Buffalo Projects Lead – Job Posting
Seasonal position, seven months (May through November 30, 2026)
Application Deadline: Sunday, April 5, 2026
Posted on March 21, 2026
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Food for the Spirit works in partnership with frontline communities who value food sovereignty by building solidarity and collective power through creating spaces for visibility, connection, self- and community-care. We support four networks: the Buffalo Food Equity Network (BFEN) with over 50 members based in Buffalo NY, the Finger Lakes Accountability Network (FLAN) with approximately 30 members based in the Finger Lakes, the BlackRoots Collective with ten steering committee members developing a producer-owned agricultural and marketing cooperative centering NY farmers of color, and the newly forming Buffalo Bypass Network which focuses on developing a food value chain that serves Buffalo’s east side. Food for the Spirit (F4tS) supports our networks by hosting gatherings and special events, offering resources, collaborative project planning and coordination, supporting fundraising, and opportunities to engage in political education and collective advocacy to promote racial healing, ecological justice, and equitable food systems.
ABOUT OUR WORK IN BUFFALO
Since its founding in 2018, Food for the Spirit (F4tS) has partnered with Black and brown food system organizers in Buffalo to build connections, expand health equity, and serve as a coordinating force with deep community relationships.. A key initiative, the Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion brings together residents each year to explore agriculture’s role in public health and community development as part of Buffalo’s Juneteenth Celebration.
In 2025, Food for the Spirit (F4tS) and core partner Red Tomato launched the Buffalo Bypass Network (BBN), a community-driven, systems-change initiative focused on advancing food and economic justice for the east side of Buffalo—a predominantly Black neighborhood afflicted by food apartheid. Through the BBN, F4tS and its partners are helping to build a food system controlled by and for residents of Buffalo’s east side. BBN is guided by a 10-person steering committee made up of five east Buffalo residents, two individuals representing immigrant farmworker communities, and three partners engaged in policy or food supply chain development statewide.
For more information about Food for the Spirit (F4tS), visit us at: www.foodforthespirit.org.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Food for the Spirit is seeking a dynamic, community-connected, passionate, and highly organized professional to lead Food for the Spirit’s on the ground projects in Buffalo and help expand our work throughout the state. This position will be a part of developing and strengthening food systems on Buffalo’s east side.
Core Duties
Project Coordination & Facilitation
- Coordination and facilitation of Buffalo Bypass Network (BBN) and Juneteenth Agricultural (Ag) Pavilion meetings
- Manage Buffalo Bypass Network project timelines, communication, and partner coordination
- Support evaluation, learning, and analysis for BBN and Juneteenth Ag Pavilion
Community Engagement & Relationship Building
- Attend and support volunteer days, educational events, and community meetings hosted by food systems partners
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with community partners, residents, and organizations
- Facilitate connections between BBN steering committee members, core partners, and community-based food systems efforts
Event Planning & Logistics
- Lead planning and coordination for the Annual Juneteenth Agricultural Pavilion
- Manage logistics for BBN steering committee meetings, partner convenings, and community events
- Support transportation and food movement logistics as needed (may include driving trucks)
Organizational Participation
- Participate in F4tS’s staff collective, including weekly huddles and consent-based decision-making
- Support collaborative fundraising and grant writing, as needed, related to Buffalo-based projects
Essential Qualifications
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with planning events and meeting facilitation
- Experience with project management
- A developed understanding of how to navigate and organize in communities most impacted by injustices (e.g., racial, economic, environmental, food, social)
- Creative, solutions-oriented approach to challenges
- Interest in food and farming (experience is a plus, however training and support will be offered)
- Experience with or interest in the food supply chains
- Passion for equity and justice
- Independent worker who takes initiative and demonstrates resourcefulness
- Alignment with the values and culture of Food for the Spirit
- Ability to coordinate across diverse partners with different cultures, processes, and backgrounds
- Familiarity with hosting meetings in a way that’s generative, culturally competent, and includes language justice and simultaneous interpretation
- Committed to self-determination for communities of color and leadership by/for communities of color, lifting up sovereignty for Black, Indigenous, and all communities of color, and encouraging multi-cultural celebration, cross-cultural sharing, and mutual respect
- An ideal candidate will have experience working in Buffalo and possess a strong sense of community and the socio-political landscape
LOCATION
This position is based in Buffalo and the surrounding areas. Candidates must live in or within close proximity of the City of Buffalo. Periodic travel may be required as necessary.
STAFF COLLECTIVE
This position is a part of Food for the Spirits’ staff collective. The staff collective is made up of people working on projects or administrative work for the organization. Staff collective huddles take place weekly for the team to share and discuss project updates and use consent-driven decision-making to further our efforts. New team members are eligible to join the staff collective decision-making team when the following has occurred:
- the individual has worked at F4tS for 6+ months
- the decision-makers on the staff collective invite the person to take on a decision-making role
- the individual accepts the invitation from the decision-making team and agree to take a decision-making role within the staff collective
PAY AND BENEFITS
- Hourly Rate: $32.20 per hour
- Time Commitment: 80 hours per month
- Reports to / works closely with the Food for the Spirit staff collective
- Position based in Buffalo, NY, but some local travel may be required for community building, retreats, and other activities (reimbursable)
- Requires flexible hours, availability for daytime meetings is a must, as well as some weekends and evening hours, not to exceed 80 hours per month
- Work from home is a must
- Includes professional development, as determined by staff collective
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
Food for the Spirit is an equal opportunity employer. Food for the Spirit provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, present or past history of mental disability, intellectual disability, learning disability, physical disability, including but not limited to blindness, status as a veteran, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Food for the Spirit complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and corresponding state or local law. If you believe you need an accommodation in order to participate in the application process, please contact info@foodforthespirit.org.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Food for the Spirit values inclusion in our workplace and community. People of color, women, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, gender-nonconforming and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Folks from communities listed are encouraged to apply or to reach out for more information. Food for the Spirit knows these groups are subjected to systemic oppression– including people of color, women, people from working class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ+ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other communities who are marginalized.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply by Sunday, April 5, 2026
- Email anneke@foodforthespirit.org with your interest.
- Attach your resume outlining your relevant work experience, three professional references, and a paragraph expressing why you are interested in this position.
- Use subject line: “Buffalo Projects Lead Application”
Questions can be directed to anneke@foodforthespirit.org. Use subject line: “Buffalo Projects Lead Questions”.