other evidence-based nutrition resources.
Experience with and understanding of rural, low-income populations.
Experience with and knowledge of agriculture, food systems, farmers markets, and local food incentive programs including SNAP/EBT token system.
Exceptional organizational skills to coordinate events, collect and enter program data, and synthesize results to measure program outcomes.
Knowledge of policy, systems, environmental change, and civic engagement interventions to improve community health.
Valid NYS Driver’s License and the ability to meet travel requirements for programming in Jefferson and Lewis Counties.
Ability to work flexible hours which may include evenings and/or weekends, as appropriate when needed.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience leading food demonstrations and/or cooking classes.
Familiarity with reviewing and following recipes and assuring compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines.
Demonstrated ability to utilize program resources effectively within the general community.
Demonstrated ability to plan, teach and evaluate educational programs through a variety of delivery methods to reach individuals and groups.
Demonstrated ability to function as a team member working with volunteers, interns, community partners, and staff.
Demonstrated ability to organize reference materials for programming purposes.
Demonstrated ability to relate to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through oral, written, and visual means.
Demonstrated ability to use computer technologies for educational and communication purposes.
Program Responsibilities: Program Delivery - 70% Work to implement initiatives that modify the environment and/or subsequent policies and systems to make healthy choices available to all community members.
Assist in providing information to bring awareness to the public in the form of impact statements, testimonials, articles for progress/annual reports, social media, and news releases, etc.
Use program materials and approved educational frameworks to implement the recruitment and teaching of the targeted number of program participants, partners, and activities each month, according to nutrition area plan of work.
Work to foster acceptance of healthy lifestyle programming and policies while addressing community and individual needs and considering diverse audiences.
Work to foster acceptance of local food and food systems messaging and programming, methods, and policies while addressing community and individual needs and considering diverse and varied audiences.
Provide consumer education on local food incentive programs at markets and throughout the community.
Implement programming to include (but not limited to) subjects such as: health, wellness, nutrition, local food, consumer based agricultural messages, food systems, food preparation, food insecurity and access to local foods and basic fitness.
Under the direction and oversight of the Nutrition Program Manager, apply established subject matter knowledge to create/adapt lesson plans, record progress notes, and implement behavioral surveys.
Assist the Nutrition Program Manager in multi-association team efforts through implementation of multi-disciplinary programs and program activities to deliver nutrition and food systems programming.
Serve as a subject-matter resource in nutrition, local foods, food systems, food/nutrition access, and physical activity to staff and participants, community organizations and the public.
Serve as a team member and cooperate with the entire Association and Nutrition Program staff to achieve Association program delivery goals.
Program Evaluation - 10% Implement program evaluation as designed.
Interact with program partners and participants to obtain evaluation data, to include evaluating effectiveness of classes and instructors, intent to change health behaviors, and changes in knowledge and behavior related to food security, food resource management, and healthy lifestyle.
Assist Nutrition Program Manager in the process of analyzing program data, and based on that analysis, assist in making recommendations for improvements in program offerings.
Communicate evaluation findings to constituents as appropriate.
Administrative Responsibilities: Direction - 5% Assist in the planning and promotion of major public events and programs including, but not limited to assisting with mass media efforts related to upcoming events and programs.
Assist the Nutrition Program Manager in multi-association team efforts through joint planning of multi-disciplinary programs and program activities to coordinate nutrition, food systems, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention programming.
Management - 5% Assist in identifying and recommending program needs (i.
e.
program supplies and materials) to the Nutrition Program Manager.
Coordination/Operation - 5% Contribute to and support required reporting.
Organize and coordinate program activities related to healthy lifestyle and local food/food systems programming (i.
e.
produce prescription programs, civic engagement activities related to healthy lifestyles, and other group activities/education.
).
Coordinate identified administrative aspects of the nutrition program to include, but not limited to preparing correspondence, maintaining files and databases, compiling and organizing existing program resources and program materials, etc.
Effectively maintain and foster new professional relationships with other agencies, organizations and businesses that contribute to valuable partnerships and programming efforts.
Assist the Nutrition Program Manager in utilizing effective marketing strategies in the promotion of programming efforts to include, but not limited to print media, news media, social media, and multi-media efforts.
Represent CCE Nutrition and the Association at community meetings, events, media opportunities, etc.
to deliver educational content, promote programming, and reflect CCE values.
This position may require the transport of program materials and resources to various program locations in performing position responsibilities.
Professional Improvement and Other Duties as Assigned - 5% In cooperation with Supervisor and/or Executive Director, jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan to increase competencies relative to position accountabilities and to address changes in programming and association priorities.
Strengthen and uphold CCE Staff Skills for Success in all job functions and interactions.
Collaborate in activities that are in general support of Cornell Cooperative Extension including but not limited to attendance at staff meetings, timely reporting of expenses, working with other staff, general marketing of Extension programs and other duties as assigned.
Health and Safety - Applied to all duties and functions.
Support the association to maintain a safe working environment.
Be familiar and strive to follow any applicable federal, state, local regulations, association health and safety policy/procedure/requirement and standard.
Act proactively to prevent accidents/injuries and communicate hazards to supervisors when identified.
EEO/EPO and Policy - Applied to all duties and functions.
Appreciate and embrace diversity in all interactions with clientele, staff, volunteers, and the public.
Assist the Cornell Cooperative Extension system in reaching out to diverse audiences.
Be aware of, and adhere to, established Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Jefferson County policies and procedures.
Contribute to the overall success of the organization by performing all assigned duties in a professional, timely, and accurate manner.
Equal Opportunity Employment Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.
Job Title: Association Subject Educator I Level: 004 Pay Rate Type: Hourly Company: Contract College Contact Name: Jerilynn Cross Cornell Cooperative Extension is a collaboration among Cornell University, the United States Department of Agriculture, the State of New York, and the residents of New York State.
Per NYS Law, county and regional extension service associations are subordinate government agencies.
This employment opportunity is with the entities listed and not with Cornell University.
Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.
Individuals who bring a diverse perspective and are supportive of diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.
Notice to Applicants: Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement.
This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell Cooperative Extension as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.