Community Outreach & Education Coordinator

Community Outreach & Education Coordinator, FT

JOB SUMMARY:

As the Community Outreach & Education Coordinator, you are the primary bridge-builder for the Franklin Community Co-op (FCC), responsible for expanding our reach to underserved demographics and a new generation of shoppers. You will champion the cooperative model as a driver of food security and local economic resilience. Through strategic event management, compelling storytelling, and accessible educational programming, you will honor our 50-year legacy while actively dismantling barriers to healthy food access for the wider community.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategic Outreach & Market Expansion

• Reaching the Underserved: Proactively identify and engage with neighborhoods, demographics, and geographic areas in Franklin County that are currently underrepresented in our customer base.
• Strategic Partnerships: Build long-term, trust-based alliances with organizations serving low-income families, seniors, and immigrant communities to demystify the Co-op and lower barriers to entry.
• Next-Generation Engagement: Develop and execute targeted initiatives to attract and retain younger customers (Gen Z, Millennials, young families), demystify the Co-op model, and ensure our relevance for the future.
• Bilingual/Multicultural Outreach: Ensure outreach materials and messaging are culturally relevant and accessible to non-English speakers or those unfamiliar with the "Natural Foods" industry.
• Community Presence: Ensure the Co-op has a consistent, visible in-person presence at community events, festivals, town meetings, and partner activities.
• Advocacy: Represent FCC in regional discussions on food justice and the cooperative economy, advocating for policies that support local food systems.
• Barrier Reduction: Actively solicit feedback from non-shoppers to understand and dismantle barriers to entry (perceived price, cultural relevance, accessibility) that prevent community members from shopping at the Co-op.

Advocacy, Partnerships & Producer Relations

• Advocating for the Co-op Model: Serve as a passionate spokesperson for the cooperative economy, explaining how member-ownership sustains the local economy and empowers the community.
• Producer Engagement: Strengthen the connection between shoppers and our supply chain by collaborating with our local farms and producers to facilitate meet-the-farmer demos, farm tours, and producer spotlights.
• Institutional Collaboration: Build and maintain high-impact relationships with local non-profits, schools, and peer organizations to align resources and amplify our collective impact on the local food system.

Education, Storytelling & Food Access

• Telling the FCC Story: Articulate the rich history and current impact of the Franklin Community Co-op through compelling narratives in person, in print, and online.
• Healthy Eating Education: Develop and coordinate a robust calendar of in-store and external workshops, cooking demonstrations, and nutritional classes that make healthy eating accessible and approachable.
• Literature & Signage: Develop and maintain a library of "How-to" guides, nutrition tips, and "Co-op 101" literature. Ensure materials are simple, jargon-free, and designed for shoppers at all economic levels.
• Point-of-Purchase Education: Collaborate with the Brand & Membership Experience Coordinator to create engaging shelf-talkers and displays that explain the benefits of specific products, local farming practices, and cooperative values.
• Food Access Programming: Lead the education and promotion of our equity programs (such as "Food for All" and SNAP/EBT matching), ensuring vulnerable populations are aware of and comfortable using these resources.
• Staff Integration: Train frontline staff to communicate the Co-op's food access programs (such as SNAP/EBT or discount tiers) to ensure every customer feels welcome and informed.

Event Coordination & Communications

• Event Management: Plan and execute high-quality community events aligned with Co-op values, handling all logistics, from vendor coordination to day-of execution.
• Visual Communications: Design professional graphics and marketing materials (flyers, social media assets, brochures) that maintain consistent branding and support outreach goals.
• Content Strategy: Collaborate with the Brand & Membership Experience Coordinator to amplify outreach initiatives through social media, the New Beet newsletter, and press releases, featuring content that highlights community success stories, advocacy wins, and upcoming educational opportunities.
• Editorial Contributions: Contribute regular "Education & Equity" features to the New Beet publication.

Collaboration

• Coordinate messaging with the Brand & Membership Experience Coordinator
• Collaborate with the Brand & Membership Experience Coordinator on the New Beet publication.
• Collaborate on shared graphic design and promotional materials.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL JOBS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Daily Physical Demands Include the ability to sit or stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, walk, climb, or balance, and stoop; the ability to lift and move, talk or hear, and lift at least 50 pounds. Vision ability requirements include close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Professional Experience: Experience in community outreach, communications, marketing, or non-profit program management.
• Relationship Building: Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport with diverse groups, including farmers, students, seniors, and underserved populations.

• Communication Skills: Exceptional public speaking and writing abilities; able to translate complex cooperative concepts into exciting, compelling, and relatable narratives.
• Design Proficiency: Competence with graphic design tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) to create visually appealing educational and promotional materials.
• Event Logistics: Proven track record of organizing successful events, with the ability to multitask and solve problems on the fly.
• Alignment: A genuine passion for natural foods, environmental sustainability, and the cooperative business model.
• The Storyteller: Exceptional ability to communicate the FCC mission to diverse audiences, from long-time members to those unfamiliar with the co-op model.
• Schedule Flexibility: Must be willing to work a flexible schedule that includes occasional evenings and approximately two weekends per month to support community events.
• Travel: Reliable transportation is required for travel between store locations (Greenfield/Shelburne Falls) and various off-site community events throughout the county.

DISCLAIMER:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Franklin Community Co-op is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

ADA Statement
Franklin Community Co-op is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Employees who require an accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job should notify the Human Resources Department.
Pay Transparency Statement
Franklin Community Co-op will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another