Outreach Coordinator

At Common Ground Food Cooperative, we support local farmers & producers. We are here to serve the local CU area by providing nutritious groceries, house-made delights, and natural products for body & home. We strive to create a place for all our neighbors to gather & learn. We believe that good people and good food combined with hard work and care for community can bring great things to us all.

Common Ground isn't your average employer: we provide competitive wages and benefits, a great work environment, and plenty of opportunity for growth. You can make a difference here. 

Common Ground offers:

• 3+ weeks paid time off for all employees (4+ weeks after 2 years service)
• Sick pay for all employees
• Staff discount for you and 2 others 
• Employee charge account
• Medical, Dental, & Vision benefits
• Life Insurance (Voluntary additional coverage also available)
• Illness and Accident insurance
• Sustainable transportation incentive program
• Retirement Simple IRA & company matching
• Relaxed dress code
• Opportunity for advancement
• Employee referral program
• Employee assistance programs
• Employees included in Policy and Decisions

Common Ground's first and most important End is "The Co-op is the center of an inclusive and vibrant community."  Everyone is welcome here. What this looks like for us regarding hiring: we do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. 

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Offers consistent, fair, and respectful customer interactions to ensure satisfied shoppers and encourage repeat customer traffic.
• Projects a helpful, approachable manner – smiling, eye contact, open posture, greeting nearby shoppers. Stops tasks to help a customer with full attention.
• Uses knowledge of body language and cues, along with talking to customers to understand and provide the desired level of personal service.
• Answers all phone calls within 3 rings.
• Understands and communicates the particulars of ownership to shoppers and staff alike.
• Looks at the sales floor from the perspective of the customer to ensure shelves are full and inviting.

COOPERATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively helps create an environment that is inclusive, safe, and respectful for everyone who works and shops at the co-op.
• Knows and promotes the cooperative principles and our Ends.
• Speaks positively and respectfully to and about coworkers, customers, local businesses, farms, and vendors.
• Operates with a sense of teamwork in daily tasks; approaches all things with solution-oriented thinking. Exhibits calmness under pressure.
• Supports customers, department, and store by being on time and ready to work at the beginning of scheduled shift.  Demonstrates regular, predictable attendance.
• Works with a sense of energy and completes tasks in a timely manner.
• Understands the importance of and demonstrates excellent communication. Uses knowledge of store organization to determine what information to share with whom, both within and across departments.
• Assumes the best in people. When facing an issue, goes direct to the person involved to work together toward a solution. Doesn’t engage in gossip.
• Promotes sustainability and reduces waste.
• Reads department and store communications.
• Attends all department and store meetings as required.
• Receives feedback and evaluations with a willingness to improve and better performance.
• Acts in a manner consistent with Common Ground’s principles, mission, and vision.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

New Customer Outreach

• Finds and creates creative opportunities to reach new customers targeting students, families, neighborhoods, realty companies, and other outlets to increase customer count and new shoppers.

Owner Services

• Creates and organizes quarterly Owner Drives, owner surveys, and other owner initiatives to increase owner equity and engagement.
• Maintains all owner records and ownership
• Monitors internal food access programs, and find ways Common Ground can improve food accessibility in our area.

Outreach Services

• Serves as a vibrant community liaison for staff, board, owners, customers, community partners and develops strong relationships.
• Plans & hosts events/workshops/fundraisers with local organizations that align with our ends & cooperative principles.
• Builds community contacts and networking opportunities for special events.
• Coordinates farm visits with the marketing team to include departments to build relationships and generate local food content for marketing purposes.
• Creates and facilitates new community events, grant opportunities, and creative community cooperation.
• Represents the Co-op on news and other media (WCIA, radio, and video).
• Schedules and leads store tours (shoppers – prospective or existing, owners, kids, UIUC, etc.) and adapts tours based on age & interest.
• Creates content and present about Common Ground to staff members, student groups, community organizations, and owner meetings.
• Facilitates annual Round Up For Good election and maintains communications with featured organizations throughout the year.
• Handles donation requests from community organizations.

Website Maintenance

• Writes, develops, and updates ongoing content and copy writing for co-op website, and ensure timely updates.
• Coordinates with Marketing Manager to update website with timely information for our customers.
• Works with department managers to develop content for their specific website pages.
• Updates website with timely information for our customers including our events calendar, recipes, and announcements.

Digital Marketing

• Creates content for monthly store newsletter, including write-ups on store events and updates, original editorials on food issues, and infographics or other graphical content.
• Creates content for Email marketing and social media.

Event & Fundraiser Coordination

• Coordinates, schedules, and executes community events and fundraisers throughout the year both at the store and in the community.
• Collaborates with other departments and the Board of Directors to coordinate community events.

• Assists in the planning, promoting, ordering, organizing, and facilitation of cooking classes.

Promotions

• Creates annual Promotional Plan with Marketing Manager.
• Creates new in-store promotions in coordination with Marketing Manager, Department Managers, and Admin team.
• Creates weekly sales flyer.
• Plans and facilitates Owner Appreciation Days sales & events in coordination with department managers and creates OAD sales flyers and signage.
• Creates in-store signage, digital graphics, and special department signage when requested.
• Plans monthly promotional photoshoots, takes photos of products and recipes, and edits photography.
• Tracks promotions, product inventory, and customer information.

DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE & SAFETY

• Understands and adheres to store emergency and safety procedures.
• Understands employee safety measures for food handling and preparation. Uses the most functional and efficient methods that meet all local and federal health codes.
• Observes good ergonomic practices.
• Uses equipment safely.
• Ensures department work areas and aisles are clean and orderly and meets all Health Department and ADA requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Two (2) years in an outreach, marketing, communications, public relation, events planning, or teaching position preferred.
• Outgoing personality and ability to communicate with people of all ages, cultures, and experiences.
• Ability to work well with others in a cooperative environment where teamwork and constant communication is essential.
• Commitment to superior customer service and to provide the highest quality shopping experience possible.
• Excellent communication and listening skills.
• Comfortable with public speaking as well as hosting events or meetings of any size.
• Outstanding networking skills.
• Exemplifies Co-op Ends and Values  when engaging with the public.
• Demonstrates passion about the Co-op and its ends.
• Understanding of business image & community brand.
• Strong writing skills.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Organized data collector.
• Strong knowledge of consumer shopping habits.
• Creative.
• Knowledge of social media and web design, as well as email platforms, Jotform, and Adobe Illustrator.
• Advanced photography skills.
• Project oriented with the ability to communicate project needs and timelines.
• Familiarity with natural foods and cooking techniques preferred.
• Knowledge and interest in the local food movement & able to speak on food issues.
• Comfortable leading cooking classes with community partners.
• Actively seeks new ways to engage owners.
• Calmness under pressure. Ability to handle multiple demands.
• Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments.
• Flexible schedule and availability for being scheduled during any store hours.
• Valid driver's license and reliable vehicle for transportation to offsite events.
• Displayed ability to lift 50#, bend frequently, and stand for long periods.
• Regular, predictable attendance.
• Willingness and ability to learn and grow to meet the changing requirements of the job.