At Food Literacy Center, we inspire kids to eat their vegetables.

About Us

At Food Literacy Center, we inspire kids to eat their vegetables. Food Literacy Center came to life in July 2011 to fill a critical gap: to help individuals improve their knowledge, attitude, and behavior towards real food. Partnering with afterschool programs, we teach food literacy education to 1,200 (and growing!) K-6th graders in low-income schools, using fun, approachable lessons teaching kids to cook, about nutrition, and where their food comes from. Our kids become food adventurers!  

Job Opportunities

Deputy Director
Deputy Director Job Description

About this peachy position:
The Deputy Director will partner with the CEO in strategy development and fund development, while overseeing the team in program and daily operations. This role will prioritize smooth and efficient processes to support the organization’s long-term strategies, establish and maintain external partnerships, and exhibit proactive external and internal communication. This role reports directly to the CEO and manages all staff and administrative duties for Food Literacy Center. This role is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and inspiring nonprofit leader.

Here’s what you’ll do as the Deputy Director:
Provide daily management of the Food Literacy Center Team:

• Build and maintain strong relationships between all team members. Preserve and nurture our unique organizational culture of committed and motivated staff.
• Conduct frequent check-ins, monitor and coach performance, develop and retain great team members.
• Provide oversight of Food Literacy Center’s programs and their implementation.
• Provide guidance, identify blind spots, solve problems, and answer questions.
• In partnership with the CEO, evaluate our program’s successes and identify ways to strengthen our impact.

Keep our daily operations running smoothly and efficiently:

• Continually assess operational needs and address when necessary. Oversee resolution of IT and technology related issues and oversee office staff in resolution of other related items.
• Oversee accurate timekeeping and payroll, monitor expenses, coordinate with the bookkeeper on accounts payable and accounts receivable and uphold nonprofit accounting best practices.
• Ensure internal policies and procedures are relevant, updated, and communicated to all staff

Lead Fund Development & Marketing Strategies:

• Develop and implement Food Literacy Center’s fund development strategy.
• Meet or exceed all fundraising goals, and fully maximize all fundraising modalities including major gifts, individual gifts, third-party events, special events, grants, program fees, etc.
• Maintain knowledge of industry and nonprofit trends and identify and oversee implementation of potential project, funding, and collaboration opportunities.
• Train staff in fund development best practices and maintain the organization’s strong culture of philanthropy.
• Assist with identification, cultivation, and stewardship of new and established donors.
• Oversee Food Literacy Center’s marketing, maintaining its high quality and following its brand guide meticulously.

Contribute strategically:

• Make key decisions around organizational priorities.
• Identify opportunities to communicate the vision and mission of the organization to an ever-broadening audience.
• Provide ideas, input, and leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

In addition, we hope you will grow in this position as we grow as an organization. You’ll collaborate with the CEO on other duties, strategies, and initiatives as needed.

You’ll exhibit these competencies:

• Project Management
• Relationship Development & Communication
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making
• Innovative Thinking
• Positive Attitude

All about you! You’ll be successful in this position if you:

• Have a deep commitment to the mission of Food Literacy Center.
• Have worked in a leadership role in nonprofit organizations for at least 5 years.
• Have experience successfully supervising others.
• Are able to manage multiple complex, collaborative projects simultaneously.
• Have outstanding communications and public speaking skills, and an aptitude for problem solving.
• Live into our team’s values and behaviors.
• Have an understanding or familiarity with local food, food systems, and nutrition.
• Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Extra points if you

• Have a master’s degree in nonprofit management or related field.
• Have an inspirational management style, while also able to develop staff and hold them accountable for delivering top-quality programming.
• Have experience working in a small, growing team.

Other things to know: 
We offer a unique, healthy work culture that celebrates teamwork and vegetable eating!

• This is an at-will, fill-time, exempt position that is benefits-eligible. The range for compensation is $105,000 – $130,000 annually.
• A flexible schedule is necessary. This position requires some evenings and weekends.
• You’ll need to be able to lift 50 lbs.
• This position requires you to travel throughout Sacramento, so a California driver’s license is required.
• We love our veggies, so a vegetable costume may be worn on occasion!
• Because food literacy is at our core, we require all employees to successfully complete Food Literacy Academy certification and become a certified food handler. Food Literacy Center will provide the resources to certify you in these areas.
• Additionally, you must pass a Department of Justice background check and have a negative TB test.
• Proof of COVID vaccination is required.

Ready to apply? Great! Please submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter to amber@foodliteracycenter.org, subject: Deputy Director.
In your letter, please describe the most successful project you worked on–and tell us why you are proud of it. This position will remain open until filled. No phone calls, please.

Part-Time Temporary Program Educator 
Part-Time Temporary Program Educator Job Description

About this Peachy Position

The part-time, temporary Program Educator is a dynamic entry-level position. The person will ensure programs run smoothly and are top quality, providing joyful experiences for children. The ideal candidate is a multidisciplinary Jack/Jill of all trades who has strong communication skills, strong organizational skills, the desire to be part of a nimble, results-oriented team, and a passion for inspiring kids to eat their vegetables.

The Program Educator will work closely with the program manager, operations manager, other educators, and volunteers. This position reports to the Program Manager. 

Here’s what you’ll do as our Program Educator:

• Handle program logistics, including on-site volunteer coordination, setup, tear down, and program delivery.
• Track program records and reports, such as attendance rosters. 
• Pack and transport program materials to sites.
• Practice food safety measures at various elementary school sites.
• Handle cleaning, food preparation, hauling supplies, and other physical labor.
• Coordinate programmatic information with volunteers, interns and site leads. 
• Lead and teach food literacy curriculum to K – 6th students. 
• Conduct surveys and track student evaluations.
• Communicate programmatic needs and changes with site lead and other program coordinators. 
• Become certified as a Food Genius
• Provide support as needed for the organization. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

As Program Educator, you’ll exhibit these key job competencies. 

• Organized: Shows a strong ability to plan. Keeps accurate and timely records, and strives to meet and exceed program and organizational goals.
• Achievement-orientation: Demonstrates an ability to meet and exceed goals and expectations. Lives up to the high standard the community expects of our nonprofit, showing attention to detail. Identifies problems and seeks to solve them quickly. Strategizes ideas for program improvement and communicates ideas effectively with the supervisor. 
• Positive Attitude: Exudes a positive outlook and attitude, especially during stressful or difficult times. Helps maintain the joyfulness of the Food Literacy Center culture. 

All About You! You’ll be successful in this position if you:

• Have a deep commitment to the mission of Food Literacy Center
• Have some experience working with children or youth.
• Align with our team’s values and behaviors 
• Have a high degree of comfort with change and ambiguity
• Have strong communications skills. 
• Are comfortable toggling between functions and roles.
• Ability to work well in a collaborative, team environment.
• Comfortable and excited to teach youth. 
• Have the ability to organize and prioritize assignments and tasks, as well as adapt and react quickly as projects evolve.
• Have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Have an understanding or familiarity with local food, food systems, and nutrition

Extra points if you have: 

• Have customer service or sales experience
• Have experience working in a small, entrepreneurial start-up team
• Have experience volunteering with food literacy
• Have experience working with nonprofits
• Have basic cooking skills (home cooking is OK!)
• Speak Spanish or Hmong

Other Things to Know: We offer a unique, vegetable-oriented work culture that celebrates teamwork, health, and vegetable eating.

• This is a non-exempt, part-time, temporary position that pays $18/hour DOE. Averages 20-24 hours a week.
• Most programming follows the school year calendar, with breaks during holidays and between each session. 
• REQUIRED: Must have availability between 12:00 – 6:30 PM Monday through Thursdays and Fridays 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.
• Given that we are a start-up nonprofit in growth mode, a flexible schedule is necessary. This position may require some nights and weekends
• You’ll need to be able to lift 50 lbs of food and supplies.
• This position requires you to travel throughout Sacramento, so a California driver’s’ license are required.
• There is moderate local travel required in this position — you’ll be traveling back and forth between offices and schools.
• We love our veggies, so a vegetable costume may be worn on occasion.
• Because food literacy is at our core, we require all employees to successfully complete Food Literacy Academy certification and become a certified food handler. Food Literacy Center will pay for and provide the resources necessary to certify you in these areas.
• Additionally, you must pass a Department of Justice background check and have a negative TB test.
• Proof of COVID vaccination is required.

Ready to apply? Great! Check out the next steps below.

Please submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter outlining the unique value you will bring to our organization to cindy@foodliteracycenter.org, subject: Program Educator- Last Name. This position will remain open until filled.

Why Our Work Matters

• Despite being America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, Sacramento has a 40% childhood obesity rate, and many students and families live in food deserts.
• Obesity disproportionately affects low-income and minority children.
• Obesity is now regarded as more damaging than smoking or drinking.
• Being overweight can negatively impact a child’s self-esteem, behavior, friendships, and academic performance.
• All of these problems are preventable–if we eat our vegetables. But we have two generations of Americans who do not know how. That’s where we come in.

Our Leadership & Team

CEO & Chief Food Genius, Amber Stott, is joined by a stellar team of staff, and community volunteers who make up the center’s board, volunteer committees, and support system. As a growing team, we’ve combined their creative ideas, expertise, and energy around food, health, and social change to be a catalyst for change in the community.

Program Recognition

Food Literacy Center holds a Slow Food Snail of Approval, the Green Apple Project Innovation Award from Sacramento City Unified School District, was named Innovator in early childhood health interventions two years in a row by the Department of Public Health, and passed a statewide resolution that declares the month of September as Food Literacy Month in the state of California.

We believe food literacy matters. Learn more about us here.