Planning & Research Associate II; Institutional Market Development Coordinator - Local Food Procurement

Planning And Research Associate II

Do you have a passion for connecting farms and agricultural producers to local food systems? Would you like to help the State of Maine achieve a higher goal to procure more locally sourced food and food products that are grown in Maine to be used by state institutions such as hospitals, higher education, and correctional facilities? If so, this job may be your future!

Institutional Market Development Coordinator - Local Food Procurement

Opening Date:
July 02, 2026

Closing Date:
End of the day July 17, 2026

Location:

Augusta

Position Number:

Position Type:
Permanent Full Time/Year-Round

Class Code: 0040

Grade: 23 (Professional/Technical Unit)

Salary: $23.69 - $33.24 Per Hour

Interested applicants need to submit a Direct Hire Application, along with a Cover Letter, and a detailed Resume.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is recruiting to fill a full-time Institutional Market Development Coordinator (Planning and Research Associate II) position with the Division of Agricultural Resource Development at its Augusta headquarters. Remote work options are available subject to management approval.

This professional position plays a key role in developing and implementing a Local Foods Procurement Program to increase the use of local food by state-funded institutions and other entities (such as hospitals, higher education, and correctional facilities). This position will assist in developing connections between state purchasers, Maine food producers, distributors, and other institutional stakeholders. The selected candidate will establish guidelines to assist state institutions in assessing their ability to procure local foods, provide department education and outreach to farms, farmers markets, community supported agriculture and seafood providers to increase the sale and purchase of local foods by state institutions and food supplement programs.

Work involves assessing baseline data and establishing objectives; developing rules, policies, and procedures; recruiting participation in and maintaining a database of wholesale producers; developing written reports and online media; and collecting, analyzing, and reporting data outcomes. This position is situated within the Department's Division of Agricultural Resource Development (ARD) which deploys several statewide programs benefiting farms, food producers, and the general public.

The position provides administrative support to accomplish Division goals and objectives.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities required:

• Direct experience in local food system work with nonprofits or municipal or state government.
• Robust project management experience and ability to action plan and achieve benchmarks.
• Experience in convening stakeholder groups and helping such groups achieve consensus.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex projects under deadline.
• Experience developing policies for an organization or network.
• High degree of comfort with public speaking.
• Creativity ability to write copy, create graphics, and develop basic marketing tools.
• Highly organized written communication skills, including succinctly yet thoroughly conveying program outcomes and objectives in written reports.

Minimum Qualifications:

An eight (8) year combination of education, training, and/or experience providing a knowledge of planning and research principles, practices, and techniques.

Preferences:
Excellent organizational, writing, communication, teaming, problem-solving, consensus-building, and process skills are essential. Those with a bachelor's degree in sustainable agriculture, food systems, natural resources management, public policy, or a directly related field and four (4) years of professional experience in food systems management, supply chain or market development coordination, and/or related field. A master's degree would be helpful. Related training and experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Preference will also be given to those with the following:

• Knowledge of grant administration processes and inter-organizational coordination
• Familiarity with federal funding processes and program…