School Food Learning Lab Manager (Research & Implementation)

Company Profile: Public Health Solutions is a nonprofit organization that develops, implements and advocates dynamic solutions to prevent disease and improve community health. We conduct comprehensive research providing insight on public health issues, create and manage community health programs, and provide services to organizations to address public health challenges. Programs of Public Health Solutions address critical public health needs such as maternal and child health, nutrition, access to health insurance, HIV prevention and care, and smoking cessation. For government agencies, nonprofit organizations and others, Public Health Solutions provides services to enable them to enhance their effectiveness and strengthen their capacity to have an impact and efficiently manage funds. Our roots are in scientific research. We were founded in 1957 under the name Medical and Health Research Association of New York City to enable the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and other organizations to conduct health research to inform their work. Over the years, we saw an opportunity and a need to build upon this foundation of rigorous scientific research to link research and practice in dynamic ways to improve the health of communities. Today, as Public Health Solutions, we use research wherever we can to help illuminate critical public health issues and to design, implement and assess effective methods for preventing disease and improving health in New York City and beyond. Job Description & Experience: School Food FOCUS is a new 3-year project directed by Liquori and Associates, in cooperation with the C. S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University and the Healthy Schools Program of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation with funds awarded from the WK Kellogg Foundation. FOCUS aims to enable school food programs in large, urban school districts to redirect their food purchasing towards foods that are healthier, grown more locally and under more sustainable practices. A core approach is to help support collaborative learning communities that allow for innovation, experimentation and adjustments that are inherent in large-scale institutional change. The School Food Learning Lab will be one important learning community'where selected school districts, with technical assistance teams, will examine purchasing opportunities to decrease highly processed food products while increasing minimally processed and whole foods. FOCUS seeks a creative, flexible, and team-oriented manager to be a part of a dynamic project that is looking to have a positive and healthy impact on the way kids eat at school. As a School Food Learning Manager, you will: - Incorporate project mission, goals, and operating principles into daily work. - Lead development of the demand-side analysis and its integration with the supply-side data to inform district-level procurement change. - Engender, monitor and troubleshoot for smooth working relations among key participants in the School Food Learning Lab. This includes establishing: 1) Clear roles, responsibilities, and communication channels and 2)Protocols and processes for data collection and analysis, strategic decision-making, selection of key food strategies, and integration with school district purchasing system. - Craft, vet and implement a Year Two Request for Application (RFA) process to select additional Learning Lab school districts. - Liaise with other aspects and personnel in School Food FOCUS (e.g. Knowledge Caf, Education and Outreach Committee, Policy Advisor, Evaluation, etc.) Qualifications: - A Master's Degree and a minimum of 5-7 years' work experience in a related field. - In-depth knowledge of food production, food distribution and procurement systems, and school food and/or public health nutrition issues. - Excellent interpersonal skills and experience in managing collaborative, participatory processes. - Ability to foster active engagement and sense of ownership by a range of stakeholders. - Well-honed organizational skills'both when working independently and as part of larger team. - Experience in applying research and data to achieve desired changes. - Experience working with large, detailed budgets and appropriate use of sensitive information. - Articulate speaker with outstanding writing skills Send resume, cover letter, salary history, 1-2 short writing samples, and contact information for three references to Toni Liquori at toni@liquoriandassociates.com Deadline for applications is August 20, 2008, with a preferred start date in September 2008. Note: Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Claire Spencer (claire@liquoriandassociates.com) for background materials before crafting a cover letter. Apply Online