Shared Harvest is seeking an Outreach Manager to help us in our mission to open our community owned grocery store in downtown Elgin linking consumers to affordable, healthy, locally produced food, fostering sustainable agriculture, and contributing to the economic and cultural vibrancy of the Elgin community. The Outreach Manager will help our board of directors and committees further our mission on behalf of our organization, composed of 1070+ household owners/members in Elgin and its surrounding communities. This is a grant-funded 1099 independent contractor position through December 2025 with potential for extension in 2026.
ROLE:
The Outreach Manager is a reliable professional who will help Shared Harvest grow our ownership base through connecting with community members, raising awareness of our vision and mission, and increasing the number of owner households. The individual will thrive working both independently and as part of a team, managing a varied workload and schedule, and embody co-op principles to grow relationships with the board of directors, community stakeholders and community members of varied lived experiences, socio-economic needs, languages, and cultures of the greater Elgin area.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work as part of a team to increase awareness of Shared Harvest and its mission and grow ownership base through sale of co-op shares;
- Attend community meetings and events;
- Collaboratively organize innovative educational and fundraising events to include current and potential co-op owners/members, local residents, farmers/producers, and community stakeholders;
- Provide regular written activity and budget reports at board and committee meetings;
- Perform area market analysis to identify potential co-op owners/members;
- Collaborate with the Marketing Committee to support, develop and manage communications and social media content;
- Recruit volunteers and active leaders in the community, and ensure that they remain engaged and involved;
- Develop and sustain positive relationships with a range of people and organizations including owners/members, community leaders, residents, local groups and organizations;
- Perform other duties/special projects as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrate a commitment to tackling food access and regional sustainability challenges at the heart of Shared Harvest’s mission and vision.
- A passion for community building and benefits of local and organic food systems.
- Strong communication skills including writing, presenting, facilitation, and relationship building.
- Proven experience in community outreach/engagement, and organizing creative and successful events which engage and involve people from a range of different backgrounds.
- Willing and able to work in different environments, including a reliable home office environment, collaborative spaces, and on the ground within the community.
- Demonstration of a high relationship drive; self-directed, action-orientated, results-oriented, organized.
- Proficiency in Google Office, CRM systems, marketing tools, and social media content.
- Critical thinking skills, strong problem-solving and project management skills, and attention to detail.
- Bilingual Spanish and English, and familiarity with Elgin’s culture and community preferred.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Must have access to a reliable vehicle and possess a valid driver’s license and motor vehicle insurance to operate a motor vehicle in the State of Illinois to move event materials between office locations.
- Must pass a criminal background check.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Work in different environments both out in public and home-office-based with reliable, high speed internet to accommodate video calls.
- Regular in-person meetings with committee members at a collaborative space.
- Position will require traveling to various community events, engagements, meetings, fundraisers, etc.
- Will require some weekend and evening work.
JOB TYPE/PAY:
Part-time, independent contract (1099). 20 hours per week, $40/hr. Remote and hybrid.
Shared Harvest is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, and does not discriminate against candidates because of disability, sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other protected status under the law.
TO APPLY:
Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and resume detailing their relevant experience and qualifications to the following email address: outreach@sharedharvest.coop. Please include “Outreach Manager” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted through January 7, 2025.
