CALS- Regional Farm to School Coordinator- Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)

Extension Support Specialist II- Farm to School Local Procurement Specialist, Capital Region

The Opportunity

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all.  Cornell Core values 

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.    

While position responsibilities vary greatly, the Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Success are foundational to what is expected of every employee and leader working at Cornell.  These skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success; Leadership Skills for Success

About the College

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) provides the educational outreach functions for Cornell University’s role as New York State’s Land Grant University. Programmatically, Cornell Cooperative Extension connects the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Human Ecology (CHE) with 55 off-campus Associations, Integrated Pest Management, New York State Sea Grant, Area Specialists, and CCE New York City. 

Harvest New York is an innovative Cornell Cooperative Extension team that focuses on workforce development and business expansion projects that increase profitability and investment in key sectors of New York’s agriculture industry throughout the State. Harvest New York Specialists respond to emerging issues and develop new opportunities using the research of Cornell University (both in Geneva at Cornell AgriTech and the Ithaca campus), the resources of Cornell Cooperative Extension and relationships with partnering organizations statewide. The four project areas covered by Harvest New York are: Food and Beverage Systems, Urban Agriculture, Climate Resiliency, and Emerging Crops.

The position is located within the department of Cornell Cooperative Extension. The Cornell Farm to School Procurement Specialist leads the development, delivery, assessment, and evaluation of regional programs that increase the procurement of New York food products by school food authorities in the Capital Region. This position designs and implements evidence-informed strategies that strengthen local purchasing practices, translates policy and research into practical procurement tools, and support school food authorities and supply-chain partners in navigating New York’s institutional food landscape.

The role includes continuously assessing barriers to increased local procurement and designing responsive Extension strategies to address those challenges through targeted technical assistance, training, and systems support. In addition to core program delivery, the Procurement Specialist supports statewide initiatives that advance local procurement at scale, builds and sustains relationships with allied partners across agriculture and food systems, and contributes to the evaluation and continuous improvement of programmatic and communications efforts. The role plays a key part in advancing New York’s Farm to School goals through coordinated implementation, partnership development, and data-informed learning.

This is a full-time position at 100% FTE. This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 3 days per week and on-site 2 day per week in an office throughout the state of New York. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke, or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

What We Need

• Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Nutrition, Food Studies, Hospitality Management, or closely related field and 2+ years of relevant work experience in food systems such as food processing, food procurement, or food supply chain management, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to initiate, plan, organize, implement, teach, and evaluate informal educational programs.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to work with diverse audiences in group and one-on-one settings.

• Ability to work effectively with advisory boards and committees, community-based organizations, and funding partners.

• Strong leadership and teamwork skills.

• Proven organizational and time-management skills.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and/or weekends, as appropriate.

• Must be able to meet the travel requirements of the position, including having reliable transportation or having and maintaining a valid New York State driver’s license.

• Must exercise sound and ethical judgment when acting on behalf of the University.

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and well-being.

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

• Proficiency with Windows-based software, including the internet and Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.

• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities.    

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members. 

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

• Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Food Studies, Hospitality Management, or closely related field

• 3+ years of experience in food systems such as food processing, food procurement, or food supply chain management.

• Knowledge of Farm to School programs.

• Successful experience obtaining new funding, including grants and industry support.

• Experience working with farmers and/or schools, educating children in multiple settings, and procuring foods.

• Experience developing and leading regional trainings on various farm-to-school-related topic areas.

• Appreciation of agriculture as a business and as a lifestyle.

• Ability to learn the philosophy, objectives, and operation of an informal education system such as Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Rewards and Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.

• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:

Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.

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Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.