POSTED - September 4, 2009

U.S. SOCIAL FORUM JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
The US Social Forum is a movement-building process to build a powerful multi-racial, multi-sectoral, inter-generational, diverse, inclusive, internationalist movement that transforms this country and changes history. It will be happening June 22-26, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The USSF is a large, mostly volunteer effort with stakeholders all across the country and several moving parts.

There are job openings for several positions, including National Communications Coordinator, Technology Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, and Logistics Coordinator. Deadline to apply is September 11, 2009.

RUTLAND FOOD CO-OP SEEKING A DYNAMIC GENERAL MANAGER
 
Busy, growing food co-operative, located in the heart of downtown Rutland, seeks a dynamic General Manager to lead our thriving community-owned business. A successful candidate must have proven leadership skills, as well as a solid grounding in business and fiscal management.
 
Responsibilities include personnel; financial management; marketing, outreach & education; facilities; operations; collaboration with community; customer service; working with membership and the Board of Directors.
 
This position is full time and salaried.
 
If you have a passion for local, sustainable food, culture, and community and have management and leadership experience, please send cover letter and resume to:
 
Rutland Natural Food Market: The Co-op
Attn: General Manager Search Committee
77 Wales Street
Rutland, VT 05701

POSTED - September 3, 2008

JOB POSTING: MASSACHUSETTS WOODLANDS COOPERATIVE

Position: Executive Director
Announcement Date: August 25, 2008

Position Description:
The Executive Director provides leadership and organizational development for an 8-year old forest landowner cooperative that maintains the environment and character of Massachusetts through the protection, enhancement and careful economic development of the region’s forests. The Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative (MWC) currently has 57 members with over 12,000 acres of forested property in western Massachusetts. The Cooperative works in close collaboration with the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute, a non profit research and educational organization. MWC increases the knowledge and bargaining power of individual landowners by: (1) adhering to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification principles; (2) responding to the needs of Cooperative members; (3) organizing the harvesting, production and marketing of value-added products from member forests; and (4) developing the Cooperative into a profitable business.

MWC’s revenue is currently a mix of government grants and profits earned from sales. The Cooperative has sufficient revenue to operate at break-even through mid-2009. During late 2008 and early 2009 the MWC will undertake a thorough market research and business planning process to determine: 1) how MWC can become financially self-sustaining through the sales of value-added wood products; 2) the array of services the Cooperative can and should offer its members and constituents; and 3) the optimal organizational structure and staffing necessary to achieve MWC goals. This grant-funded position is budgeted to be half-time, with potential expansion to full-time work. Continuance beyond mid-2009 is dependent upon a number of factors, including the award of new grants (applications are now pending) and the results of the market research, business planning and feasibility assessment.

 Authority and Responsibility:
The Executive Director reports to and receives direction from the Cooperative Board of Directors.  S/he is expected to: (1) be a catalyst for Coop improvements in efficiency and effectiveness; (2) demonstrate a commitment to the Cooperative’s values and principles; (3) use a collaborative, team approach in working with others; and (4) be knowledgeable about all or many of the following subjects:   

- Cooperative business models, including member/owner structures and good governance practices
- For-profit operations, including administration, finance, and human resources
- Non-profit operations, including grants management, public education, and constituency building
- The Massachusetts forested landscape
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification and the procedures involved in sustainable forestry
- Commonwealth laws, regulations and programs that effect forestry
- Logging and primary and secondary processing of wood products
- Forestry related businesses & individuals in western Massachusetts
- Processing, marketing and sales of value-added forest products
- Trends in the development of forest landowner cooperatives

Scope of Work:
The Executive Director will oversee a range of current and new business development activities, including:

Maintain Current Operations:
- Ensure sound business and financial management practices
- Maintain compliance with state and federal laws
- Maintain FSC certification; arrange for periodic audit and maintain chain of custody records
- Ensure that any harvesting, processing, marketing and sales of wood is implemented to realize financial profit (in addition to realizing forest stewardship goals)
- Supervise expenditure of grants and ensure appropriate use of grant funding
- Supervise maintenance and growth of MWC information technology (e.g., database, website, email, etc.)
- Supervise contract bookkeeper and liaise with accounting firm
- Ensure the timely preparation of tax returns and other business filings
- Convene regular meetings of the MWC membership, board of directors and committees; prepare meeting materials and ensure adequate follow-up to meetings (including dissemination of minutes)
- Ensure regular and accurate reporting to MWC constituents (funders, members, committees, board)

Business Planning & Feasibility Analysis:
- Lead MWC’s near term business planning and sustainability assessment
- Procure services of business service providers and consultants (market research, business planning, timber harvest, processing, sales agents). Where applicable, ensure that consultants meet criteria for grant-funded projects. Monitor performance of consultants to ensure timely completion and adherence to scopes of work.
- Keep in contact with like organizations to learn from their success and failure

Member and Constituent Stewardship:
- Promote the vision and values of MWC at the local and state level and in the New England region
- Maintain relationships with existing members; provide education, technical assistance, and support
- Prospect for and recruit new members
- Inform members about upcoming events and topics of interest
- Build and maintain relationships with a network of colleagues, allies and supporters

Staff Support and Supervision:
- Supervise existing staff (program manager, marketing manager and sales manager); create and modifyworkplans, monitor performance, and provide support and professional development as needed
- In context of business feasibility assessment, modify existing staff positions and/or recruit new staff or service providers as needed

Skills and Experience:
The Executive Director must be a credible and effective leader and must have a proven track record in land-based business operations. This position requires the ability to navigate through uncharted territory while also attending to daily business operations. The Executive Director must possess both entrepreneurial spirit and attention to detail. The Executive Director will have the following characteristics:

- Collaborative work style
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective problem solving/decision making teams
- Effectiveness in resolving or reducing conflict
- Effective written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Skill in organizing and managing his/her own and others’ time wisely
- A realistic view of his/her own strengths and weaknesses
- Ability to cope with stress and tolerate uncertainty
- Dependable foresight and the ability to predict outcomes accurately
- Persistence and assertiveness in demonstrating personal convictions
- Understanding of information technology and proficiency with computers

Application Requirements:
Please send resume, a cover letter including salary history and current requirements, and contact information for three references to the attention of Suzanne Webber via e-mail toedsearch@masswoodlands.coop. Application documents must be submitted in PDF or MS Word format.
In your cover letter, please tell us why you are best positioned to help the Cooperative realize its full potential, how you would approach the near term scope of work, and why you want this job.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. We encourage applications before September 15, 2008and will accept them until the position is filled. The Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage and value a diverse work force.