OPENINGS

Board of Directors - Member

 

Job Description and Expectations

Purpose: To advise, govern, oversee policy and direction, and assist with the leadership and general promotion of Slow Food Portland so as to support the organization’s mission and needs.

Our Ideal Candidate: Slow Food Portland, a 501(c)(3) organization, is recruiting new board members to fill immediate vacancies on our governing board. Our mission is to cultivate the enjoyment of local food with all members of the community to create a more just and sustainable food system.

We are looking for individuals with a diverse and broad range of strengths, experience, and backgrounds who are interested in having a positive impact on the community. These could include:

  • Accountant/CPA

  • Fundraiser/Development Specialist

  • Attorney

  • Farmer/Rancher

  • Restaurateur/Chef/Local Food Producer/Purveyor

  • Healthy Food Access/Anti-hunger Activist

  • Food Policy Expert

  • PR/Marketing Professional

  • Academic/Educator

  • Civic Leader

Our ideal board members will share an awareness of sustainable food issues and a passion for the mission of Slow Food Portland. In addition, they are good communicators, reliable, strategic, positive, flexible, and willing to roll up their sleeves and help us grow.

In the next few years, we are committed to strategically expanding and strengthening our organization. We are looking for board members with time and energy for active participation who will help us build a high performing board. We envision a group of people who will work cohesively as a team, implement governance best practices, give and get funds to support our programs and operations, make high-level decisions, and engage in healthy dialogue and debate.

*Major responsibilities:

  • Organizational leadership and advisement

  • Organization of the board of directors, officers, and committees

  • Formulation and oversight of policies and procedures

  • Financial management, including adoption and oversight of the annual budget

  • Oversight of program planning and evaluation

  • Review of organizational and programmatic reports

  • Promotion of the organization

  • Fundraising and outreach

*Members of the board share these responsibilities while acting in the interest of Slow Food Portland. Each member is expected to make recommendations based on his or her experience and vantage point in the community.

Length of term: Three years, which may be renewed up to a maximum of three consecutive terms, pending approval of the board.

Expectations of board members:

  • Regularly attend monthly board meetings and other meetings as needed.

  • Play an active role in Slow Food Portland by attending events, sitting on planning or other ad hoc committees, and otherwise volunteering time and skills as needed, all of which will require a time commitment of at least ten hours per month.

  • Participate in board development activities, including an annual board retreat.

  • Ensure the continued financial viability of Slow Food Portland by participating in fundraising activities.

  • Stay informed about matters concerning the operations, finances, and programs of Slow Food Portland.

  • Evaluate and monitor programs, both established and new, for effectiveness and for alignment with the vision, mission, values, and goals of Slow Food Portland.

  • Participate in the financial and strategic planning process, including implementation and monitoring.

  • Enhance the public standing of Slow Food Portland

  • Clearly articulate to the public and to our partner organizations our vision, mission, values, accomplishments, and goals in order to garner support from the community.

  • Work with other board members, program leaders, the executive director, volunteers, and other stakeholders in a friendly, honest, open, and collegial manner.

  • Ensure legal and ethical integrity of the organization by adhering to all legal standards, fiduciary responsibilities, and ethical norms.

Qualifications:

  • A commitment to and understanding of Slow Food Portland’s mission, preferably based on experience

  • Demonstrated interest, understanding, and commitment to equity, climate and social justice

  • Diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals

INTERESTED?

Apply by sending an email with your resume and one paragraph describing what you can contribute as a Slow Food Portland board member.