About HDFFA: The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA) is a non-profit whose mission is to support a healthy and thriving food and farm network in Central Oregon through education, collaboration and inclusivity.  We meet our mission by fostering relationships between producers (farmers, ranchers and food businesses) and consumers, increasing awareness of and access to food from our region, and cultivating community participation with local food. We serve farmers, ranchers, food businesses, nonprofits and underserved families in the high desert region of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. We believe everyone deserves good food.

About this Opportunity:

HDFFA is seeking a Communications & Events Manager to share HDFFA’s story in an engaging and compelling manner. In this role, you will ensure newsworthy happenings and events are communicated in a clear and engaging manner through social media, newsletters, emails, press releases, community meetings, and other mediums. You will serve as the lead on maintaining our brand identity. You will help successfully plan HDFFA events like SOUPer Bowl, the annual Directory launch, tastings, Farm-to-Table dinners, Bingo, pint nights, and manage and staff HDFFA’s table at community events. You will oversee the annual High Desert Food and Farm Directory to produce this treasured resource and associated outreach to Partners and others. You will effectively market HDFFA’s merchandise and create new Taste Central Oregon Gift Boxes and seek other opportunities for additional earned income potential. You will design compelling pieces (flyers, brochures, social media) using Canva and other design software. You will update and maintain HDFFA’s websites (hdffa.org and tastecentraloregon.org) as well as maintain a donor database and manage acknowledgements.

Who we are looking for:

You are excited to support HDFFA’s mission through sharing our work, engaging with the community, and working collaboratively with other HDFFA staff. You enjoy engaging with the public, being organized and detail-oriented, and self-directed.

Essential Position Duties:

Marketing & Communications

• Crafts and shares HDFFA’s message through social media, website updates, blogs and overseeing the monthly newsletter.
• Develops and implements strategies to increase social media follower acquisition, including targeted campaigns, engagement initiatives and content optimization to expand audience reach and brand awareness.
• Consistently reviews websites to improve and enhance user experience and find ways to improve our messaging. Drafts web copy and ensures the accuracy, timeliness and consistency of postings.
• Audits web pages and social media accounts for traffic, corrections and analyzes data to improve and modify messaging.
• Supports staff to ensure unified messaging that is consistent with branding
• Supports fundraising needs by leading communications for campaigns for annual end-of-year donations, SOUPer Bowl, World Food Day, and others.
• Drafts engaging content for HDFFA’s e-blasts and newsletters and ensures timely distribution to correct distribution lists/audiences via Constant Contact
• Drafts and distributes press releases for events, and maintains a current press list
• Responds to inquiries on HDFFA phone, info@hdffa and social media messaging on a timely and informative basis, sharing information with other staff as appropriate
• Creates events on social media and website platforms and helps create and execute marketing plan to reach target audiences
• Manages volunteer recruitment, engagement, activities, and appreciation.
• Maintains donor database and generates donor acknowledgements.

Events

• Leads planning and executing of HDFFA’s fundraising and public facing events including annual SOUPer Bowl, our Farm-to-Table Dinner Series, donor events, film screenings, etc) and supports program staff as needed with Farmer-Chef mixers and other public events.
• Works with Program staff to improve and enhance messaging at market booths including developing signage and other booth visuals, talking points, etc.
• Manages the messaging of events including: preparing evites (as appropriate), announcement emails, press releases, connecting with partners to share the event, and event postings on internal and external websites and social media.
• Plans, oversees, and staffs HDFFA’s booth at community events (Fairs, Conferences, Latino Fest, tabling events connected to fundraisers like Pint Nights, etc.)
• Oversees event logistics including: Planning, logistics coordination, connecting with vendors, purchasing supplies, set-up/breakdown, tabling and/or arranging staffing to table events

Merchandise

• Creates new and innovative Taste Central Oregon Gift Boxes and seeks new ways to market them to the community
• Manages our on-line store and fulfills orders in a timely manner- Operations does the fulfillment part
• Launches new events (e.g. Farm-to-Table Dinners) on our on-line store as needed and manages inventory and marketing
• Seeks other creative ways to generate income that aligns with our mission and connects to the community.

Graphic Design

• Creates, updates, and manages standardized templates for staff reports and educational materials to ensure consistency, clarity, and efficiency in organizational documentation
• Creates branded and compelling print and electronic collateral such as flyers, brochures, shareable images, annual report, posters
• Manages purchase and coordination of advertising for HDFFA.

Other

• Google Drive file management, including organizing photos from different sources.
• Coordinates monthly staff input to the Executive Director report and newsletter
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and minimum 3 years experience in communications/marketing work as well as nonprofit experience.. They will possess excellent organizing, writing, and public relations skills and be self-motivated and able to work as a team. Must have experience and strong skills in graphic design, website management, creating and managing social media campaigns, and planning and executing events. Must have administrative and management skills including use of Microsoft Office and Google (gmail, docs and Drive) and knowledge of or willingness to learn online programs and applications (Canva, Little Green Light, etc). Ability to lift 50 pounds safely and stand for 4–5 hours. This includes loading and unloading market booth items (including tent and table), the ability to set up a 10×10 tent and tabling supplies.

Some evening and weekend hours will occur based on the event schedule.  The position is a hybrid position, with some tasks required to be performed in our Bend office or in area locations to support events..

Compensation, Benefits, and Time Commitment

This is a full-time position. Starting salary: $26/hour.

Benefits include:

• Health and vision insurance (80% covered by HDFFA) after 30 days of employment
• Dental insurance (50% covered by HDFFA) after 30 days of employment
• Generous paid time off including: 15 vacation days, 10 paid holidays, and 5 sick days
• Fully vested SIMPLE IRA contribution of 2% after 90 days of employment
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Canopy Wellness
• Annual cost of living increase
• Professional development opportunities
• Amazing team to work with!

Full-time equivalent of 40 hours per week, some evening and weekend hours will occur. The position is a hybrid position, working in our Bend office with at-home options. Travel to represent HDFFA at events will be required (intermittent) with a personal vehicle; travel will be reimbursed at the IRS standard rate. This position may occasionally involve driving a company vehicle. The candidate must possess a current, valid, Oregon driver’s license. In addition, the candidate will need to provide a 5-year motor vehicle record obtained through DMV2U – Login (oregon.gov) that includes no license suspensions or major violations in the last five years.

Commitment to Inclusive Hiring Practices

The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, which helps build the competencies, knowledge, and skills that translate directly to our openings. If you are excited about this opportunity but are unsure if your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application and how your talents and experience can bring value to this role.

HDFFA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.