Job description

FoodLab Programs Director
FoodLab Detroit (FLD) seeks a business-savvy, community-minded Programs Director with proven skills in relationship-building and program development in support of local small businesses. FoodLab Detroit is a community of food entrepreneurs committed to making the possibility of good food in Detroit a sustainable reality. We design, build, and maintain systems to grow a diverse ecosystem of triple-bottom-line food businesses as part of a good food movement that is accountable to all Detroiters.

FoodLab Detroit is a community of good food businesses and partners who are committed to growing a just, green, healthy, and thriving “good food” economy in Detroit. To do this, we employ the 3C’s.

• We Cultivate individual triple-bottom-line (people, planet, profit) businesses through technical assistance, workshops, and other learning opportunities;
• We Connect our members with one another and with other good food resources and allies, with a focus on bridging traditional divides; and
• We Catalyze new programs and systems to support our collective vision.

Over the past year, we’ve grown by leaps and bounds: we’ve more than doubled in size from 54 to more than 150 members; we’ve launched and grown innovative new programs like Detroit Kitchen Connect, Detroit Grown and Made, and completed two Community Action projects; we’ve become an independent 501c3 non-profit organization and more than doubled our annual budget. We’re looking for a passionate and talented individual to join our growing team.           
                                                                           
Essential Functions: Responsible for planning and implementation of all of FoodLab Detroit’s business support programs, events, and services

Responsibilities

Event Planning Responsible for creating, implementing and measuring the success of FoodLab events including:

• Annual Summit, and Celebration, including awards ceremony and selection and implementation of community action plan
• Food for Thought monthly discussion group about topics relevant to the local food system.

Business support programs Responsible for creating, implementing and measuring the success of select FoodLab business support programs:

• FoodLab Base, an annual series of business development workshops
• Community Action Plan
• Quarterly member workshops
• Detroit Grown and Made
• Support Executive Director on Detroit Kitchen Connection partnership with Eastern Market

Lead:

• FoodLab Base
• Workshops
• Food for Thought
• FoodLab Allies & Partners
• Detroit Grown & Made
• Annual Community Action
• Grow the Movement Partnerships

Technical assistance to business owners Provide one-on-one assistance to business owners during official office hours and as requested to help or provide references for help with business issues such as start-up, financing, business plans, licensing.

Organization and strategy

• Determine the needs of Detroit’s small food business and entrepreneur community and develop programs in conjunction with Membership Director to meet those needs.
• Develop and manage budgets for business support programs and their activities
• Develop strategies for FoodLab to support and grow the local food movement through partnerships and in conjunction with Executive Director and Membership Engagement Director
• Help make sure that FoodLab’s values, mission and vision are practiced throughout the organization.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications
Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to FoodLab Detroit’s values around triple bottom line businesses, community engagement, and resilient and just economies. Other qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• At least five  years’ relevant experience in one or more of these fields: small business development and support, local food systems, City of Detroit business licensing and permitting, community capital, business incubator development, business training, economic localization, small business finance
• Demonstrably excellent skills in program administration and development – especially within a non-profit or community organization
• Skill at actively engaging with businesses owners of a variety of experience levels
• Experience in successful outreach to a variety of constituencies
• Familiarity with Detroit a plus
• Budgeting and financial oversight a plus
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Demonstrably high level of self-motivation, ability to work effectively in a low-structure environment, and strong multi-tasking capabilities
• High level of computer literacy including Google Docs
• A commitment to FoodLab’s mission and to growing the good food movement in Detroit.
• Patience, compassion, humility, and ability to laugh.

Compensation

this position is: salaried

Application instructions

Deadline

February 01, 2016