Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op has been committed to our values of sustainable business practice, growing the local foods movement and supporting our community for over 45 years. Our ideal candidate will also be committed to these goals and help us achieve them. Last year we contributed over $117,000 in donations to our local food shelves, non-profits, and discounts to low-income shoppers. We also reached 34% of sales from local Vermont products from over 400 Vermont Producers, that's a record 7.2 million dollars. We are thrilled to contribute to our local economy.

The Human Resources Manager reports to the General Manager and works closely with the management team to support our amazing staff in an ever-changing economy. Our leadership expectations include a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, while valuing integrity, flexibility and superior interpersonal skills.

As Manager of our HR Department, you are instrumental to our entire organization. You are passionate about people and the go-to person for employee-related issues. We see the job of the HR Manager as vital to business success. In this role, your duties will involve overseeing recruitment, performance management, employee relations, compensation and benefits, training and development, and talent management. You will also consult with the General Manager on strategic decisions affecting all levels of management to create an engaged workplace culture.

You are in this role because you are looking for a challenge with dedicated staff. You are passionate about going above and beyond to offer stellar customer service and creatively embrace change.

To lead our HR Department, we want you to have:

• Excellent listening, communication, and organizational skills
• Strong leadership and organizational development skills
• 5 years of HR leadership experience across HR disciplines including recruitment, hiring, performance management, employee relations, DE&I, and compensation and benefits
• HR leadership experience in an organization with more than 100 employees
• Experience in retail or similar high pace environment
• Degree in Human Resources Management or related discipline, PHR, SPHR a plus
• Working knowledge of HRIS (paylocity)

Our benefits package includes group health insurance, optional vision and dental insurance, flexible spending account, 3+ weeks of paid time off, paid holidays, profit sharing bonus, 401k, life insurance, paid parental leave, co-op membership, employment assistance program, and more.

Starting salary is $75,000 or higher based on experience.

To learn more about our amazing community, you may want to explore this link: https://experiencemiddlebury.com

If you would love to work in a unique organization with devoted staff, learn more and apply on our website https://middleburycoop.applicantpro.com/jobs/ Please attach a resume and letter of interest.

The Co-Executive Director, Director of Philanthropy & Communications, is part of a shared leadership structure that governs the operations and program delivery of the Vermont Garden Network. This position reports to the Board or Directors and collaborates with the Co-Executive Director, Director of Programs & Partnerships to educate, support and connect gardeners across the state of Vermont. The Co-Executive Directors are supported by a team of staff that they manage. 

At VGN we believe in the power of people growing food to strengthen food security, promote food justice and build community, and we want every Vermonter to have access to the space and resources they need to be successful in growing some of their own. This position will support those goals by taking on the planning and organizational management, financial management, fundraising and revenue growth, and communications and outreach duties. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Planning & Organizational Management 

• Build and work with the Board of Directors to develop and fulfill VGN’s mission and strategic plans and to address issues affecting the organization 

• Guided by VGN’s organizational framework and guiding principles, work with board and staff to implement goals and strategies for impactful statewide programming • Work with the board and staff to develop marketing and fundraising plans that support the strategic plan and coordinate the execution of these plans. 

Financial Management 

• Prepare and execute annual and program specific budgets to achieve financial goals. 

• Develop actionable plans for fundraising and managing cash flow; Provide the board with comprehensive, regular reports on VGN revenues and expenditures. 

Fundraising & Revenue 

• Oversee the implementation of all fundraising goals, programs, activities, and events. 

• Manage relationships and secure financial support from diverse sources including foundations, state and federal government, corporations and individual donors 

• Submit grant proposals for project specific and general operating support; understand and guarantee targets and deliverables, monitor compliance and oversee reporting 

• Implement fundraising events and campaigns, and oversee related communications, including website, marketing collateral, newsletters, and social media 

• Oversee membership drive activities and build strategy for effective communication, activation and sustainability of the membership program; Implement strategies to authentically engage members with meaningful benefits and experiences

Communications & Outreach 

• Develop mission centric messaging that staff, board and supporters can easily convey. 

• Oversee functionality of the VGN website, evaluate and manage website performance, facilitate hosting and server management, and develop, maintain and update website content. 

• Serve as a public face of VGN ensure the organization is represented well throughout all Vermont communities and to new and existing partners and funders. 

Desired Qualifications 

• Commitment to DEI work 

• Three or more years in nonprofit administration and management. 

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field. 

• Proven success with fundraising activities, including cultivating major donors and grant writing, administration, and reporting. 

• Demonstrated experience with budgeting, conducting detailed financial analysis and project management. 

• Experience managing direct reports. 

• Excellent written and verbal communications, presentation, and interpersonal skills. 

• Experience with community-based agriculture and/or garden development desired. 

Attributes 

• Demonstrated commitment to VGN’s values and mission. 

• Strong leadership and decision-making skills. 

• Critical thinker who can think outside the box. 

• Energetic and consistent communicator. 

• Engaged learner able to identify and utilize internal and external information sources to constantly improve performance. 

• Adept at time management and delegation. 

Salary: $55,000-$60,000

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Hannah Harrington, VGN Board President, at [email protected].

Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op has been committed to our values of sustainable business practice, growing the local foods movement and supporting our community for over 45 years. Our ideal candidate will also be committed to these goals and help us achieve them. Last year we contributed over $180,000 in donations to our local food shelves, non-profits, and discounts to low-income shoppers. We also exceeded 35% of sales from local Vermont products from over 400 Vermont Producers, that's a record 8.5 million dollars. We are thrilled to contribute to our local economy.

The Leader of Marketing, Education and Member Services reports to the General Manager and works closely with the management team to support our amazing community and members in an ever-changing landscape. Our leadership expectations include a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, while valuing integrity, flexibility, continuous learning and superior interpersonal skills.

As a leader, you are instrumental to our entire organization. You are passionate about cooperative principles and values and the key person for community engagement. In this role, your duties will involve overseeing all facets of marketing and consumer relations; providing consumer information on topics relevant to members; promoting the success of the cooperative model through education and outreach. You will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic external consumer engagement and marketing relations program that tells the story of Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op and helps to build awareness in our community, amongst member-owners, staff and the public. Collaborate closely with operations team to create branding standards, ad advertising, in-store demos and events. Oversee and coordinate all of member services including our website, community donations, advertising and consumer education.

You are in this role because you are looking for a challenge with a dynamic community. You are passionate about going above and beyond to offer stellar customer service and creatively embrace change.

To lead our Marketing, Education, and Membership Department, we want you to have:

• Excellent listening, communication, and organizational skills
• Strong leadership and community building skills
• 5 years of marketing planning experience
• Experience supervising a team
• Knowledgeable about new approaches to and developments in digital marketing
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, EMMA, and Wordpress

Our benefits package includes group health insurance, optional vision and dental insurance, flexible spending account, 3+ weeks of paid time off, paid holidays, profit sharing bonus, 401k, life insurance, paid parental leave, co-op membership, employment assistance program, and more.

Starting salary is $70,000 - 80,000 depending on experience.

To learn more about our amazing community, you may want to explore this link: https://experiencemiddlebury.com

If you would love to work in a unique organization with devoted staff, learn more and apply on our website https://middleburycoop.applicantpro.com/jobs/ Please attach a resume and letter of interest.

The Lost Meadow Land Co-op in West Corinth, VT is currently seeking new members.  We have functioned as a stable co-op for almost 30 years, but would welcome members sympathetic to our mission and values in order to replace members who are moving on.  For us this is a time of transition and renewal, one that could provide an unusual opportunity to like-minded folks.   In an age of land destruction and abuse, land co-ops offer a model of healthier land tenure.  They provide an opportunity for people to live together on a piece of land, working together to manage that land wisely and sustainably.  If this is of interest, read on.

THE LAND
 

The Co-op owns close to 600 acres of land in an unusually beautiful and protected rural area outside the small village of West Corinth.  The land is largely forested but with significant open meadows.  There are currently 6 houses on the land,  clustered so as to leave the majority of the acreage open--i.e., non-residential.   Some of the houses are off the grid; all are accessible via class 3 and 4 town roads.  Houses are well-built, attractive, and functional.  There are many woodland trails leading to high ridges with impressive views of the Green and White Mountains.  The entire property is situated within the Orange County Headwaters Project (which we helped start years ago), comprising close to 50,000 acres of undeveloped land.  In terms of land conservation, the area is unique in this part of the State.
 

OUR GOALS
 

The founding principles of a land co-op are as follows:  A) Land and housing should be affordable to people of ordinary means.   B) Dwellings should be permanent full-time residences, not rental properties, vacation homes, or speculative financial instruments.  C) The land as a whole should not be broken up and parceled out as real estate.  D) Land should be managed productively and sustainably, through a mixture of forestry and agriculture, to the greatest extent possible.  E) Cooperative living and working should underlie all activities on the land.   F) Such activities should not only benefit members but also feature an educational component that would serve as a model of responsible land tenure. 
 

OUR STRUCTURE

The Co-op owns all the land by deed.   Members own their own dwellings (either built or purchased).   A Ground Lease Agreement (GLA) gives them a site for those dwellings and defines their privileges and obligations with regard to the Co-op.    A set of Bylaws sets out the Co-op's governance--how business is conducted, how decisions are arrived at.   Decision-making is generally by consensus, but there are provisions for action when consensus cannot be reached.   (Copies of both Bylaws and GLA are available to prospective members.) 
 

MEMBERSHIP PROCESS

There is no clearly defined "process" for accepting new members other than getting to know them.   Co-op membership is a serious commitment, and the fit has to feel right for both parties.  A  trial period of a year is desirable unless that requirement is waived for prospects already well-known.  Right now there are several houses that could be made available for provisional rental leading to purchase.  There is no cost to join the Co-op, other than a commitment to the ongoing fiduciary obligations that membership entails.  Diversity of all kinds is an important value to us; we have already moved along that path and will continue to do so.   A commitment to peaceful conflict resolution is also fundamental to successful cooperative living.  We especially encourage those committed to both these values to apply.

CONTACT:   Dan (Barn) Breslaw, [email protected]

(1546) Pequea Sheds

Looking for help to make fresh Christmas wreaths and garland. Training is provided. Need to be efficient and be able to work independently. Must be able to lift 50 lb. load of brush. Duration - November to mid December (flexible 20 - 35 hours a week). Look forward to hearing from you!