Responsibilities

• Create and administer a marketing and market expansion incentive program framework.
• Coordinate with a local software company subaward (Natural Resource Data Solutions Inc.; NRDS) the set up of project-wide data management dashboards that adhere to federal privacy standards while delivering actionable transparency to participating agricultural producers.
• Coordinate the collection, validation, and stewardship of federally required reporting data, ensuring accuracy and impact assessments of marketing efforts.
• Co-develop producer contracting, track invoice submission and eligible costs verification for the marketing and market expansion incentive program, oversee distribution of funds and spend-down in liaison with the Technical Coordinator and Lynker’s program management team.
• Liaise with subawardees and other local food system stakeholders to understand the various marketing efforts happening around the state and use that insight to guide, mentor and inform agricultural producers participating in the marketing incentive program (as well as to iterate the marketing incentive program annually or as needed).
• Provide high-level partnership alignment with statewide stakeholder organizations marketing efforts, policymakers, food system and marketing experts, and buyers to assess market opportunities and incorporate their feedback into the development of the marketing and market expansion incentive program.
• Showcase and promote the Partnership's diverse marketing efforts publicly (e.g. via website, social, email, in person / digital events and reporting).
• Collaborate with key stakeholders in various market segments to disseminate consumer education about Hawaiʻi-grown commodities; e.g. liaise with other agencies and organizations dedicated to institutional purchasing of local food, facilitate producer participation in commodity trade shows and industry conferences to aid in the expansion/development of Hawaiʻi-grown commodities markets for specialty crops, etc.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, agriculture or similar field and at least 5 years of progressive responsible work experience.
• Fluency in cultural norms and respectful conduct when interacting with project partners, subcontractors, farmers and ranchers, and agricultural/food system stakeholders in Hawaiʻi.
• Good place-based knowledge of Hawaiʻi communities, places and agriculture and must be based in Hawai‘i.
• Demonstrable advanced skills and knowledge of Microsoft Excel, as well as other MS Office applications and Google Suite.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills and experience working with a wide range of individuals in government, private sector and agriculture.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, highly professional and demanding environment required.

Preferred

• Master’s degree and at least 3 years of relevant experience preferred.
• Prior experience and success in implementing federal grant programs.
• Good existing relationships with Hawaiʻi producers, retailers and/or institutional purchasers.
• Strong understanding of the detailed workings of food retail, agricultural markets and value chains.
• Good understanding of local, national or international food labelling and branding efforts (e.g. Hawaiʻi “Buy Local, It Matters”, Certified Organic etc.).

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance