Program Associates For Healthy Food For Denver's Kids

The City and County of Denver utilizes a hybrid model workplace that balances the responsibilities of public service with the benefits of a flexible work environment. Employees work where needed, at a city site and/or in the field at least three days a week and telecommute remotely at a designated workplace within the State of Colorado the remaining days.

This posting will accept applications until Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

This is a limited position with an expected end date of December 31, 2029.

Denver's Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) is dedicated to advancing Denver's environmental and public health goals. DDPHE works collaboratively with city, state and community partners to conduct education, community engagement, and enforcement to promote healthy people, healthy pets, and a sustainable environment. DDPHE oversees a number of services related to public health and the environment and is comprised of six divisions: Division of Shared Services and Business Operations; Community & Behavioral Health; Public Health Investigations; Denver Animal Protection; the Office of Medical Examiner; and Environmental Quality. For more information on DDPHE’s programs and services, visit the DDPHE website at: Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. We foster an inclusive culture by respecting the values, customs, and authenticity of everyone and by implementing equitable public health strategies so Denver communities can thrive.

The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment’s food systems team has openings for two (2) Analyst Associates for the Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids (HFDK) program. The Analyst Associate(s) will be led by the HFDK Supervisor and make up a part of a team with an EPH technician (administrative support), and a Contract Administrator and Contract Compliance Coordinator.

The Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids ballot initiative increases city of Denver sales and use taxes by an estimated $11.2 million dollars annually for ten years (2019-2029) to fund healthy food access and food-based education for Denver’s kids. The funding should be aimed primarily at low income and under-served youth and should be distributed as grants through a Denver Food Commission made up of non-profit and government volunteer appointees (13 members in total). Funds help Denver’s low-income kids have year-round access to healthy meals and snacks and have hands-on experiential education and public health programs about farming, gardening, cooking, home economics, and healthy eating and preferential procurement of food from Colorado farms, ranches, and food manufacturers.

Since 2020, HFDK has awarded nearly $66 million dollars to over 90 organizations offering healthy food access to youth and their families in Denver. DDPHE has released HFDK funds as part of four annual funding cycles, in addition to COVID-19 emergency hunger relief rapid response grants, and micro-grants of $10,000 or less. These grants have been provided to nonprofit organizations, public schools in Denver (including Denver Public Schools), and agencies of local government.

Job duties and responsibilities of this position(s) include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop, recommend and implement equity visioning for HFDK, which could include liaising with the Commission’s equity subcommittee, conducting assessments, developing action plans, organizing trainings, and championing equitable grantmaking practices.
• Along with all department staff, this position will actively participate on an emergency preparedness and response team to support DDPHE’s responsibilities outlined in the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. This may require being ‘on-call’ from time to time to help respond to emergencies. Additional training commensurate with assigned duties will be provided.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Administer and advise as a grant program officer for around 20 grantees (for each Analyst Associate), including one-on-one relationship building, regular communication and support, responding to questions and concerns, as well as create, update, and use collective grants management and CRM databases.
• Develop and manage strong relationships with the HFDK Commission. Guide membership recruitment and onboarding, conduct background research on relevant issues and organize Commission trainings.
• Participate in evaluation, including liaising with the Evaluation contractor, DDPHE contract compliance staff, and Commission’s evaluation subcommittee, critically reviewing and evaluating the contractor’s deliverables, supporting the development of grantee reporting and data collection mechanisms, analyzing data and developing internal and external reports.
• Provide grantee technical assistance (TA), education and training for organizational capacity building, including assessing and addressing grantee needs through webinars, in-person workshops, one-on-one support, facilitating communities of practice, and liaising with the Commission’s TA subcommittee.
• Actively participate as part of the broader DDPHE Food Systems and HFDK teams, working toward a shared vision for Denver food systems, including collaboration, partnerships, and collective work (e.g., related to community engagement, funding, data and evaluation, technical assistance, etc.), and navigating internal city processes.
• Participate in appropriate bi-directional communication and information flow with community partners and HFDK Supervisor. Support consistent, effective, and accessible public-facing communications activities (e.g., website updates, press releases, social media, etc.).
• Develop and implement funding opportunities and grantmaking processes, in partnership with the larger HFDK team, including the HFDK Supervisor and contracting staff and the Commission. Ensure funding is equity and data driven and aligned with community need and best practices.
• Establish agendas and conduct meeting facilitation (Current Commission subcommittees include: racial equity, technical assistance, evaluation, funding/financial oversight, membership, and governance).
• Establish authentic and equitable community outreach and partnerships with city government, key stakeholders, and external partners, soliciting input through one-on-one meetings, listening sessions, needs assessments, and coalition participation.

Note that the above list of potential job duties and responsibilities will be divided between the two program Analyst Associates in coordination with the HFDK Supervisor.

About You

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Experience with grants, budget administration, monitoring, compliance, reporting, and data management (for example: Salesforce customer relationship management CRM)
• Ability to problem-solve and influence decision-making processes in a diplomatic and collaborative manner
• Ability to implement equitable grantmaking practices that build on values of anti-racism, equity, and ensuring fair practices for all
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline such as Public Health, Nutrition, Sustainability, Food Systems, Agriculture, Public Administration, Economic and Community Development or Urban Planning, Environmental Science or similar
• Experience working on projects in a team setting, sufficient to be able to assist with assigned projects, including developing project plans and managing timelines, budgets, and documentation
• Ability to be flexible, with strong organizational skills and detail-oriented approach to program design, policy, processes and procedures
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills, including strong interpersonal skills
• Experience collaborating with diverse or historically oppressed stakeholders and community partners to achieve shared goals
• 2-4 years of post-college technical work experience in above mentioned fields including nonprofits, community-based, foundations or funders, policy, consulting and advocacy work
• Ability to serve as subject matter expert in food systems, food access and food justice issues

We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:

• Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, or in a related field based on a specific position.
• Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• Experience Requirement: One (1) year of professional experience conducting research and analysis on a variety of environmental or public health issues or conducting environmental or public health inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with regulations and standards.
• License/Certifications: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Resume
• Cover letter

Because two Analyst Associate(s) will be hired, it is not required that all applicants have experience related to all job duties listed below, as duties will be divided among the two staff. Please speak to your relevant experience in the required Cover Letter.

About Everything Else

Job Profile: CE3351 Environmental Public Health Analyst Associate

Position Type: Limited (Fixed Term)

Position Salary Range: $63,801.00 - $105,272.00

Starting Pay: Based on education and experience.

Agency: Dept of Public Health & Environment

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.