WE'RE HIRING!

Job Opening – Food Access Outreach Specialist in Northeast Connecticut

Accepting applications until October 17, 2025
Interviews on Oct 24 & 29

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UConn Extension is actively seeking to fill a part-time, six month position of Food Access Outreach Specialist in Northeast Connecticut. This is an exciting opportunity for the right person who is versatile, responsive, demonstrates support of local food and farms in Connecticut, and is interested in ways to address food insecurity in the region. 

 

The Project

With funding from USDA, UConn Extension is leading a project in Northeastern CT, Grown ConNECTed, that is focused on increasing sales and customers for farms producing locally grown food. A new campaign, Grown ConNECTed For All, hopes to bring more awareness to the farms and farmers markets that accept food assistance program benefits, including SNAP. 

 

Summary of Primary Responsibilities
The Food Access Outreach Specialist will be responsible for outreach across the Northeastern Connecticut region which encompasses 33 municipalities.  The Specialist will recruit and conduct outreach to agricultural producers that are on-boarding to become a SNAP retailer. The Specialist will also coordinate outreach to food assistance providers and recipients in the region to share Grown ConNECTed For All campaign tools & resources on how to find locally grown food.

 

Job Duties: 

• Connecting with municipalities and regional organizations that provide social and human services to address food insecurity and raise awareness about Grown ConNECTed for All campaign.

• Supporting farm businesses in the region that are willing and interested in becoming SNAP retailers.  This duty includes being a point of contact to recruit new farmers to accept SNAP.

• Increasing awareness across the region about farmers markets and farm businesses that are SNAP retailers.

• Supporting farmers markets and farm business that are SNAP retailers in utilizing campaign materials and tools to promote the Grown ConNECTed for All campaign.

• Develop and make professional presentations to social service stakeholders about the Grown ConNECTed for All campaign.

 

Ideal Qualifications:

• Able to work independently as well as with a team

• Reliable, strong work ethic

• Exceptionally strong in-person communication skills

• Sensitive to community needs and overall understanding of food insecurity and how it impacts residents in the region

• Professional writing skills for contacting and following up with organizations

• Strong background or knowledge of Northeastern CT and direct-to-consumer farming in the state

• Able to work with farm owners as well as farmers market managers

• Familiarity with public and private food assistance programs

• Spanish language skills a plus

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Supervisors & Team

The position will report to Jiff Martin who directs several outreach and education programs in the field of food systems for UConn Extension. Ginger Jenne, Project Coordinator, will provide critical day-to-day guidance on activities.

 

Work Week
10 hours per week with flexible hours. Some collaborative work (in the Vernon office) will be required, some focused work (at home) is expected, and some time traveling throughout the region. Candidates must provide their own transportation. The office is located at: Tolland County Extension Center, 24 Hyde Avenue, Vernon, CT 06066

 

Compensation
$27.50/hour for 10 hours/week. Timesheets are submitted every two weeks. This is a temporary, project-based position without benefits. Renewal of position is based on need and performance. Funding in place through Fall 2027.

 

Duration
Position starts as soon as possible. Continuing or renewed employment in the following year is dependent on job performance. 

 

To Apply
Send a resume and cover letter to Ginger.Jenne@uconn.edu by October 17th at 5:00 pm. In the subject line of your email, please use: APPLICANT FOR FOOD ACCESS OUTREACH SPECIALIST.

 

Our work is more innovative and responsive when our team represents a diversity of perspectives and life experiences. People of color, people with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ+, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations are strongly encouraged to apply. UConn provides reasonable accommodations to employees as required by law. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation at any point in the employment process. UConn Extension is an equal opportunity employer.

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