Company description

The position crosses multiple departments within the City of Philadelphia.  

The Chronic Disease Prevention Division of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health aims to make healthy choices for all Philadelphians regarding healthy eating, and active and smoke-free living.  

The Office of Sustainability and the Food Policy Advisory Council facilitates the development of responsible policies that improve access for Philadelphia residents to culturally appropriate, nutritionally sound, and affordable food that is grown locally through environmentally sustainable practices.

Job description

This full-time position is part of Get Healthy Philly, a citywide initiative of the Health Department’s Division of Chronic Disease Prevention that aims to reduce chronic diseases related to smoking, unhealthy eating, and lack of physical activity.  The position will be housed in the City's procurement department and work collaboratively with the Office of Sustainability's Food Policy Advisory Council, among other City partners.

Since 2010, the City of Philadelphia has been working to make city-funded foodservice healthy, appealing, affordable, and locally grown where possible. In 2014, the City of Philadelphia issued Executive Order 4-14, establishing citywide nutrition standards for foods and beverages purchased, prepared or served by City agencies. As a government, large employer, and service and program provider for vulnerable populations, the City of Philadelphia has a responsibility to serve healthy food that is tasty and appealing. Comprehensive food standards are an evidence-based strategy to align meals and snacks with the latest dietary guidance. They serve as a model for other large institutions and employers, and send a market signal to suppliers to provide and competitively price healthy food options.

The Good Food Purchasing Coordinator will be responsible for working with City departments such as Procurement and Finance to investigate innovative contracting opportunities that will increase the City’s capacity to procure foods that meet the Comprehensive Nutrition Standards with a focus on foods that also meet the definition of “good food” wherever possible. The Good Food Purchasing Coordinator will conduct vendor engagement and outreach to expand the number of vendors who contract with the City as well as assess market availability of good food products that meet the Nutrition Standards.

SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

• Assess and document current contracting models and barriers faced by departments.
• Investigate innovative contracting opportunities and assess feasibility of implementation with the Procurement and Finance Departments as well as other City departments
• Oversee implementation and execution of contracting opportunities.
• Review City department contracts to ensure integration of Nutrition Standards, and good foods where feasible. Provide recommendations on contract language (and foodservice, contracting structure) as needed.
• Work with the Procurement Department to conduct business analysis of the current marketplace and identify and connect healthy food vendors to the City’s food procurement system.
• Work with the Procurement Department to ensure the city-wide vending contractor and is in compliance with the Nutrition Standards.
• Develop and implement a monitoring plan for Nutrition Standards in the city’s vending machines.
• Contribute to ongoing research and dissemination of best practices in healthy and good food procurement.
• Provide technical assistance to City departments implementing the Nutrition Standards as needed.
• Participate, and/or lead, activities of the FPAC Good Food Procurement subcommittee as appropriate.
• Develop written reports and issue briefs.
• Additional responsibilities as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION:  Completion of a Bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university in Public Health, Business Administration, Nutrition or related field.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE Two years of experience in food purchasing, contract management, procurement, or operations.

NOTE: A Master's degree in Public Health, Business Administration, Nutrition or related field may substitute for one year of the required general experience. OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health which has included completion of a Bachelor’s Degree program as an educational minimum and the experience described above. 

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT The employee must establish a bona fide residence in Philadelphia within six (6) months of appointment, and must thereafter maintain bona fide residence in Philadelphia.

SALARY
Salary range is $60,000 - $68,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is currently seeking a Good Food Purchasing Coordinator. This position is contingent upon approval by the Civil Service Commission.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 50k to 100k

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline