Food Access Specialist

About the Department

Position Duties

• Food Access: Support project management activities for the following: Conduct community-level assessments to identify transportation, logistical, or policy barriers to accessing healthy food retailers and markets; Support development and adoption of zoning, land use, and policy changes that promote local agricultural markets, healthy food retailers, farmers’ markets, community gardens, urban agriculture, and other food access resources in underserved communities; and Other applicable food system resilience planning activities to create a more resilient, localized Adams County food system. Food Benefit Utilization & Program Improvement: Analyze nutrition assistance program data to identify trends; gaps; and underutilized benefits, foods, and eligible stores; and build partnerships to increase awareness, enrollment, and utilization of nutrition assistance benefits. Work with program staff, partners, and retailers to strengthen program delivery and increase acceptance and utilization where benefits are currently underused. Recommend program adjustments, outreach strategies, or community partnerships to improve service access and effectiveness. Partner with statewide organizations to increase Double Up Food Bucks providers in Adams County, provide education and awareness on SNAP, WIC, and Double Up Food Bucks vending to retailers, corner stores, farmers, and farm stands across the county. Adams County Food Systems Coalition: Support the facilitation of the Adams County Food System Coalition, providing community engagement, administrative, and logistics support. Support implementation of workgroups, policies, and initiatives prioritized by Adams County Food System Coalition. Increase youth engagement in Adams County Food Systems Coalition and other avenues with food resiliency and distribution planning; work closely with the Adams County Youth Engagement team to identify strategies to support youth food access. Conduct coalition outreach to unrepresented sectors, such as retailers, to promote awareness of the state of Adams County food access and identify opportunities to strengthen the food system. Healthy Food Distribution: Assist in actualizing community-initiated projects and efforts to strengthen local and regional food distribution and procurement systems to improve availability of healthy foods. Support Farm-to-Institution, and Farm-to-Community programs connecting local growers with schools, childcare centers, hospitals, and community organizations. Conduct emergency food response activities, including coordinating logistics for food access programs, convening emergency food response partners, and assessing, documenting, and communicating community and partner needs. General/Administrative Responsibilities Build and maintain strong community partnerships to advance food access and distribution initiatives. Assist with project planning, implementation, evaluation, and reporting. Facilitate and/or participate in community meetings, coalitions, and outreach events. Prepare written materials including assessments, reports, presentations, agendas, and educational resources. Support grant activities as assigned, including data collection and documentation.
• Conduct community-level assessments to identify transportation, logistical, or policy barriers to accessing healthy food retailers and markets;
• Support development and adoption of zoning, land use, and policy changes that promote local agricultural markets, healthy food retailers, farmers’ markets, community gardens, urban agriculture, and other food access resources in underserved communities; and
• Other applicable food system resilience planning activities to create a more resilient, localized Adams County food system.
• Analyze nutrition assistance program data to identify trends; gaps; and underutilized benefits, foods, and eligible stores; and build partnerships to increase awareness, enrollment, and utilization of nutrition assistance benefits.
• Work with program staff, partners, and retailers to strengthen program delivery and increase acceptance and utilization where benefits are currently underused.
• Recommend program adjustments, outreach strategies, or community partnerships to improve service access and effectiveness.
• Partner with statewide organizations to increase Double Up Food Bucks providers in Adams County, provide education and awareness on SNAP, WIC, and Double Up Food Bucks vending to retailers, corner stores, farmers, and farm stands across the county.
• Support the facilitation of the Adams County Food System Coalition, providing community engagement, administrative, and logistics support.
• Support implementation of workgroups, policies, and initiatives prioritized by Adams County Food System Coalition.
• Increase youth engagement in Adams County Food Systems Coalition and other avenues with food resiliency and distribution planning; work closely with the Adams County Youth Engagement team to identify strategies to support youth food access.
• Conduct coalition outreach to unrepresented sectors, such as retailers, to promote awareness of the state of Adams County food access and identify opportunities to strengthen the food system.
• Assist in actualizing community-initiated projects and efforts to strengthen local and regional food distribution and procurement systems to improve availability of healthy foods.
• Support Farm-to-Institution, and Farm-to-Community programs connecting local growers with schools, childcare centers, hospitals, and community organizations.
• Conduct emergency food response activities, including coordinating logistics for food access programs, convening emergency food response partners, and assessing, documenting, and communicating community and partner needs.
• Build and maintain strong community partnerships to advance food access and distribution initiatives.
• Assist with project planning, implementation, evaluation, and reporting.
• Facilitate and/or participate in community meetings, coalitions, and outreach events.
• Prepare written materials including assessments, reports, presentations, agendas, and educational resources.
• Support grant activities as assigned, including data collection and documentation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge in social determinants of health, their impact upon health, and strategies to address them within community settings. Strong communication, collaboration, and project coordination skills. Ability to analyze data, interpret findings, and develop actionable recommendations. Knowledge of techniques and best practices related to community engagement, coalition building, and developing community partnerships. Must be proficient in use of online meeting platforms and Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Knowledge in social determinants of health, their impact upon health, and strategies to address them within community settings.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and project coordination skills.
• Ability to analyze data, interpret findings, and develop actionable recommendations.
• Knowledge of techniques and best practices related to community engagement, coalition building, and developing community partnerships.
• Must be proficient in use of online meeting platforms and Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Other Qualifications

• Experience: 3 years of related experience required, such as food pantry coordination, social work, community organizing, resource navigation, or a related field. Experience working with community organizations, food systems, or public health initiatives preferred. Familiarity with WIC, SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and/or local food system programs is preferred. Education & Training: Bachelor’s degree in public health, nutrition, community development, public policy, or a related field. A master’s degree may substitute 2 years’ required professional experience. Comparable experience may count towards one (1) year of total experience requirement. Comparable experience is defined as experience navigating and/or advocating for yourself or others in the healthcare, social services, and/or public health systems. Additional professional experience may substitute the bachelor’s degree on a year-for-year basis. License or Certificate: Possession of, or the ability to obtain a valid Colorado Driver’s License. Other: Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred. An additional incentive may be provided based on proficiency and utilization. Flexibility in work hours may be required to accommodate community events, meeting, and outreach activities. Travel within the community and participation in evening, weekend and on-call duties may be required.
• 3 years of related experience required, such as food pantry coordination, social work, community organizing, resource navigation, or a related field.
• Experience working with community organizations, food systems, or public health initiatives preferred.
• Familiarity with WIC, SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and/or local food system programs is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in public health, nutrition, community development, public policy, or a related field.
• A master’s degree may substitute 2 years’ required professional experience.
• Comparable experience may count towards one (1) year of total experience requirement. Comparable experience is defined as experience navigating and/or advocating for yourself or others in the healthcare, social services, and/or public health systems.
• Additional professional experience may substitute the bachelor’s degree on a year-for-year basis.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred. An additional incentive may be provided based on proficiency and utilization.
• Flexibility in work hours may be required to accommodate community events, meeting, and outreach activities.
• Travel within the community and participation in evening, weekend and on-call duties may be required.

Benefits

• Adams County provides a comprehensive benefits package to employees that goes above and beyond what is offered at most organizations. Benefits You Expect: AFLAC Supplemental Medical Insurance Basic Term Life & Optional Term Life Insurance Deferred Compensation Plan Dental/Vision/Medical Plans Generous Vacation/Sick leave Long-Term Disability Short-Term Disability Plus some you might not expect: Employee Assistance Program Employee Fitness Center Employee Health Clinics Flexible Work Schedules Recreation Center Discounts Training & Tuition Reimbursement Programs Wellness programs Lactation friendly certified workplace
• AFLAC Supplemental Medical Insurance
• Basic Term Life & Optional Term Life Insurance
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Dental/Vision/Medical Plans
• Generous Vacation/Sick leave
• Long-Term Disability
• Short-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Fitness Center
• Employee Health Clinics
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Recreation Center Discounts
• Training & Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Wellness programs
• Lactation friendly certified workplace

Supplemental Questions