Institutional Impact Manager, Michigan

Title: Institutional Impact Manager, Michigan

Reports to: Senior Institutional Impact Manager

Status: Full-time, salaried

Location: Remote, Michigan residence required

 *We will only review applications submitted through this link: Institutional Impact Manager App Form*

Our Organization

The Center for Good Food Purchasing uses the power of procurement and partnerships to create a transparent and equitable food system for people, animals, and the environment. We do this by helping major institutions nationwide adopt and implement the Good Food Purchasing Program (“Program”).

Over 70 institutions in 40 major US cities have enrolled in the Program. With a collective annual food spend surpassing $1.2 billion, these institutions and cities are committed to directing their purchasing power toward the five Program values: local and community-based economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforce, animal welfare, and community health and nutrition centered around the principles of equity, transparency, and accountability. Using the Program’s metric- and data-driven framework, they measure and improve food purchasing practices over time. 

We also work with national partners, local grassroots coalitions, and institutions to shift toward values-based purchasing from farm to fork and build a cohesive network movement to support more resilient and equitable food systems.

The Center for Good Food Purchasing is a fiscally-sponsored project of Community Partners.

Institutional Impact Manager Summary

The Institutional Impact Manager will serve as a primary liaison with Michigan institutions implementing good food purchasing strategies, working with them to develop short and long-term implementation strategies to improve their performance within two years. The Institutional Impact Manager will provide project management for the Center’s new statewide initiative in Michigan, facilitating collective action across institutions and collaborating with Center staff and project partners to develop tools and resources to support program implementation. The Institutional Impact Manager will also work in collaboration with the Center’s Engagement department to build and support a productive changemaking ecosystem where community-based coalitions and institutions implementing values-based procurement are aligned and coordinated.

Success in this position looks like:

• Strong working relationships with institutional leaders, project partners and Center colleagues formed through effective communication, active listening and a collaborative spirit. Those relationships are continually reinforced through regular check-ins, diligent follow-through, and an innovative approach.

• Actionable and effective steps are identified for institutional partners, presented in a clear, comprehensive manner, and supported through catered technical assistance.

• Good Food Purchasing is incorporated into Michigan’s values-based food ecosystem, and stakeholders statewide recognize how our collaboration contributes to their goals. 

• Success stories are gathered throughout the course of the project, connecting the general public to the real-life impact of the project’s initiatives.

• Michigan is a national leader in Good Food Purchasing and a model for a values-based statewide food system. Learnings and best practices are shared amongst the greater Good Food Purchasing network, particularly related to regional collaboration efforts.

This is a remote role that requires regular travel within the state of Michigan and occasional travel nationally. This position is currently funded by a Michigan state grant through October 2027, and may extend to 24 months from date of hire dependent on a no-cost extension. This role may be further extended beyond the initial two-year Michigan state grant, funding dependent. The Center for Good Food Purchasing is based in the Bay Area of California.

Essential Functions

Training & Technical Assistance

• Provide one-on-one technical assistance and action planning for enrolled institutions

• In collaboration with Center staff, develop tools and resources to support successful Program implementation at the regional and national level

• Identify and amplify best practices in the field and across the Program through research, resource development, content creation, and facilitated peer-to-peer networking

• Document “proofpoint” case studies to inform Program development and policy recommendations

• Maintain and expand the library of external-facing tools and resources to support and augment technical assistance

Peer-Learning

• Develop programming for, and facilitate as needed, statewide peer-to-peer virtual learning sessions 

• Identify and develop topical peer learning cohorts, mentoring, and information sharing opportunities as needed

• Support file sharing and access across the Michigan Good Food Operators network to disseminate best practices

Project Management and Administration 

• Serve as project manager for statewide proofpoint projects

• Develop project management plans that ensure deliverables are met, and ensure feedback loops across internal and external stakeholders inform project management and results

• Draft reporting content for Michigan-related grants and contracts

• Support ad hoc organizational projects and processes as needed

Required Qualifications

• 5 or more years of work experience as a procurement professional and/or in institutional food service 

• Project management or project leadership experience 

• Residence in Michigan, and a comprehensive understanding of the Michigan food system and institutional supply chain

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to build trust among diverse stakeholders

• Comfort managing multiple tasks, prioritizing effectively, seeking guidance when needed, and meeting deadlines

• Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and effectively in a virtual environment with a remote team, including regular access to phone, internet, and video conferencing

• Ability to understand how individual components of work tie into wider department and organizational goals

• Willingness to travel domestically (estimated 10-12 times per year in-state and 2-3 times per year out of state)

Preferred Qualifications

• Operational knowledge of federal meal programs and their requirements

• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias, and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities

• Experience in, or passion for, building sustainable, equitable, fair, and humane food systems

• Work experience as either a buyer or supplier of institutional food

• Facility with Excel, particularly pivot tables

• Quantitative or qualitative data analysis 

• Experience with public speaking

• Writing and communication skills

Compensation & Benefits

The Institutional Impact Manager is a regular full-time, exempt position with an annual salary of $84,000. Our salaries are competitive; reflect our size, geographic location, and field; and are commensurate with experience. We conduct an annual review of market-based salary trends to promote equitable and competitive compensation practices.

The Center for Good Food Purchasing, a fiscally-sponsored project of Community Partners, is a people-first workplace that values flexibility, work-life balance, and restoration. In addition to offering competitive benefits (i.e. medical/dental/vision, disability/life insurance, vacation, and a 403(b) plan with employer match after two years), we also offer generous paid holidays in addition to vacation time (27 holiday days in 2025, which include annual summer and winter breaks), two flexible working Fridays monthly, remote work stipends, an annual professional development budget, travel opportunities, and paid sabbaticals.

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 

Applicants applying by Wednesday, December 10, 2025, will be given priority consideration, with the position open until filled. Submit your application via this form. The form will ask for your contact information, a brief original cover letter written by you in PDF format that describes relevant experience, your resume in PDF format, and two to three professional references.

We invite applicants to highlight their unique skills, experiences, and passion in their applications using their own words. While AI can help you prepare your materials, please make sure to review and personalize them to accurately represent your qualifications and enthusiasm for our organization and mission.

If selected, the interview process will consist of one initial video interview (30 minutes), with the potential for a second video interview (45-60 minutes).

You will receive a response within 2-3 weeks of application close. We respectfully request no calls or emails. Please note that due to the high number of anticipated applicants, we are not able to provide personalized feedback on application materials.

goodfoodpurchasing.org