The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment – Division of Food Connect is seeking an Ohio Valley Grain Exchange (OVGE) Manager to support its mission of serving farmers, food producers, students, and consumers by cultivating creative strategies and partnerships to support a vibrant, healthy, and equitable local food economy.

The manager is responsible for providing strategic direction, operations, and success, helping guide and shape the organization’s long-term strategic direction and ambitions to become an information hub for the community most dependent on grain. For the first year, the manager will be an employee of the University of Kentucky and The Food Connection at UK. The OVGE is a new organization, and this is a new position, therefore the job responsibilities of the director will entail deep and thorough study of sustainable value chains along with grant writing, planning and systems thinking. Specifically, the incumbent will be charged with analyzing the possible organizational models best suited to OVGE: Is it appropriate or desirable to become an independent entity such as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a non-profit 501©(3), and if so does OVGE need a fiscal agent? Or should OVGE seek a permanent home within an established organization? The incumbent will need to identify funding sources and grant opportunities to pay their salary and benefits and to enable programmatic activities to carry the organization forward.

Additional duties include facilitating the OVGE steering committee and will oversee the Annual Event Planning process, serve as spokesperson for OVGE at public events and run strategic planning task force meetings and calls. The manager will also:

•  develop and enhance partnerships,
•  lead fundraising efforts
•  build non-cash capacity (in kind, volunteers, etc.)
•  regularly engage with working group leaders and working groups to track activities
•  make connections across groups

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment fosters a supportive workplace with professional development opportunities, including a formal mentoring program and staff development fund.

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