JOB TITLE: Good Food Purchasing Program Analyst

REPORTS TO: Director of Data Insights

POSTED:  May 11, 2023   

DEADLINE TO APPLY: June 2, 2023

Organizational Summary:

The Center for Good Food Purchasing uses the power of procurement and partnerships to create a transparent and equitable food system that prioritizes the health and well-being of people, animals, and the environment. We do this through the nationally-networked adoption and implementation of the Good Food Purchasing Program by major institutions.

The Center, along with its national and local partners, has developed commitments from and supported a pipeline of 65 institutions (and growing) in 25 major US cities and jurisdictions to establish and interpret food purchasing practices. The Center aims to further the reach and strength of the Good Food Purchasing Program to improve the food system and increase access to healthy, high quality meals.

The Center manages the Good Food Purchasing Program, working with institutions to establish supply chain transparency from farm to fork and shift towards a values-based purchasing model. Our approach to food system change emphasizes the use of data to verify commitments that participating institutions make to the five value categories of the Good Food Purchasing Program (local economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforce, animal welfare, and nutrition), and to quantify impacts in terms of improvements to students’ diets, producer and food chain worker livelihoods, farm animal treatment, and the environment.

The analyst is an essential part of the team that produces this analysis for enrolled institutions. The analyst advises Center staff, participating institutions, and local partners in assigned cities on using data to communicate impact and inform Good Food purchasing shifts within participating institutions.

Essential Functions:

The Center for Good Food Purchasing seeks a highly motivated and organized individual with a passion for leveraging the power of data to advance food policy and food justice, and a basic understanding of food system issues. Individuals with a strong interest in and/or understanding of how large-scale food procurement can drive increased food system equity and improved conditions along the food supply chain are preferred.

With direction and supervision from the Director of Data Insights, the Good Food Purchasing Program Analyst will:

  • Analyze institutional food purchasing data, verify compliance with the Good Food Purchasing Standards (i.e. baseline assessment) and track progress toward multi-year benchmarks (i.e. annual report) for institutions enrolled in the Good Food Purchasing Program.
  • Conduct in-depth supply chain research using a range of primary and secondary resources to assess how enrolled institutions’ suppliers align with the Center’s five core values.
  • Create visually compelling reports with graphics to communicate assessment findings.
  • Orient new and potential institutions to data collection processes and collect, review and prepare data for Good Food Purchasing assessments, and present assessment findings to institutions.
  • Advise the Director of Institutional Impact on individual and collective assessment results to inform institutions on strategies to shift sourcing, improve reporting, and increase Program scores and performance.
  • Produce aggregate analyses and reports to inform institutional collective action.
  • Respond to data inquiries and build technical assistance tools that help institutions and their supply chain partners with robust data collection and improving systems for transparency.
  • Assist with production of impact reports that highlight individual institution accomplishments, trends, and aggregate impacts by participating institutions.
  • Support the development of the Program’s technical infrastructure, including managing and maintaining databases and assisting with process optimization.
  • Advise on additional data-driven assessments with Center staff and partners as needed.
  • Help orient new analysts and contract analysts to the assessment process.
  • Help advise interns on special projects related to the position’s essential functions.
  • Contribute to the overall strategic direction of the organization.
  • Assist with other functions as needed (may include development, branding and communications, event planning, administrative functions, etc.).

Required Qualifications:

  • Excellent quantitative analysis and qualitative research skills and experience, as well as the ability to organize and communicate research findings
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to explain complex concepts in a straightforward manner
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office suite and excellent facility with Excel
  • Detail-oriented with strong appreciation for the ways in which high quality data and analysis can be a powerful tool for policy change
  • Demonstrated commitment to and/or experience working in areas that contribute to social, environmental, racial and economic equity
  • Collaborative, team player with experience working with a variety of stakeholders
  • Ability to work independently and effectively in a fast-paced environment
  • Experience managing multiple tasks and meeting deadlines
  • Ability to work with a remote team, including regular access to phone, internet, and video conferencing

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Experience with data management and/or programming, including data querying and cleaning using PowerQuery, SQL, Python or equivalent languages
  • Experience with descriptive analytics (e.g. trend analysis)
  • Experience with data visualization tools (e.g. Tableau, PowerBI)
  • Experience with graphic design, including the Adobe suite or comparable software
  • Experience in working with large-scale or institutional food procurement or food supply chains and an understanding of the challenges in the current food system

This is a remote position that will require occasional travel. The Center for Good Food Purchasing is based in the Bay Area of California.

Salary and Benefits:

The Good Food Purchasing Program Analyst is a full-time, exempt position with a starting salary of $65,000. The Center for Good Food Purchasing, a fiscally-sponsored project of Community Partners, also offers competitive benefits (i.e. medical/dental/vision, disability/life insurance, vacation, and a 403(b) plan with employer match after two years).

Community Partners® is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as women, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. In addition, the organization will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

How to Apply:

Applications should be submitted by June 2, 2023, to info@goodfoodpurchasing.org with “Good Food Purchasing Analyst” and your name in the subject line. Please include as a single PDF attachment of the following: (1) a cover letter that discusses relevant experience and (2) a resume.

If selected for an interview, the interview process will consist of one initial video interview (30 minutes), with the potential for a second video interview (45 minutes) alongside a data analysis assignment.

You will receive a response within 2 weeks of submission of the application due date. No calls or emails please.