POSITION SUMMARY
The Food is Medicine Project Director is responsible for managing the Food is Medicine Project to ensure its success. The long-term goal of this project is to achieve Indigenous food sovereignty for the Native community of the greater Chicago metropolitan region, by increasing access to healthy, traditional Indigenous foods and practices that honor Indigenous relationships to food. The Project Director will oversee the successful implementation of the project workplan in order to achieve project goals and objectives. This is a director-level full-time position that reports to the Executive Director.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Oversee implementation of the Food is Medicine Objective Work Plan, working with the Executive Director, funders, partners, staff, and other stakeholders to regularly review progress toward goals.
- Supervise all project staff, including the Project Coordinator and Outreach Coordinator.
- Manage all partners, consultants and contractors for the project, negotiating any related Memorandums of Understanding, contracts, and agreements.
- Work with the Executive Director to develop new partnerships.
- Work with the Executive Director to develop additional sources of funding for the project, cultivating relationships with private and public entities to solicit grants, donations, sponsorships, and in-kind gifts.
- Oversee recruitment, management and supervision of project volunteers.
- Provide direct coordination of Indigenous cooking and food workshops, and field trips to tribes and Indigenous farmers.
- Work with the Outreach Coordinator to conduct extensive outreach to the Native community in Chicago in order to recruit project participants and volunteers.
- Build and maintain relationships with Native-serving organizations in Chicago and other partners to ensure the success of the project.
- Create and implement all evaluation systems and processes for the project, working with the Evaluation Consultant.
- Complete all required reports to ANA and other funders.
- Attend all required ANA grantee meetings and trainings.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university OR
- At least five years supervisory or management experience in a nonprofit environment, OR
- At least ten years supervisory or management experience within the Native American community.
- Knowledge of and working experience in the American Indian community.
- Demonstrated commitment to promoting traditional values and practices of Native American Indian culture.
- Proven project management experience.
- Strong organizational and leadership skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Competence in the use of common computer applications for word processing, accounting and electronic mail. Demonstrated understanding of systems with the ability to navigate multiple networks.
Other desired qualifications include:
- Background in nonprofit or program management.
- Experience with implementation of federally funded projects.
- Fundraising and partnership building experience.
- Knowledge of nonprofit financial management practices.
COMPENSATION
- Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
- Travel may be required for this position and will be compensated.
- Bonuses will be at the sole discretion of the Executive Director.
TO APPLY
Please send your cover letter, resume and three references to:
Melodi Serna
Executive Director
American Indian Center of Chicago
3401 W. Ainslie St.
Chicago, IL 60625
melodi@aicchicago.org
