Community Relations Coordinator

Austin Community Food Co-op 

Job Title: Community Relations Coordinator

Job Type: Contract Position

Location: Chicago, Austin Community (Remote-Hybrid)

Hourly Range: $30/hour

Estimated Duration: 10-20 hours/week, May 2025 - December 2025

Location: Chicago, Austin Community (Remote-Hybrid)

Mission 

The Austin Community Food Co-Op is a newly incorporated cooperative business that seeks to empower and uplift the Austin community by providing access to local food through a member-owned grocery store and educational opportunities to learn about food literacy. Our vision is to strengthen the health, wellness, and local economy of the Austin community through cooperation. We value access to a healthy lifestyle, economic and democratic education, collaboration, integrity, equity, and solidarity. 

Position Summary

The Austin Community Food Co-op is hiring a part-time contractor to lead our community relations activities in 2025. Our goal for these activities is to engage more than 1,000 community members, helping them learn more about food literacy and justice in Austin. Our ultimate goal is to recruit an initial 100 member-owners that will invest in and help to start a cooperatively-owned grocery store. By purchasing a $200 share of Common Stock in the Co-op, community members become owners of the business, have the right to run and vote for the Board of Directors, and are potentially eligible to participate in future allocations or distributions of the Co-op’s net income. The store does not yet exist but will be located in the Austin community area. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Conducting Co-op Information Sessions: Schedule and conduct Co-op Information Sessions virtually and in-person throughout the community. These sessions will a) educate community members about cooperative enterprises, b) invite community members to become member-owners of the Co-op by purchasing a share of common stock, c) ask attendees to introduce us to friends, family, and colleagues in their networks, and d)  invite community members to volunteer with ACFC to help spread the message.

• Maintaining the Co-op’s Community Engagement Calendar: Ensure community events are added to the Co-op’s internal community events calendar.
• Coordinating Volunteers of the Community Engagement Committee: Coordinate the Community Engagement Committee and other affiliated volunteers, attending or tabling at community events on behalf of the Co-op.
• Collaborating with Marketing & Communications: Work with the Marketing & Graphic Design Coordinator to ensure the Co-op’s audiences on social media and email marketing lists are engaged in the ownership campaign.  
• Support with the Customer Relationship Management system: Work with the board of directors to ensure engagement and owner recruitment is accurately documented, tracked, and communicated.  

Qualifications:

• Community Relationship Management: Must have the ability to build rapport with volunteers and community members, as well as to track and document them through the Co-op’s CRM system.
• Public Speaking: Must be comfortable speaking before large audiences using presentation software such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Canva.
• Strategic Communications: Must ability to effectively coordinate volunteer activities and foster strong community relationships through clear communication, active engagement, and collaborative planning. Skilled in recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers, while maintaining consistent outreach to community stakeholders to ensure alignment with co-op goals and mission.

Work Requirements

To be successful in this position, having transportation is essential for community engagement and event support. This job will be done in a hybrid environment working from home, coworking office space, and in the field as needed. Access to standard office equipment such as a computer, telephone, photocopier, scanner, and file storage is also needed. Should be passionate about the wellbeing of the Austin community. Our hope is to discover someone who is interested in growing with the initiative and possesses the adaptability and organizational skills to work with a virtual and growing team.

Hours and Compensation

This is a grant-funded contract position paying a total of $15,000 at $30/hour for work between May and December 2025. We anticipate that the contractor will need to work an average of 10-20 hours per week. Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. Based on contractor’s work quality and availability of additional funds, the parties may extend or modify the terms of the Scope of Work by mutual agreement.

To Apply:

Email your resume, cover letter, and the contact information of 3 references to Dearra Williams at dwilliams@austincomingtogether.org by April 30, 2025.

• Subject line should read: Your Name Community Relations Coordinator
• No phone calls please