Job Posting: Southcoast Food Policy Council Program Director

About the Marion Institute

The Marion Institute believes that food is a powerful connector and the foundation of health. Through partnerships, education, and community engagement, we are strengthening our local food system to ensure all people can access and enjoy health-promoting food.

The Marion Institute’s Southcoast Food Policy Council (SFPC) is a coalition of food pantries, farms, foundations, and social service agencies working together to promote local food security: “a situation in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice.” The SFPC is dedicated to building a thriving, inclusive regional food system that strengthens community health and eliminates food insecurity. Launched in 2020, the SFPC fosters collaboration among local food producers, consumers, and community partners to develop policies and initiatives that address critical food-related challenges in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Program Management:

• Provide oversight to the SFPC and ensure that its members adhere to the agreed upon mission and values, including its commitment to reflecting sociodemographic of towns/cities and ensuring that there is room at the table for each stakeholder in the food system, especially community members who are experiencing food apartheid.
• Contribute to strategic planning, agenda setting, goals and objectives development of the program with the Executive Director.
• Facilitate in-person and virtual discussions, encouraging participation, making connections, and stimulating discussion while maintaining the meeting objectives and timeline.
• Promote relationship-building among the SFPC and other organizations, agencies, and/or individuals.
• Engage SFPC members and other stakeholders to implement policies, programs and/or practices that improve the community food system and address health equity.
• Lead the recruitment, application and selection of SFPC Community Advisory Board (“CAB”), Working Groups, Food Equity Advisors (“FEAs”, Co-Chairs, and executive Team members.
• Supervise the SFPC Program Coordinator position.
• Collaborate with the SFPC Program Coordinator in the creation and implementation of SFPC member trainings.
• Plan and execute all SFPC events with the Development Team, Marketing and Communications Manager, and SFPC Program Coordinator.
• Maintain existing and expand relationships with county lead partners and stakeholder groups in Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.
• Work with the Development Team to research and write grant applications and provide grant reporting.
• Responsible for programmatic budget and reviews monthly budget report with the Director of Finance.
• Participate in networking and coalition meetings to promote SFPC activities and deepen or create new relationships.
• Represent the SFPC and the MI at meetings and other public settings, as appropriate.

Communications

• Provide regular programmatic updates to be used in board reports, promotional materials and communications.
• Create SFPC educational content, as needed.
• Develop publications and reports through collaborative writing and editing.

Policy Duties

• In collaboration with the Executive Director and SFPC Coordinator, plan and execute initiatives to present action plans and policy recommendations to decision-makers, government officials, businesses, and general public.
• Act as liaison between the SFPC and the local government staff and officials to achieve the policy outcomes desired by the SFPC.
• Oversee the SFPC Program Coordinator in all advocacy and outreach duties.

Additional duties, as assigned.

Requirements & Skills

The candidate must possess the following:

• Respect for diversity of opinion, experience, and background.
• Enthusiasm, resourcefulness, and positive can-do attitude.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work.
• An understanding of the inequities in our current food systems and commitment to creating an equitable, healthy, and sustainable food supply chain for our community.
• Experience leading and facilitating in person and virtual meetings.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Ability to travel by personal automobile to events and meetings.

Preference will be given to residents of the Southeastern MA community.

Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Additional Details

This is an in-person 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 $65,000 – $75,000 per year, based on experience. If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply and share your unique history and qualifications.

The SFPC Program Director reports to the Executive Director and supervises the SFPC Program Coordinator.

Application Deadline: August 15, 2026

Employment Start Date: October 1, 2026

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume to Abigail Smith, Director of Human Resources and Operations, to asmith@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, or military status.