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Job Description: FoodHub Sales and Marketing Director

Summary

The Sales & Marketing Director is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic and tactical sales and marketing plan that will result in achieving aggressive FoodHub membership goals. The Sales & Marketing Director is a key member of the FoodHub project team as well as the Ecotrust Food & Farms program team.

FoodHub

FoodHub is a new online marketplace and directory that makes it easy and efficient for regional food buyers and sellers to find each other, connect and do business. Launched in February 2010, FoodHub is quickly becoming the leading resource for regional food trade in the Pacific Northwest. FoodHub is a project of the nonprofit Ecotrust; more information is available online at food-hub.org and ecotrust.org/foodfarms.

Responsibilities

Duties are varied and will include, among others:

• Develop and implement strategic and tactical sales and marketing plans; oversee all necessary activities to achieve membership goals.
• In addition to responsibilities related to recruiting new members, oversee efforts designed to retain existing memberships from year to year.
• Recruit, train and manage additional staff to help achieve membership goals, such as FoodHub Ambassadors and commissioned sales representatives.
• Maintain and service existing key relationships and develop new strategic partnerships to further FoodHub’s goals.
• Define and develop key messages and identify priority target audiences.

• Working in partnership with creative staff, oversee creation of all marketing and outreach materials and maintain brand cohesion across multiple platforms.
• Working in partnership with public relations staff, develop story concepts and generate earned media to support membership goals.
• Serve as a key voice of FoodHub, contributing to FoodHub social media such as Facebook, Twitter, newsletters and FoodHub’s online “News” section
• Act as one of several FoodHub spokespeople, delivering polished and professional presentations.
• In collecting data on members, inquiries, conversions and website activity, review existing data collection systems, suggest and implement improvements. Provide timely and reliable sales reports, analyzing past performance and proposing adjustments as necessary.
• Work in partnership with the FoodHub team to develop ideas for new services or features, market expansion and additional revenue generating opportunities.

Requirements

This position requires an experienced professional adept both at developing and executing sales and marketing plans. This is a hands-on position in a dynamic and fast paced environment. Requirements include:

• Proven track record of designing and executing marketing campaigns and managing sales teams;
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results on a limited budget and short time frame;

• Experience promoting online programs and services;
• Strong public speaking and written communication skills;
• Ten or more years experience in a marketing or sales position, preferably in food and agriculture or online environments;
• A self-starter with strong initiative and ability to work independently as well as manage and motivate a team;
• Results-oriented, hard working, long-term professional with a willingness to travel within the region and occasionally nationally.
• Management experience with hiring/firing and supervising a small staff, budgeting, fundraising, writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills.

The position is full-time, based in Portland, Oregon. Salary is staggered and will increase as sales and marketing goals are achieved. Ecotrust offers an excellent benefits package including retirement plan match, medical and dental insurance, flexible spending account, life insurance and disability coverage.

To apply, complete the application on the Ecotrust website and forward with a cover letter and resume to: email with FoodHub Sales & Marketing Director in the subject line by June 30, 2010.

Phone inquiries are politely declined.

Area Businesses Aim to Seed a New Crop of FoodHub Members

Discounts on Annual Registration Fee Now Available for Northwest Food Buyers and Sellers

PORTLAND, Ore. — June 10, 2010 – With a desire to sustain and regionalize the Northwest food economy, ten regional businesses are generously underwriting portions of an annual FoodHub membership fee for hundreds of potential users.

FoodHub is a new online marketplace and directory that helps regional food buyers and sellers find each other, connect and do business. A social venture initiative of the nonprofit Ecotrust, FoodHub is designed to increase food trade in the Pacific Northwest.  It is the only network of its kind that accommodates food producers and food buyers of every scale and production type across such a significant geographic range.

To incentivize Northwest farmers, ranchers, fishermen and food buyers of all kinds to join FoodHub now, ten diverse entities from the region’s food and farming community have brought discounts, ranging from 20 to 80 percent off the annual $100 membership fee, to the table.

“The strength of FoodHub lies in the connections made possible by a robust and active network of buyers and sellers,” said Deborah Kane, vice president of Ecotrust’s Food and Farms program and creator of FoodHub.  “Our partners are applauding the ease and efficiency that FoodHub brings to the process of sourcing and moving more regional food through the supply chain.  They want to make joining and using FoodHub accessible for everyone, so they’re dangling a carrot that’s too sweet to resist.”

Select discounts are limited time offers, so food buyers and sellers are encouraged to act now by visiting www.food-hub.org.

• THRIVE (The Rogue Initiative for a Vital Economy): THRIVE members receive a 20 percent discount now through June 30, 2010.

• Oregon Tilth: Operations certified organic by Oregon Tilth receive a 20 percent discount now through June 30, 2010.

• Organic Valley: To encourage food buyers at public K-12 schools, school districts and child care centers to source locally produced foods, the 51 Northwest dairy families of Organic Valley cooperative are offering to cover 80 percent of the annual FoodHub membership fee through June 30, 2010.

• Food Services of America (FSA): FSA will underwrite 50 percent of the FoodHub membership fee for the first 100 FSA restaurant or school customers to register.

• SYSCO: SYSCO will underwrite 50 percent of the FoodHub membership fee for any produce farmer in Oregon and Washington up to 100 producers.

• Eugene Water and Electric Board: Food buyers and sellers located in the McKenzie River watershed qualify for a 75 percent discount now through April 2011, thanks to a grant made to the Eugene Water and Electric Board from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Oregon Governor’s Fund for the Environment.

• Friends of French Prairie: Members receive an unrestricted offer of 20 percent off the annual FoodHub membership fee.

• Gorge Grown Network: Farmers and food buyers in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties in Oregon or Klickitat and Skamania counties in Washington qualify for a 20 percent discount, now through May 30, 2011.

Additional offers will soon be announced thanks to partnerships with New Seasons Market and the Oregon Farm Bureau.

About Ecotrust’s Food & Farms Program

FoodHub is an Ecotrust project made possible by the generous support and contributions of many. Ecotrust’s mission is to inspire fresh thinking that creates social equity, economic opportunity, and environmental well being. With regard to our Food & Farms program, we improve public understanding of agriculture and the challenges it faces and increase the market share of regionally grown, processed, and manufactured foods. Whether by introducing a farmer to a chef or a food processor to an institutional buyer, Ecotrust is a trusted “benevolent broker” that has been making connections between food buyers and sellers in the Pacific Northwest for a decade. Learn more at ecotrust.org.

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WASHINGTON, May 25, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released a preliminary study revealing existing gaps in the regional food systems regarding the availability of slaughter facilities to small meat and poultry producers. The study by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is a first attempt to identify areas in the U.S. where small livestock and poultry producers are concentrated but may not have access to a nearby slaughter facility.

The data creates a county-by-county view of the continental United States, indicating the concentration of small farms raising cattle, hogs and pigs, and chicken, and also noting the location of nearby state slaughter facilities and small and very small federal slaughter establishments. The USDA defines “small slaughter establishments” as those having between 10 and 499 employees, and “very small slaughter establishments” as having fewer than 10 employees or less than $2.5 million in annual sales. For the purpose of the study, small livestock and poultry producers are those who have annual sales of $250,000 or less.

The presentation “Slaughter Availability to Small Livestock and Poultry Producers – Maps” may be found at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/KYF_maps-050410_FOR_RELEASE.pdf.

Inquiries can be made to the Small Plant Help-Desk by toll-free telephone or by e-mail. The Help-Desk is open from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. To speak to a staff specialist during this time, call 1-877-FSISHelp (1-877-374-7435). Customers may also contact the help-desk by e-mail at InfoSource@fsis.usda.gov.

For information on loan and grant programs that can be used to support local food initiatives, including initiatives involving new or existing meat and poultry slaughter facilities, contact USDA Rural Development (RD) at 1-800-670-6553. For information on RD programs on the Internet, go to www.rurdev.usda.gov. Or, visit your nearest USDA Rural Development Office.

What does an online matchmaking service for Northwest food buyers and sellers look like? How is it being used? What can it do to help you make business connections? Two upcoming FoodHub orientations will provide answers to these and other questions.

Already a FoodHub member? Perfect! These orientations will help you make the most of FoodHub.

Not yet a member? You can sign up onsite at the orientation. Winners of our raffle drawing will earn membership discounts.

We’re looking forward to connecting with you in person – food buyers and sellers alike. Grab a friend or neighbor and join us:

Monday, May 10 — Seattle, WA

Time: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Place: Palace Ballroom, 2100 5th Ave.

Kindly RSVP by May 7 to Susan Wilch, FoodHub Member Services: 503-467-0816 or susan@food-hub.org

Thursday, May 20 — Enterprise, OR

Kindly RSVP to Sarah Miller of the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District by May 17 for the location and time: 541-426-3598 or saramiller@neoedd.org

Don’t live near Seattle or Enterprise? Let your friends who do know about these trainings. Want us to come and give an orientation in your area? Let us know. We’d love to connect with you in person.

We just trained our first set of FoodHub Ambassadors!

It’s like cloning without the messy ethical issues. Now there are four times the number of people out in the field representing FoodHub to food buyers and sellers.

Please join us in welcoming Gorge Grown Network, Columbia Blue Mountain RC&D, Friends of French Prairie, Good Company (representing Eugene Water & Electric Board), and Willamette Farm & Food Coalition to the team.

What’s a FoodHub Ambassador?
FoodHub Ambassadors represent FoodHub either in a specific geographic area or to a particular category of food buyer or seller.

Should you or your organization become a FoodHub Ambassador?
Does your organizational work plan already include a mandate to connect food buyers and sellers? Including FoodHub in your on-going activities may help you reach your goals. Do you represent a university department, extension agency, or economic development bureau already tasked with helping producers strengthen their marketing capacity? FoodHub can be another tool in your tool belt. Are you someone that already interacts with a wide variety of food buyers and/or sellers and hopes to see them succeed? FoodHub could strengthen your efforts.

Please join us! Learn more about the FoodHub Ambassador program and how to apply here.

Please apply or be in touch with us by Thursday, May 6th. The next two FoodHub Ambassador trainings are scheduled for:

• Seattle, WA: Tuesday, May 11th, 1 – 3:30 pm
• Enterprise, OR: Wednesday, May 19th, 1 – 3:30 pm

Ecotrust seeks to recruit several “Ambassadors” to represent FoodHub in the greater Northwest.

FoodHub Ambassadors represent FoodHub within a specific community, help increase the number of food buyers and sellers who are registered on FoodHub, solicit feedback, and provide suggestions for new features and improvements to maximize FoodHub’s impact. FoodHub Ambassadors are a critical part of the FoodHub team.

Who should apply?

We encourage gregarious, well-respected individuals with extensive networks already in place to apply. Ecotrust is especially interested in hearing from “unlikely” partners.

Does your organizational work plan already include a mandate to connect food buyers and sellers? Perhaps including FoodHub in your on-going activities would help you reach your goals. Do you represent a university department or extension agency or economic development bureau already tasked with helping producers strengthen their marketing capacity? Perhaps FoodHub could be another tool in your tool belt. Are you someone that already interacts with a wide variety of food buyers and/or sellers and hopes to see them succeed? FoodHub could strengthen your efforts.

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Q&A with Sustainable Business Oregon

Portland’s Deborah Kane, vice president of the food and farms program with Ecotrust, was named by Fast Company magazine as one of the 10 most inspiring people in sustainable food, alongside such names as Michael Pollan, author of the Omnivore’s Dilemma, Jamie Oliver, of the television program The Naked Chef, and Robert Kenner, the director of the documentary Food Inc.

Kane was honored in part because of her work on FoodHub, the online match-making service that connects chefs with food producers, that was launched by Ecotrust earlier this year.

Sustainable Business Oregon checked in with Kane to talk about the Fast Company list and to catch up on FoodHub:

Q: How has this honor changed your work week?

A: It has made me spend a lot of time thinking about my equally deserving colleagues and peers; in some cases it’s provided the perfect excuse for some fun trips down memory lane. I’ve been fortunate to work with hundreds of colleagues who just as easily could have been on this “top 10” list.

Q: Which of your co-honorees would you most like to share a meal with?

A: Jamie Oliver, no question. A lot of what we do at Ecotrust involves trying to change the school food landscape. Jamie once did a video in which he made, from scratch, chicken nuggets with school kids. I think he was following the ingredient list from one of the major food processing companies that supply chicken nuggets to schools. Having seen what goes into some school chicken nuggets, every kid in the room opted for the baked chicken breast. I thought it was brilliant and I’d love to get to tell him that in person.

Q: How are things going with FoodHub since the launch?

Continues… Find the complete Q&A at www.SustainableBusinessOregon.com.