Retail Development Associate, Healthy Corner Store Initiative

Posted by on April 23, 2012

Retail Development Associate, Healthy Corner Store Initiative

Posted on: April 12, 2012

Posted by: The Food Trust

The Food Trust, founded in 1992, is a non-profit organization working to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food. The Food Trust works to educate the public about good nutrition and to increase the availability of fresh food in neighborhoods throughout the region and the state. The Food Trust works with school districts, supermarket operators, corner store owners, public and private partners, and farmers to make fresh food and nutrition education available to everyone. More information about The Food Trust is available at http://www.TheFoodTrust.org

The Food Trust’s Healthy Corner Store Initiative (HCSI) seeks to increase the availability and awareness of healthy foods in corner stores through marketing, training and technical assistance to store owners, a healthy food identification campaign in corner stores, strategic investments in corner store layout to increase store capacity to sell and market healthy items and education and marketing in schools near targeted corner stores. The initiative links corner store owners, community partners and local farmers and suppliers to create and sustain healthy corner stores.

Responsibilities include

Recruit corner stores into the program and implement marketing campaign and outreach activities and events in corner stores throughout Philadelphia
Regularly assess corner stores for compliance with participation requirements and train owners how to use fresh produce toolkits.
Conduct corner store development assessments, manage applications for mini-grants and oversee store development activities in assigned zip codes.
Assist project management with establishing and maintaining supplier and vendor relationships for product sourcing equipment purchases and delivery logistics.
Assist project management to collaborate with corner store owners, local suppliers and community partners to implement sustainable strategies for bringing fresh produce and other healthy foods into corner stores.
Assist project management to collaborate with project partners to cultivate local entrepreneurship, coordinate store trainings and develop a training toolkit for store owners.
Collect and enter corner store data for reporting to research and project partners, generate maps and extract data as needed.
Assist project management with the overall implementation of project and project activities.

Qualifications:

Spanish proficiency is REQUIRED (written and verbal)
Experience in fresh food retail, small business development or social enterprises
Interest or experience in community and economic development
Experience with community based work and community outreach
Proficiency in Excel, Access and GIS is desirable
Strong organizational and communication skills
An applicant with an advanced degree is desirable but not required

Position involves frequent travel throughout the Philadelphia region and requires a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle. The ability to work with others in a collegial environment to implement the agency’s vision. Team building skills and the ability to encourage innovative thinking about problems, opportunities, and situations. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Adept at forging strong relationships with key people inside and outside the agency. The ideal candidate will have the following personal characteristics: unquestioned integrity; personal stature; a passion for excellence; a high energy level; a sense of urgency; excellent listening skills; persuasive communications skills; an entrepreneurial spirit; a sense of humor; an open mind; a candid manner; a commitment to The Food Trust’s mission.

Open Date and Hours: Immediate, full time. Funded through June 2013, with potential to continue

Salary: Competitive, based on education and experience

The Food Trust adheres to the policy of providing equal employment opportunities to all job applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation.

http://www.idealist.org/view/job/t7pfkN8gJHmD/