Communications and Program Coordinator

The Center for Ecoliteracy is seeking a Communications and Program Coordinator to join our small and dynamic team that includes educators, former school nutrition professionals, food systems experts, advocates, and parents.

About this Role

The Communications and Program Coordinator supports the organization’s mission by coordinating program activities and translating those efforts into compelling digital communications that engage participants, partners, and broader audiences. 

This is a key role on our team that will advance the Center for Ecoliteracy’s California Food for California Kids® initiative. The Communications and Program Coordinator will build relationships with school nutrition leaders across California, help shape the statewide conversation on transforming school food, experience and document stories of innovative farm to school programs, and contribute to policy and systems change that benefits millions of students.

This position reports to the Program Manager of the California Food for California Kids® initiative and is a full-time, exempt position. 

Who We Are Seeking 

You are a thoughtful communicator with a collaborative spirit. You keep a pulse on new communications platforms and technology. Meeting new people and picking up the phone gives you energy and inspiration. You prioritize authentic relationships over outcomes. You enjoy translating complex ideas into clear, engaging content and are skilled at managing multiple projects and platforms. Technology is your friend – you’re a problem-solver when it comes to tech glitches and hiccups. You are excited to support a mission-driven team working to create a more equitable and sustainable school food system. You love food and the culture surrounding it, with a deep appreciation for the people who grow and prepare it, as well as the community they serve. You are proactive, detail-oriented, and ready to dive in and contribute meaningfully to a small, high-impact organization.

Our Workplace Culture

The Center for Ecoliteracy supports a culture that prioritizes integrity, high professional standards, and working successfully with diverse colleagues, program beneficiaries, and community partners. This includes active participation in promoting a healthy workplace culture through organizational diversity and program assessment for equity and inclusion. We strive to build a culture of cooperation and mutual support and value flexibility, resilience, optimism, curiosity, and a sense of shared purpose.

Responsibilities

• Lead digital communications across video, websites, webinars, email campaigns, and social media platforms. Generate compelling content, including short-form videos, graphics, and photography that engage program beneficiaries, donors, and partners.
   
• Support the development of comprehensive communication plans to effectively disseminate new resources, event opportunities, and other program offerings. Liaise with partner organizations to coordinate cross-promotion and resource dissemination.
   
• Support the coordination of photo and video shoots at schools, farms, and events throughout California. Provide on-site support for vendors and program participants to ensure a positive, meaningful experience.
   
• Track and analyze digital metrics to inform communication strategies.
   
• Maintain a brand asset library (graphics, photos, and video), and support the team in using assets correctly.
   
• Support our programs by hosting and facilitating conferences, events, and webinars; coordinating event logistics; and managing outreach, recruitment, promotion, registration, and contact lists. Conduct research and develop prep materials to provide a seamless experience for staff and participants.
   
• Contribute to program evaluation and reporting by gathering data and tracking project outcomes. Lead systems for tracking and managing relationships with school nutrition professionals and educators. 
   
• Represent the organization and engage with school nutrition professionals, educators, students, policymakers, and nonprofit and state agency partners at conferences, events, webinars, and visits to schools and farms.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in communications, marketing, journalism, or a related field.
   
• Excellent project management skills. Thrives managing multiple deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment while delivering a high standard of excellence.
   
• Experience with event planning and coordination. Comfortable pivoting from detailed execution to strategic decision-making under pressure. 
   
• Comfort engaging with external partners and representing the organization.
   
• Ability to build and use spreadsheets to manage program data, synthesize project outcomes, and communicate impact to staff. 
   
• Strong writing and editing skills, with attention to detail and storytelling.
   
• Proficiency in digital platforms, including social media, email marketing tools, and web content management systems. The Center for Ecoliteracy works in an Apple environment and uses Adobe Creative Cloud, Drupal, Mailchimp, Hootsuite, Zoom, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, Slack, Dropbox, Canva, and Google Workspace.
   
• Proficiency in best practices for digital design, such as editing, cropping, and ensuring correct file types for different platforms.  
   
• Experience tailoring content for various audiences, such as school nutrition professionals, educators, donors, policymakers, or California families.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience working with nonprofit organizations or public school nutrition programs.
   
• Familiarity with food systems, education, or advocacy campaigns.
   
• Spanish language fluency is a plus.

Location and Travel

The Center for Ecoliteracy has a hybrid work environment in the landmark David Brower Center in Downtown Berkeley, California. This role follows a hybrid schedule (in-office on Tuesday and Thursday, remote on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and requires regular travel to support events, storytelling, and other engagements within California.

Salary

This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary is based on experience and ranges from $80,000 to $85,000 annually. A comprehensive benefits package is included.

How to Apply

Please email a brief cover letter, three relevant work samples, and your resume to jobs@ecoliteracy.org with the subject line “[Last Name, First Name]: Communications and Program Coordinator Application.” Interviews will be conducted in August 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Center for Ecoliteracy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, or disability.

Our Commitment to Equity and Racial Justice

The Center for Ecoliteracy pursues change in TK–12 education and school food systems to provide a more just, sustainable, and equitable experience for students and the people who nourish them. We recognize the harm that systemic racism, gender bias, and structural inequalities create in our public education, food, and labor systems, and strive to mitigate the health and educational inequities affecting low-income households and children of color. We amplify the voices of people who are marginalized and shape our work according to their messages. By listening and taking action to identify and include missing voices, we seek to shift power in both policy and decision-making. We are privileged to learn from our partners and will continue to grow and evolve our work to embody this commitment.

About the Center for Ecoliteracy

The Center for Ecoliteracy is reimagining school food as a pathway for learning and change.
For 30 years, we’ve transformed education in classrooms, cafeterias, and gardens—partnering with hundreds of school districts, supporting thousands of educators, and ensuring millions of children have access to nutritious meals at school.

Our core initiative, California Food for California Kids®, inspires schools to serve fresh, locally-sourced meals and engage students in the connections between food, culture, health, and the environment.

Together, we can build a healthier, more hopeful future for our children.