Public Health and Food Systems Planner Ii - Boston, United States - Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Verified Company

Boston, United States

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Mark Lane

beBee recruiter

Description

Description:

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) seeks a passionate and experienced individual with expertise in food systems, public health, and planning to join our team as the Public Health and Food Systems Planner.

The Planner will split their time between advancing food systems and public health planning efforts with a focus on developing and implementing strategies to create healthier, more resilient, and equitable communities across Metro Boston.

The Public Health and Food Systems Planner will be part of MAPC's Public Health Department and will report to the Director of Public Health.

MAPC seeks to advance food justice and health equity through planning and policy that address root causes of food insecurity.

Examples of recent work include municipal food system planning, values-based food procurement, urban agriculture planning and evaluation, climate resilience in food systems, and advocacy for equitable state food policy.

Learn more about our food systems work here.

The Planner will also bring public health perspectives and expertise to initiatives in areas such as climate resilience, active transportation, housing affordability and stability, and economic opportunity.

About MAPC:

MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our strategic priorities involve sustainable development, advancing equity, regional collaboration, and creating a climate-friendly region.

We are guided by our regional plan, _MetroCommon2050:
Shaping the Region Together_. MAPC's staff includes approximately 100 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office.

MAPC has a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from MAPC's Boston office.

MAPC strongly supports the professional development of each staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region.

We encourage all our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC's planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times.

Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

Build and expand the food systems practice at MAPC to address persistent and emergent needs and advance food security and health equity across our region;
Participate in projects to advance urban agriculture, procure local and highquality food for school systems, address issues at the intersection of food systems and climate justice, and a wide array of other projects to advance food security and equity;
Foster partnerships with local and state public health agencies, communitybased organizations, local food businesses, academic institutions, health care organizations, and other stakeholders to increase understanding of food insecurity and potential remedies;

Conduct research and evaluation to assess the impact of public health and food systems interventions, identify best practices, and inform future planning, policy and advocacy efforts;

Collaborate with colleagues across departments to integrate public health and food systems planning considerations into broader regional initiatives;
Produce project materials (e.g., plans, memoranda, reports, fact sheets) that communicate evidence, findings, and strategies to various audiences (e.g., community members, local health departments, state and local elected officials, communitybased organizations, municipal planners, and the business community);
Secure new projects, grant funding, and feeforservice contracts to help support food systems and public health initiatives;
Conduct other public health and planning activities consistent with implementing the MetroCommon2050 regional plan;
Participate fully in an inclusive, welcoming, diverse, and creative work environment.

Evening events, occasional weekend events, and local travel are a responsibility for this position.

MAPC does not require that you have a vehicle; however, you must have a valid driver's license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region.

MAPC provides support for travel, including MBTA passes, a Zipcar account and BlueBikes membership.

Qualifications:

Strong commitment to addressing issues of public health, food security, social equity, sustainability, and good governance;
Experience building and maintaining partnerships with local and state local government, (including appointed and elected officials), communitybased or advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders;
Familiarity with critical issues related to food access, food security, and overall public health in metropolitan settings, including communities that have faced longstanding economic insecurity and discrimination;
Understanding of critical public health, food access, and food security issues facing Metro Boston and U.S. metropolitan areas, particularly as they relate t