At Food Literacy Center, we inspire kids to eat their vegetables.

About Us

At Food Literacy Center, we inspire kids to eat their vegetables. Food Literacy Center came to life in July 2011 to fill a critical gap: to help individuals improve their knowledge, attitude, and behavior towards real food. Partnering with afterschool programs, we teach food literacy education to 1,200 (and growing!) K-6th graders in low-income schools, using fun, approachable lessons teaching kids to cook, about nutrition, and where their food comes from. Our kids become food adventurers!  

Job Opportunities

Culinary Lead
Culinary Lead Job Description

About this peachy position:

We’re seeking a veggie-loving Culinary Lead to support our Plant Parts Cafe program. This seasonal position reports to the Community Engagement Manager, while working closely with the Market Sales & Kitchen Coordinator and our CEO to cook and lead in the kitchen. This program reduces food waste, supports local farmers, and delivers ready-to-eat, healthy meals using produce from our farmer’s market. We’re seeking a candidate who can cook to meet the standards of a plant-based Mediterranean diet, follow our nonprofit’s recipes, train and supervise a support team, and bring this culinary program to life. 

Here’s what you’ll do as the Culinary Lead: 

Kitchen Oversight & Cooking Duties:

• Lead recipe execution in our certified commercial kitchen on Thursdays and/or Fridays (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM) from May 14, 2025 to mid-November 2025.
• Ensure all meals are prepared to meet Food Literacy Center’s standards for taste, nutrition, food safety, and joy!
• Collaborate with the Community Engagement Manager and CEO to implement weekly menus.
• Mentor and train kitchen team members, modeling best practices and maintaining a joyful, organized workspace.
• Adapt recipes as needed to fit seasonal produce availability while keeping the integrity of our core recipes 
• Package meals according to food safety protocols.
• Occasionally contribute to new recipe development aligned with Food Literacy Center values.
• Wash dishes and maintain a clean, safe, and sparkly kitchen space.
• Oversee kitchen closing, maintaining our standard of excellence from the county health department.
• Other duties as assigned.

You’ll exhibit these competencies:

Project Management: 

• From cooking recipes with efficiency and superior time management skills, to managing multiple kitchen tasks at once, you manage your time like a pro—even when veggies hit the fan.

Achievement-orientation: 

• You’re results-driven and solution-focused. Whether it’s troubleshooting a recipe or improving kitchen flow, you take initiative and communicate ideas clearly with your team and supervisors quickly and effectively.

Innovative Thinking:

• Whether adapting an existing recipe or making the most of a last-minute veggie substitution, you bring order, flavor, and efficiency to every dish.

Positive Attitude: 

• Exudes a positive outlook and attitude, especially during stressful or difficult times. Helps maintain the joyfulness of the Food Literacy Center culture.

All about you! You’ll be successful in this position if you:

• Are passionate about Food Literacy Center’s mission to inspire kids to eat their vegetables.
• Have at least 3-5 years of experience in a professional kitchen, preferably with leadership responsibilities.
• Are confident leading small teams and giving constructive feedback.
• Understand and follow food safety protocols like a pro.
• Embrace seasonal cooking and can adapt recipes on the fly.
• Value structure and consistency—but also love to add a pinch of creativity when needed.
• Are flexible, self-motivated, and solution-oriented.
• Are a team player with great communication and positive energy.

Extra points if you

• Have experience working in a small, entrepreneurial, growing team.
• Have experience working with nonprofits.
• Speak Spanish or Hmong.

Other things to know: We offer a unique, healthy work culture that celebrates teamwork and vegetable eating!

• This is an at-will, non-exempt, part-time temporary, on-site position
• Compensation is $25 an hour
• Given that we are a start-up nonprofit in growth mode, a flexible schedule is necessary. 
• We love our veggies, so a vegetable costume may be worn on occasion!
• Because food literacy is at our core, we require all employees to successfully complete Food Literacy Academy certification and become a certified food handler. Food Literacy Center will pay for and provide the resources necessary to certify you in these areas.
• You’ll need to be able to lift 25 lbs of supplies. 
• Additionally, you must pass a Department of Justice background check and have a negative TB test.
• Proof of COVID vaccination is required.

How to apply: 

Ready to turnip the beet? Send your resume and a brief cover letter to gerine@foodliteracycenter.org Applications accepted until position is filled.

Deputy Director
Deputy Director Job Description

About this peachy position:
The Deputy Director will partner with the CEO in strategy development and fund development, while overseeing the team in program and daily operations. This role will prioritize smooth and efficient processes to support the organization’s long-term strategies, establish and maintain external partnerships, and exhibit proactive external and internal communication. This role reports directly to the CEO and manages all staff and administrative duties for Food Literacy Center. This role is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and inspiring nonprofit leader.

Here’s what you’ll do as the Deputy Director:
Provide daily management of the Food Literacy Center Team:

• Build and maintain strong relationships between all team members. Preserve and nurture our unique organizational culture of committed and motivated staff.
• Conduct frequent check-ins, monitor and coach performance, develop and retain great team members.
• Provide oversight of Food Literacy Center’s programs and their implementation.
• Provide guidance, identify blind spots, solve problems, and answer questions.
• In partnership with the CEO, evaluate our program’s successes and identify ways to strengthen our impact.

Keep our daily operations running smoothly and efficiently:

• Continually assess operational needs and address when necessary. Oversee resolution of IT and technology related issues and oversee office staff in resolution of other related items.
• Oversee accurate timekeeping and payroll, monitor expenses, coordinate with the bookkeeper on accounts payable and accounts receivable and uphold nonprofit accounting best practices.
• Ensure internal policies and procedures are relevant, updated, and communicated to all staff.

Lead Fund Development & Marketing Strategies:

• Develop and implement Food Literacy Center’s fund development strategy.
• Meet or exceed all fundraising goals, and fully maximize all fundraising modalities including major gifts, individual gifts, third-party events, special events, grants, program fees, etc.
• Maintain knowledge of industry and nonprofit trends and identify and oversee implementation of potential project, funding, and collaboration opportunities.
• Train staff in fund development best practices and maintain the organization’s strong culture of philanthropy.
• Assist with identification, cultivation, and stewardship of new and established donors.
• Oversee Food Literacy Center’s marketing, maintaining its high quality and following its brand guide meticulously.

Contribute strategically:

• Make key decisions around organizational priorities.
• Identify opportunities to communicate the vision and mission of the organization to an ever-broadening audience.
• Provide ideas, input, and leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

In addition, we hope you will grow in this position as we grow as an organization. You’ll collaborate with the CEO on other duties, strategies, and initiatives as needed.

You’ll exhibit these competencies:

• Project Management
• Relationship Development & Communication
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making
• Innovative Thinking
• Positive Attitude

All about you! You’ll be successful in this position if you:

• Have a deep commitment to the mission of Food Literacy Center.
• Have worked in a leadership role in nonprofit organizations for at least 5 years.
• Have experience successfully supervising others.
• Are able to manage multiple complex, collaborative projects simultaneously.
• Have outstanding communications and public speaking skills, and an aptitude for problem solving.
• Live into our team’s values and behaviors.
• Have an understanding or familiarity with local food, food systems, and nutrition.
• Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Extra points if you

• Have a master’s degree in nonprofit management or related field.
• Have an inspirational management style, while also able to develop staff and hold them accountable for delivering top-quality programming.
• Have experience working in a small, growing team.

Other things to know: 
We offer a unique, healthy work culture that celebrates teamwork and vegetable eating!

• This is an at-will, fill-time, exempt position that is benefits-eligible. The range for compensation is $105,000 – $130,000 annually.
• A flexible schedule is necessary. This position requires some evenings and weekends.
• You’ll need to be able to lift 50 lbs.
• This position requires you to travel throughout Sacramento, so a California driver’s license is required.
• We love our veggies, so a vegetable costume may be worn on occasion!
• Because food literacy is at our core, we require all employees to successfully complete Food Literacy Academy certification and become a certified food handler. Food Literacy Center will provide the resources to certify you in these areas.
• Additionally, you must pass a Department of Justice background check and have a negative TB test.
• Proof of COVID vaccination is required.

Ready to apply? Great! Please submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter to amber@foodliteracycenter.org, subject: Deputy Director.
In your letter, please describe the most successful project you worked on–and tell us why you are proud of it. This position will remain open until filled. No phone calls, please.

Program Educator 
Program Educator Job Description

About this Peachy Position:
The Program Educator is a dynamic entry-level position. The person will ensure programs run smoothly and are top quality, providing joyful experiences for children. The ideal candidate is a multidisciplinary Jack/Jill of all trades who has strong communication skills, strong organizational skills, the desire to be part of a nimble, results-oriented team, and a passion for inspiring kids to eat their vegetables.

The Program Educator will work closely with the program manager, operations manager, other educators, partners, and volunteers. This position reports to the Program Manager. 

Here’s what you’ll do as our Program Educator:

Area one of duties:

• Coordinate and schedule food literacy sessions with after-school program site leads
• Handle program logistics, including on-site volunteer coordination, setup, tear down, and program delivery.
• Lead and teach food literacy curriculum to K – 6th students.
• Track program records and reports, such as attendance rosters. 
• Conduct surveys and track student evaluations.

Area two of duties: 

• Become certified as a Food Genius
• Practice food safety measures at various elementary school sites.
• Handle cleaning, food preparation, packing and transporting supplies, and other physical labor.
• Communicate programmatic needs and changes with the site lead and other program coordinators. 

Area three of duties: 

• Plan, Schedule, and coordinate special programs: Kid’s Farmer’s Market, field trips
• Provide educational and technical training to partners as needed.
• Provide support as needed for the organization. Example: Assisting in Annual Events
• Other duties as assigned. 

As Program Educator, you’ll exhibit these key job competencies. 

Achievement-orientation: 

• Demonstrates an ability to meet and exceed goals and expectations.
• Lives up to the high standard the community expects of our nonprofit, showing attention to detail.
• Identifies problems and seeks to solve them quickly.
• Strategizes ideas for program improvement and communicates ideas effectively with the supervisor. 

Problem Solving & Decision-Making:

• Demonstrates a strong ability to recognize problems, solve them quickly, and appropriately message changes.
• Make decisions that consider all stakeholders, and act accordingly.
• Displays comfort with ambiguity but has a strong bias for structure and results.
• Flexibility, resilience and perseverance when faced with obstacles and competing deadlines with limited resources.
• Shows sound and thoughtful decision-making ability. 

Project Management: 

• Demonstrates a strong ability to balance multiple competing priorities daily. Demonstrates an ability to prioritize, and take action accordingly. 

Innovative Thinking:

• Demonstrates an ability to create processes and systems to streamline internal operations.
• Demonstrates a high level of comfort with ambiguity, and an ability to create order.
• Demonstrates an aptitude for framing problems as opportunities, and always pushing to further streamline. 

Positive Attitude: 

• Exudes a positive outlook and attitude, especially during stressful or difficult times. Helps maintain the joyfulness of the Food Literacy Center culture. 

All About You!
You’ll be successful in this position if you:

• Have a deep commitment to the mission of Food Literacy Center
• Have a passion for and experience working with children.
• Have 1-2 years of teaching, food service or public health experience. 
• Are highly motivated, able to self-manage, flexible, able to multitask, and maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information
• Have a high degree of comfort with change and ambiguity
• Have strong communications skills. 
• Ability to work well in a collaborative, team environment.

Extra points if you have:

• Have experience working in a small, entrepreneurial, growing team
• Have experience working with food literacy 
• Have experience working with nonprofits 
• Have basic cooking skills. (Home cooking is OK!)
• Speak Spanish or Hmong

Other Things to Know:        
We offer a unique, vegetable-oriented work culture that celebrates teamwork, health, and vegetable eating.

• This is an at-will, non-exempt, full-time, on-site position. Compensation is $20-22/hour DOE during 2024. Averages 40 hours a week.
• REQUIRED: Must have availability between 10:00 – 6:30 PM Monday through Thursdays and Fridays 9:00 am –  5:30 pm and does require some evenings and weekends.
• Given that we are a start-up nonprofit in growth mode, a flexible schedule is necessary. This position may require some nights and weekends
• You’ll need to be able to lift 40 lbs of food and supplies.
• This position requires you to travel throughout Sacramento, so a California driver’s license is required.
• There is moderate local travel required in this position — you’ll be traveling back and forth between offices and schools.
• We love our veggies, so a vegetable costume may be worn on occasion.
• Because food literacy is at our core, we require all employees to successfully complete Food Literacy Academy certification and become a certified food handler. Food Literacy Center will pay for and provide the resources necessary to certify you in these areas.
• Additionally, you must pass a Department of Justice background check and have a negative TB test.
• Proof of COVID vaccination is required.        

Ready to apply? Great! Check out the next steps below.
Please submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter outlining the unique value you will bring to our organization to cindy@foodliteracycenter.org, subject: Program Educator- Last Name. This position will remain open until filled.

Part-Time Temporary Program Educator

Part-Time Temporary Program Educator Job Description

About this Peachy Position

The part-time, temporary Program Educator is a dynamic entry-level position. The person will ensure programs run smoothly and are top quality, providing joyful experiences for children. The ideal candidate is a multidisciplinary Jack/Jill of all trades who has strong communication skills, strong organizational skills, the desire to be part of a nimble, results-oriented team, and a passion for inspiring kids to eat their vegetables.

The Program Educator will work closely with the program manager, operations manager, other educators, and volunteers. This position reports to the Program Manager. 

Here’s what you’ll do as our Program Educator:

• Handle program logistics, including on-site volunteer coordination, setup, tear down, and program delivery.
• Track program records and reports, such as attendance rosters. 
• Pack and transport program materials to sites.
• Practice food safety measures at various elementary school sites.
• Handle cleaning, food preparation, hauling supplies, and other physical labor.
• Coordinate programmatic information with volunteers, interns and site leads. 
• Lead and teach food literacy curriculum to K – 6th students. 
• Conduct surveys and track student evaluations.
• Communicate programmatic needs and changes with site lead and other program coordinators. 
• Become certified as a Food Genius
• Provide support as needed for the organization. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

As Program Educator, you’ll exhibit these key job competencies. 

• Organized: Shows a strong ability to plan. Keeps accurate and timely records, and strives to meet and exceed program and organizational goals.
• Achievement-orientation: Demonstrates an ability to meet and exceed goals and expectations. Lives up to the high standard the community expects of our nonprofit, showing attention to detail. Identifies problems and seeks to solve them quickly. Strategizes ideas for program improvement and communicates ideas effectively with the supervisor. 
• Positive Attitude: Exudes a positive outlook and attitude, especially during stressful or difficult times. Helps maintain the joyfulness of the Food Literacy Center culture. 

All About You! You’ll be successful in this position if you:

• Have a deep commitment to the mission of Food Literacy Center
• Have some experience working with children or youth.
• Align with our team’s values and behaviors 
• Have a high degree of comfort with change and ambiguity
• Have strong communications skills. 
• Are comfortable toggling between functions and roles.
• Ability to work well in a collaborative, team environment.
• Comfortable and excited to teach youth. 
• Have the ability to organize and prioritize assignments and tasks, as well as adapt and react quickly as projects evolve.
• Have an Associate Degree or equivalent experience
• Have an understanding or familiarity with local food, food systems, and nutrition

Extra points if you have: 

• Have customer service or sales experience
• Have experience working in a small, entrepreneurial start-up team
• Have experience volunteering with food literacy
• Have experience working with nonprofits
• Have basic cooking skills (home cooking is OK!)
• Speak Spanish or Hmong

Other Things to Know: We offer a unique, vegetable-oriented work culture that celebrates teamwork, health, and vegetable eating.

• This is a non-exempt, part-time, temporary position that pays $18/hour DOE. Averages 20-24 hours a week.
• Most programming follows the school year calendar, with breaks during holidays and between each session. 
• REQUIRED: Must have availability between 12:00 – 6:30 PM Monday through Thursdays and Fridays 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.
• Given that we are a start-up nonprofit in growth mode, a flexible schedule is necessary. This position may require some nights and weekends
• You’ll need to be able to lift 50 lbs of food and supplies.
• This position requires you to travel throughout Sacramento, so a California driver’s’ license are required.
• There is moderate local travel required in this position — you’ll be traveling back and forth between offices and schools.
• We love our veggies, so a vegetable costume may be worn on occasion.
• Because food literacy is at our core, we require all employees to successfully complete Food Literacy Academy certification and become a certified food handler. Food Literacy Center will pay for and provide the resources necessary to certify you in these areas.
• Additionally, you must pass a Department of Justice background check and have a negative TB test.
• Proof of COVID vaccination is required.

Ready to apply? Great! Check out the next steps below.

Please submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter outlining the unique value you will bring to our organization to cindy@foodliteracycenter.org, subject: Program Educator- Last Name. This position will remain open until filled.

Food Literacy Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applicants of a diverse background to apply.
Benefits include cell phone reimbursement, health care, Simple IRA match, vacation & sick leave. 

Why Our Work Matters

• Despite being America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, Sacramento has a 40% childhood obesity rate, and many students and families live in food deserts.
• Obesity disproportionately affects low-income and minority children.
• Obesity is now regarded as more damaging than smoking or drinking.
• Being overweight can negatively impact a child’s self-esteem, behavior, friendships, and academic performance.
• All of these problems are preventable–if we eat our vegetables. But we have two generations of Americans who do not know how. That’s where we come in.

Our Leadership & Team

CEO & Chief Food Genius, Amber Stott, is joined by a stellar team of staff, and community volunteers who make up the center’s board, volunteer committees, and support system. As a growing team, we’ve combined their creative ideas, expertise, and energy around food, health, and social change to be a catalyst for change in the community.

Program Recognition

Food Literacy Center holds a Slow Food Snail of Approval, the Green Apple Project Innovation Award from Sacramento City Unified School District, was named Innovator in early childhood health interventions two years in a row by the Department of Public Health, and passed a statewide resolution that declares the month of September as Food Literacy Month in the state of California.

We believe food literacy matters. Learn more about us here.