About the Marion Institute

The Marion Institute’s (“MI”) mission is to advance a culture of health through programs that build nutrition security and a stronger regional food system. We exist to engage individuals and communities in root cause solutions that elevate health, food, and environmental equity for all.

Fields to Families (“FTF”) is the Marion Institute’s regional gleaning program that connects local farms with volunteers to harvest surplus fruits and vegetables and distribute them to hunger relief organizations across Southeastern Massachusetts. By rescuing food that would otherwise be lost due to crop loss, we reduce food insecurity, support farmers, and build a more resilient local food system—one harvest at a time.

Position: Fields to Families Program Manager

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

The FTF Program Manager is an experienced agricultural worker who is passionate about food equity, community engagement, collaboration, and reducing food waste in southeastern Massachusetts.

Program Management:

• Build relationships with farms in southeastern Massachusetts and encourage them to become FTF gleaning partners to harvest surplus crops and contribute to hunger relief efforts.
• Provide outreach, coordination, and distribution to food pantries in southeastern Massachusetts to receive local produce.
• Build relationships with local organizations and businesses in order to bridge food distribution gaps.
• Schedule, coordinate, and lead gleaning sessions. Gleaning sessions will be scheduled during the work week and on the weekend.
• Identify projects suited for a variety of volunteer groups of various sizes and skill levels, prepare volunteer tasks, provide the orientation, and manage volunteers onsite to correctly harvest surplus food from farms.
• Process and package produce for local food pantries, maintaining detailed records to show amounts/types donated.
• Provide regular updates and reporting for the Executive Director, general public, volunteers, and the MI Board of Directors.
• Represent the FTF program and the MI at meetings and other public settings, as appropriate.
• Assist Frogfoot Farmer in preparing garden beds, amending soil, turning compost, planting, weeding, transplanting, irrigating, trellising, pruning, harvesting, post-harvest washing and packaging, as needed.
• Work with the Executive Director, Director of Engagement, and Frogfoot Farm Program Manager to research and inform grant applications and provide grant reporting.
• Review monthly budget report with the Director of Finance to ensure that program expenses are in line with the budget.
• Attend weekly team meetings in Marion.
• Meet weekly with Executive Director, Frogfoot Farm Program Manager, and Frogfoot Farmer.

Additional duties, as assigned.

Occasional night and weekend work is required.

Requirements & Skills

The candidate must possess the following:

• At least 3 years of agriculture or farming experience, ideally with at least one year leading a team.
• Respect for diversity of opinion, experience, and background.
• Enthusiasm, creativity, resourcefulness, and positive can-do attitude.
• Experience working with and/or managing volunteers.
• Ability to communicate and teach diverse groups of people about the work and mission of the program.
• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions (rain, snow, temperatures below freezing, hot summer conditions, etc.).
• Ability to stand for long periods of time (up to 10 hours).
• Must be able to bend, crawl, and kneel for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift or move heavy items, up to 50 pounds.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Must be comfortable driving an electric refrigerated truck and coordinating the utilization of charging stations.
• Ability to travel by personal automobile to events and meetings.
• Availability to lead gleaning sessions on weekends during the growing and harvesting season.
• Ability to pass a Motor Vehicle Records check / willingness to submit to an Authorization for Release of Driving Record to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
• Ability to pass a Mandatory Criminal Record (C.O.R.I.) check.

Additional Details

This is a full-time, 40 hour per week salaried position, exempt from overtime pay. The MI offers a generous and competitive benefit package that includes health insurance, dental insurance, life & long term disability insurance, 403B and Roth IRA retirement plans, an employee wellness reimbursement, paid sick time, and accrued paid vacation time. The annual salary range is $55,000 – $65,000 per year, based on experience. If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply and share your unique history and qualifications.

The Fields to Families Program Manager reports to the Executive Director.

Application Deadline: January 9, 2026

Employment Start Date: March 2, 2026

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume to Abigail Smith, Human Resources Manager, to abby@marioninstitute.org or 202 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738. Submissions without a cover letter will not be reviewed.

We are committed to developing a team that reflects the communities that we serve and strive to accomplish our goals by actively seeking people who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in our work.

The Marion Institute provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, military status, or status as a Vietnam­ era or special disabled veteran.