About The Organization
ReFED is a national nonprofit working to end food loss and waste across the food system by advancing data-driven solutions to the problem. ReFED leverages data and insights to highlight supply chain inefficiencies and economic opportunities; mobilizes and connects supporters to take targeted action; and catalyzes capital to spur innovation and scale high-impact initiatives. Starting with the 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste, ReFED has developed a trusted history of producing first-of-their-kind tools and resources, providing a full-supply-chain picture of U.S. food waste, cost-effective solutions to reduce it, and methods to track progress. In February 2021, ReFED launched its new Roadmap to 2030 and Insights Engine, an online data center designed to serve as the next generation of data, insights, and guidance on U.S. food waste reduction. Solving this problem will have a significant impact on mitigating climate change, optimizing use of water, land, and other resources, and providing meals for the over 50 million people in the United States who currently face food insecurity.
ReFED is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that everyone has a seat at the table, and that this table always has room for growth. The success of the organization is rooted in the visible and invisible qualities of its people. Its people embody a variety of views, perspectives, and backgrounds to push the envelope of what is possible and better meet the needs of the community in the hopes of building a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system. Community is more than a word here.
ReFED’s vision is a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system that optimizes environmental resources, minimizes climate impacts, and makes the best use of the food we grow. Learn more at www.refed.com.
About The Position
We know that food insecurity and the impacts of climate change affect marginalized communities at much higher rates than other groups. Food waste sits at an impactful nexus between these issues and has high potential to mitigate climate change and feed food-insecure individuals through food rescue and donation.
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice Fellow will be responsible for deepening our understanding of and connections to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) initiatives and dialogues across the food system, and changing our program execution to bolster equity and social justice in the food system.
The DEIJ Fellow is a 12-month position, working remotely and reporting to Lily Herd, Capital, Innovation, & Engagement Manager at ReFED.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is able to glide easily between stakeholder interviews, gleaning insights from large amounts of qualitative and quantitative data, building strategic frameworks, and more. The DEIJ Fellow should be someone who believes in the power of reducing food waste to lead to a more inclusive and sustainable food system.
You are a good fit if you:
- Have demonstrated knowledge and interest in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice concepts within the food systems space
- Can think analytically and creatively to solve problems big and small
- Are adept at developing and facilitating productive and healthy relationships and conversations on difficult topics
- Can communicate effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders
- Thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth organization
- Are driven to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing society today and positively impact developing a more equitable food system
- Hate wasting food
You may have a mix of internship or professional experience from roles such as:
- DEIJ Program Coordinator, Research Consultant, or Advisor
- Systems Consultant
- Project Manager or Coordinator
Primary Responsibilities
The DEIJ Fellow will support the conceptualization and implementation of ReFED’s DEIJ initiatives, which may include:
- Managing the design and implementation of a Food Waste DEIJ Landscape Assessment through research, data gathering, and stakeholder interviews;
- Synthesizing the results of the Landscape Assessment to inform potential collaborations, partnerships, learning opportunities, future programs, existing program enhancements, and more;
- Collaborating with staff to identify opportunities to integrate DEIJ into existing and future programs, this may include desk research, stakeholder engagement, and program design and implementation;
- Project managing and writing copy for ReFED’s Food Waste Equity blog series. This may include sourcing topics and guest authors, conducting interviews, and individual contributions;
- Identifying and supporting strategic partnerships and collaborations that further ReFED’s DEIJ goals;
- Identifying opportunities and processes to collect and report DEIJ related data in conjunction with ReFED’s data and insights efforts, including the Insights Engine. Design the methods and systems (e.g., surveys) for collecting new data or integrating into existing data collection methods;
- Researching and cataloging funding opportunities for DEIJ initiatives, both for ReFED and the sector at-large;
- Contributing to the team’s ongoing learning and development with regards to DEIJ topics; and
- Supporting the implementation of findings from ReFED’s ongoing DEIJ assessment, currently being performed by a third-party consultant.
Qualifications
- A demonstrated commitment to addressing DEIJ issues personally and professionally.
- Demonstrated research and analysis skills; ability to synthesize complex information.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills that allow you to build high-trust relationships.
- Ability to communicate and align with internal and external stakeholders well in a remote working environment.
- Strong project management skills.
- Comfort with ambiguity and ability to thrive in a fluid, entrepreneurial environment, and willingness to “roll up the sleeves” and extend beyond formal responsibilities as needed.
Strongly Preferred
- Internships or other professional experience advancing DEIJ initiatives.
- Working knowledge of food systems, waste management, sustainability, and/or broader ESG initiatives.
- Entrepreneurial spirit.
ReFED’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Commitment
ReFED is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that everyone has a seat at the table, and that this table always has room for growth. The success of our organization is rooted in the visible and invisible qualities of our people. ReFED’s people embody a variety of views, perspectives, and backgrounds to push the envelope of what is possible and better meet the needs of our community in the hopes of building an inclusive and sustainable food system. Community is more than a word here. As a steward of this food system that benefits from the inclusion and enhancement of diverse voices, ReFED recognizes that systemic barriers limit opportunities for certain groups which contributes to ongoing disparities. Furthermore, we accept that our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) means a commitment to constant learning, listening, and interaction in all aspects of our work. Intrinsically, ReFED is an organization that seeks to attract exceptional and dedicated talent to advance our mission, and we firmly believe that inclusion through recruiting, hiring, developing, training, and promoting employees of all genders, races, religions, ages, national origins, political affiliations, ancestries, sexual orientations, disabilities, and veteran status, creates an atmosphere that enables us to lead with an entrepreneurial spirit and innovate with enterprise.
Working at ReFED
ReFED offers a competitive salary, opportunities for professional development, and policies and programs that encourage a healthy work-life balance. Learn about our values, team, and commitment to employees at refed.com/careers.
This is a paid fellowship open to candidates based and authorized to work in the USA. ReFED is a virtual organization with staff located across the U.S. and Canada. This temporary employment position will work virtually and remotely with the option of working from a dedicated co-working space.
All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé submitted in PDF format. Cover letters must be responsive to the vision of ReFED and the needs of this position. To nominate a candidate, please contact Katy Franklin, Operations Director at katy.franklin@refed.com.
