Who we are 

Ecotrust creates and accelerates triple-bottom-line innovations to benefit our region and inspire the world. On the farm, at the coast, in the forest, and across our cities, we work in partnership towards an equitable, prosperous, climate-smart future. Since 1991, we have created durable change and sparked ideas across the globe. Ecotrust holds a deep commitment to equity and diversity as core principles integral to the work we do. As we add new members across all levels of the organization, we seek diverse perspectives and lived experiences that we believe foster learning, creativity, innovation, and equity. Learn more at Ecotrust.org. 

Position Title:  Sustainable Southeast Partnership Food Systems Catalyst

Reports to: Southeast Alaska Food Systems Manager

Location: This position may be fully remote, but employee must be based in Southeast Alaska 

Starting Salary:$70,000  to $78,500 → Starting salary will be based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity. The starting salary will not exceed this posted range.  

Full Annual Salary Range for Level: $70,000 to $104,000

Posting Date:  April 20, 2026

Application Deadline:  Applications due by 5pm (AKDT) Monday May 11, 2026

Anticipated Start Date:  Tuesday June 23, 2026

***Learn more about this position by attending an Information Session on Friday April 24th. Scroll to bottom of job posting for details.***

Job Summary 

The SSP Regional Food Systems Catalyst is a strategic, systems-level role responsible for identifying, resourcing, and advancing region-wide food systems initiatives across Southeast Alaska. This position requires someone who can hold the big picture of an interconnected food system — spanning local food production and regenerative agriculture, food and agriculture entrepreneurship, food waste recovery and circular economies, and subsistence and wild harvest practices — while also driving concrete implementation on the ground. The Catalyst works both independently and collaboratively, functioning as a self-directed leader and as a trusted partner within a distributed network of community, Tribal, and organizational partners.

Ecotrust’s food sovereignty vision for Southeast Alaska includes a reliable supply of wild foods, regenerative agriculture, circular economies with nutrient and waste recovery systems, equitable access to fresh and nutritious foods, and strengthening of local and traditional/Indigenous food system knowledge and engagement.

The Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP) is a diverse network of organizations and individuals working together to reach cultural, ecological and economic prosperity for our communities and region. Together with our partners, we focus our work on four key issue areas that we believe can inspire widespread change across Southeast Alaska: localized economies, food security, energy independence, and fisheries and forestry management.

This role works across the following food systems domains:

• Local food production and regenerative agriculture
• Food and agriculture entrepreneurship and rural economic development
• Food waste recovery, composting, and circular/nutrient recovery systems
• Subsistence practices and wild harvest, including traditional and Indigenous food systems
• Regional food access, distribution, and food security infrastructure 

Primary Responsibilities

(The activities listed below represent the core functions of this position.)

• Regional strategy and program design: Lead the development of multi-partner, region-wide food systems initiatives that translate community-identified priorities into fundable, scalable programs that build lasting regional capacity
• Strategy and program development: Work with community partners and SSP partners to develop regional and community based programs that match the opportunities identified by community partners.
• Program oversight and capacity building: Manage and resource a portfolio of initiatives across the food systems spectrum — including production, entrepreneurship, waste recovery, and wild/subsistence harvest — while building lasting community and partner capacity to lead this work.
• Cross-sector systems coordination: Actively map, connect, and align efforts across the region’s food system — including production agriculture, food entrepreneurship, food waste and nutrient recovery, and subsistence and wild harvest — to reduce duplication, surface gaps, and leverage collective resources. Serve as a connective node between communities, funders, Tribal organizations, and SSP partners.
• Grant writing and reporting: Reporting on activities funded through various grants, and securing funding for future projects.
• SSP responsibilities: Participate in all SSP Network retreats, monthly hangouts, regional meetings, and associated activities.
• Ecotrust responsibilities: Participate in Ecotrust all staff meetings, trainings, and retreats. Join regular Coastal Communities and Fisheries and Southeast Food Systems team meetings. Be actively engaged in Ecotrust’s culture.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the organization or employee.

Key Qualifications and Transferable Skills

Transferable skills may be gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for positions where they do not meet 100% of the listed skills and qualifications. Even if you do not meet all of the requirements described, if you believe you are a good fit for the position, we encourage you to apply. A candidate will be assessed on their ability to successfully fulfill or quickly learn these functions.

• 5 years transferable experience or equivalent combination of academic, lived, professional experience in business administration, rural development, community development, food systems or related fields
• At least 3 years working knowledge and experience in Southeast Alaskan communities
• At least 3 years experience working with Tribal Nations, Tribal organizations, and Tribal entities
• Experience working with entrepreneurs or rural economic development 
• Experience facilitating diverse stakeholder groups
• Excellent program management and design skills
• Experience applying deep topical expertise and a systems-based, holistic approach to analysis to build partnerships and deliver training, support, and technical assistance that advances program goals and responds to environmental and social contexts.
• Track record of taking ownership for mistakes and being accountable for repair work
• Proven experience cultivating relationships to advocate for and support historically marginalized individuals and groups.
• Facilitation of inclusive, collaborative processes that support shared decision-making; adapts approach, pace, and tone to meet group needs while encouraging openness, curiosity, and participation from all, especially those most impacted, through active listening and thoughtful engagement.
• Fosters inclusive collaboration and thoughtful decision-making by actively seeking and incorporating diverse perspectives, communicating with curiosity, and adapting approach and engagement style to meet the needs of partners, clients, and evolving situations.
• Drives organized, responsive execution of projects and programs by prioritizing work based on realistic timelines and inclusive processes, coordinating deliverables, tracking progress, and following through on updates, action items, and next steps, even in complex or changing environments.

Other Useful Qualifications

The items listed below represent qualifications that are desirable in a candidate, but are not required. Some of these may be gained through professional development and coaching once on board.

• Bachelor's degree, or lived experience and/or professional experience with food systems, public health/food policy, or sustainable agriculture/agroecology.
• Experience working with collective impact networks
• Experience with productivity software such as Asana or other project management software. 

Additional Information 

This is a full-time, exempt position. 

Please be aware that applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

We believe great benefits make work better: Ecotrust offers equity-centered benefits that strive to recognize employees as whole people and prioritize their overall wellbeing. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance with employee contributions scaled to income, tax-deferred and Roth retirement plans with employer base contributions, term life insurance, and disability coverage. Ecotrust invests in employees' professional development and personal growth. We also offer plentiful paid time off, retreats, and summer fun days.

Working conditions:

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk, use hands to handle objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance, stoop; bending or crouching; talk or hear. The employee must be able to lift/carry and/or move up to 30 pounds safely. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Working conditions: While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to weather conditions and other elements prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal. This job requires regular travel in commercial planes, AMHS ferries, float planes, and twin engine planes.

Staff are expected to attend in-person events with fellow Ecotrust colleagues at least twice a year. This includes:

• Yearly All-Staff Gathering
• One Additional Event: e.g., team retreat, board meeting, or similar gathering, to be determined by team leads.

Ecotrust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a diverse staff of qualified, highly-skilled, and creative individuals is necessary to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. Individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, or other People of Color, people who are queer, trans, non-binary, people with disabilities, people who are immigrants, veterans, people from poor and working class backgrounds, and people who are/have been system-impacted are strongly encouraged to apply.

Click here to learn more about equity at Ecotrust. 

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please reach out to jslavik@ecotrust.org  in advance to request assistance. 

Apply via our careers page on Rippling Recruiting. No cover letter is required. Instead, please answer brief narrative questions provided in the application. 

The Selection Process: In an effort to be as transparent as possible in our selection process as well as to help expedite bringing new staff on board, below is a timeline of key events:

• Review of Resumes:5/12 - 5/15
• First Round Interviews: 5/26 - 5/28
• Second Round Interviews:6/1 & 6/2
• Reference checks: 6/4- 6/9
• Extend offer: By 6/12

While we will proactively communicate these dates and any changes to you throughout the process, please consider placing tentative holds on your calendars for the initial screening and face-to-face interviews.

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Learn more about this position by attending an Information Session: Ecotrust is hosting an informational webinar about this position. You can call in to listen and ask questions.

• Date: Friday April 24th, 2026 at 11am AKDT / 12pm PDT
• Click this link to join by computer audio/video: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88545217658
• Webinar ID: 885 4521 7658 
• Dial this number to join by phone and enter the meeting ID: +16699006833,88545217658# US

We will record the session and post the recording to the job posting shortly afterwards.

To mitigate privileged access to information about the position, our policy is that hiring team members may not meet with candidates who are considering applying for that role. Instead, we offer the information session as a way to equalize access to information about the role for all candidates.