Farm to School Local Procurement Specialist
NOFA-VT
14 Pleasant St
Richmond, VT 05477
United States
The Farm to School Local Procurement Specialist is a member of NOFA-VT’s Farm to Institution Program, which develops the institutional market for local and organic food while expanding local food access for institutional consumers. The FTS Local Procurement Specialist works closely with school nutrition professionals, distributors, state agency & nonprofit partners, as well as local food producers to promote values-based local and organic food purchasing in schools and early childhood programs. The FTS Local Procurement Specialist also works closely with partners at Shelburne Farms as a member of the VT FEED (VT Food Education Every Day) team, and provides support to the Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood (FTS&EC) Network.
This position has a starting pay of $28.50/hr ($59,280 annually, assuming 40 hours per week).
NOFA-VT offers an excellent benefits package including matching (up to 3%) retirement contributions, generous paid time off, office closure for one-week in the summer and one-week in the winter, life insurance, a flexible work schedule, a paid 5-week sabbatical in the 7th year of employment (and every five years thereafter), and an employee assistance program.
For employees working 30 hours or more per week,benefits also include: employee health insurance coverage, optional partner or family health insurance coverage with 50% contribution from the employer, life insurance, and the option for employees to purchase vision and dental insurance pre-tax, and optional dependent care, health savings, and medical reimbursement accounts.
To Apply:
Please submit your resume and short answers of no more than 150 words to each of the following prompts:
1. Please describe why you feel like you are a good fit for this role at NOFA-VT.
Please share what draws you to this position, how your values align with NOFA-VT and Vermont FEED, and how your experience and interest connects to this position.
2. Please tell us about your experience with institutional or school food procurement.
This could include working directly with school nutrition programs, navigating supply chains, understanding child nutrition programs (such as The National School Lunch Program) or supporting local producers in selling to schools or early childhood programs.
3. Describe your approach to facilitation and relationship building or other experiences you think will help you be successful in this role. This could include experience facilitating engaging workshops, trainings, or meetings with diverse audiences, or a demonstrated ability to build trust and collaborate with stakeholders such as school staff, farmers, nonprofit partners, and agencies.
Applications should be sent to jobs@nofavt.org with “Farm to School Local Procurement Specialist” in the subject line.
Application must be submitted by August 10, 2025 for priority consideration, though the position will remain open until filled.
Special Hiring Timeline Note:
We are conducting our hiring process for this role from August through early September. We are planning to begin interviews the week of 8/18, and we hope to offer the position by mid-September, though the start date would not be until November 10th or later, as the supervisor for this position will be out on their scheduled sabbatical from late September through October.