Company description

UpRoot Colorado (UpRoot) increases the nutrition security of Colorado residents by harvesting and redistributing surplus, nutrient-dense foods while supporting the resilience of farmers.

We envision a mindful, humane and equitable Colorado food system where everyone has access to locally-produced, nutrient-dense foods; where people are more connected to the sources of our food; and where farmers are valued for who they are: a cornerstone of our society.

Job description

Our Gleaning & Food-systems Coordinators (Coordinator) are responsible for our Gleaning Initiative in specific geographic regions of Colorado: conducting outreach; recruiting and managing volunteers; connecting with farm partners and potential farm partners; coordinating and leading gleaning events to harvest surplus food from local farms and fruit trees; connecting and collaborating with hunger-relief partners; coordinating the distribution of gleaned food; performing organizing, equity, and advocacy work; writing, editing and sharing communications; educating the community about our food-system. This role is a non-exempt, 40-hour-per-week, role currently grant funded through the calendar year 2025 (with a possibility for an extension of the grant period beyond 2025). 

Primary responsibilities include:

Outreach & Communications

• Nurturing existing relationships with local producers, fruit-tree stewards, hunger-relief and social-service agencies, and community partners
• Implement outreach to farmers and fruit-tree stewards through emails, phone calls and in-person visits in order to expand UpRoot’s impact and producer network for gleaning
• Expand current gleaning efforts by introducing UpRoot’s work to hunger-relief and social-service agencies and other entities with whom we have not yet partnered; including local businesses, houses of worship, foundations, civic-minded groups, schools and universities, and nonprofit organizations
• Conduct volunteer outreach and recruitment, send out weekly volunteer communications during the harvest season
• Take photos at gleaning events; create event flyers and social media posts about past/upcoming events

Event Coordination & Volunteer Management 

• Communicate with producers/tree stewards weekly to determine what is available for gleaning and/or pick-up
• Organize/lead gleaning events, including training and supervising volunteers and transporting food to hunger-relief organizations
• Implement staff and volunteer safety and food-safety best practices at gleaning events
• Share educational information with volunteers on topics including food justice, local food systems, causes of food surplus and waste along the food supply chain (including in households), nutrition and food insecurity, etc.
• Communicate with hunger-relief agencies to coordinate distribution of gleaned food
  • Especially focusing on the delivery (and data-tracking) of surplus, nutrient-dense food to children and their families in Metro Denver
• Ensure all physical program supplies and equipment are organized and maintained 

Data Tracking & Program Administration

• Ensure all outreach and program data is tracked in Salesforce accurately and in a timely manner (e.g., weekly)
• Provide program data for use in funding applications and reports
• Support program evaluation, including gathering feedback from farmers, fruit-tree stewards, volunteers, and hunger-relief agencies
• Issue tax-donation receipt form(s) to farmers
• Complete basic administrative tasks including documenting activities, scheduling events, responding to emails/phone calls, etc.

Advocacy, Community Organizing, & Coalition Building

• Participate in working groups and coalitions, and cultivate collaborative partnerships to work toward shared goals; i.e., of a more equitable, more environmentally just local food system
• Engage in legislative advocacy by initiating relationships with elected officials

Other duties as assigned

• Attend staff meetings including (but not limited to) weekly meetings with supervisor; monthly team meetings with statewide UpRoot staff
• UpRoot Colorado is a young and growing organization. The Coordinator may be required to assist with tasks in addition to the responsibilities outlined above

Must haves

• A passion to establish food equity, food justice and positive change in the food system
• A minimum of two-years' full-time work experience in a professional setting
• Organizing, campaigning or outreach experience
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication, and organizational skills
• Experience and comfort coordinating volunteers and speaking publicly
• Ability to think critically and creatively
• Comfort working independently in an entrepreneurial environment
• The ability to enthusiastically engage with people from diverse backgrounds to promote trust and collaboration
• Comfort working outdoors and in a variety of weather conditions
• The ability to comfortably lift 40 lbs.
• A valid driver’s license and reliable, personal transportation (use of your personal vehicle will, at times, we be required to travel to and from gleaning events and deliver gleaned food)
• Comfort and proficiency with technology (such as Google Workspace, Salesforce, MailChimp, and Canva), and/or a willingness to learn about these technologies
• Residence in, and familiarity with, Metro Denver

Preferred

• An entrepreneurial spirit and a flexible schedule
• Agricultural or food-systems experience
• Food safety knowledge/experience
• An outgoing personality and can-do attitude
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Social-media experience

Current benefits

• Flexible work schedule
• Healthcare stipend (QSEHRA)
• Accrued paid vacation and sick time
• Tech stipend
• Colorado SecureSavings Roth IRA
• Mileage reimbursement of $0.60 per mile for role-specific duties

UpRoot Colorado is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discriminatory practices against anyone on the basis of age, race, religion, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, and any other protected category. We value—and are working to create—a culture of equity, honesty, transparency, gratitude, clear communication, respect, and continuous learning. We acknowledge that food justice is not achievable without racial justice. It is important that the communities we serve are centered in our work. Therefore, people of color and people who have experienced nutrition insecurity are encouraged to apply.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $24.00 - $25.00

Application instructions

Deadline

March 07, 2025