Program Associate: School Food Systems

JOB SUMMARY:

The Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) is seeking a Program Associate, School Food Systems to implement program strategies and operations related to the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub (Innovation Hub) within IPHI?s Center for Policy and Partnership Initiatives (CPPI). The Program Associate will work with staff and partners to administer the Innovation Hub and implement key components of its grant-making, communications, training and technical assistance, and evaluation activities. The Program Associate may also support other food systems and/or nutrition policy work as funding allows. This position reports to CPPI?s Program Director ? Food Systems and Nutrition Policy.

This position is full-time, exempt, and reports to the Program Director of Food Systems & Nutrition Policy. IPHI?s standard work week is 37.5 hours.

To apply: Complete applications must include a resume, cover letter, and completion of an online questionnaire. Only complete applications will be reviewed. The cover letter should compare your qualifications, experiences, and interests to the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications listed below for the position. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

No phone calls, please.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR POLICY & PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES (CPPI)

The IPHI Center for Policy and Partnership Initiatives (CPPI), where this position is housed, works to convene multi-sector partners to promote health and health equity with a policy, systems, and environmental change approach. CPPI has long convened a statewide policy and systems change coalition, the Illinois Alliance to Promote Opportunities for Health (IAPOH), focused on nutrition, physical activity and chronic disease prevention, which serves as the backbone for most of the Center?s work to improve health in schools, early care and education settings, and communities.

With support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), IPHI along with partners in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, are administering the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub (Innovation Hub) to strengthen the K-12 school food system and marketplace, providing sub-grants to improve access to nutritious, locally grown, and culturally relevant foods for school children in the Lake Michigan region. The Program Associate will support regional implementation of the Innovation Hub, especially related to the regional grant-making, communications, training, technical assistance, and evaluation strategies. The Program Associate may also support other food systems and/or nutrition policy work, as needed and funding is available, to support initiatives such as Healthy School Meals for All appropriation requests or new food systems/nutrition initiatives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Management

• Provide administrative and program support for the Innovation Hub and other CPPI food system initiatives. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Developing and updating materials
  • Coordinating, tracking, and filing partner and grantee deliverables
  • Reviewing and scoring grantee applications
  • Taking notes during meetings and events
  • Managing Salesforce contact lists
• Provide support and monitoring of activities and timelines to execute Innovation Hub and other school food system strategies and deliverables.
• Support the development of regional training and technical assistance (TA) offerings for Innovation Hub sub-grantees and partners, including coordinating speakers, partners, and participants, developing and sharing supporting materials, and leading logistics (e.g., meeting registration and Zoom set-up).
• Maintain current program records and files through IPHI?s SharePoint and Salesforce grants management systems.
• Arrange and support online meetings, training, and webinars among IPHI staff, grantee sites, and organizational and state partners.
• Support planning, coordination, and event logistics, including grantee site visits. This may include arranging travel, processing reimbursement, and other logistics.

Relationship Management and Communication

• Serve as a key point person for Innovation Hub program administration for partners and potential and awarded grantees.
• Communicate regularly with Innovation Hub partners and grantees, including by sending weekly update emails and deliverables reminders.
• Develop communications materials, including but not limited to:
  • Stories of Innovation (e.g., case studies and success stories)
  • Pieces for the media (e.g., op-eds and letters to the editor)
  • Videos designed to support potential applicants
  • Program reports
  • Infographics
  • Social media
• Maintain and update the Innovation Hub website.
• Support partner and grassroots organizing related to key school food system policy campaigns, as appropriate.

Continuous Improvement and Evaluation

• Work closely with the program team and partners to support evaluation of Innovation Hub, including:
  • Supporting the drafting of evaluation reports to USDA.
  • Updating evaluation tracking tools, collecting program evaluation data, and monitoring submission of evaluation reports from partners and sub-grantees.
  • Supporting collection and dissemination of Stories of Innovation.
  • Implementing Innovation Hub evaluation plan.
• Conduct assessments and scans for information to support the program design and execution.
• Identify and recommend opportunities for improvement to Innovation Hub tasks and program, including based on feedback and needs of sub-awardees and partners.
• Monitor partner activity and achievement of milestones and outcomes.
• Work with the program staff to identify and solve problems, address barriers, and conduct quality assurance and quality improvement activities.

Other duties as assigned.