Fourth Plain Forward

Compensation

Full Description

Fourth Plain Forward is the 501 c 3 Place Based Development organization for the Fourth Plain Corridor, a 2.4 sq mile district located in central Vancouver. Home to over 21,000 folks, we are a diverse community of cultures, peoples and lived experiences. As the backbone organization for the area, Fourth Plain Forward brings together systems, grassroots organizations, residents, and businesses for the process of removing the persistent barriers that our community faces. We serve Black, Brown and Indigenous communities, folks who are under resourced and excluded from mainstream services, and those whose social capital does not meet the expected norms and standards of mainstream society. Our geographical boundaries do not, however, limit our services or active participation with these communities outside of the Fourth Plain corridor. To learn more, we invite you to visit our website: https://fourthplainforward.org/ Position Overview: We operate the Fourth Plain Community Commons and its shared commercial kitchen, providing space, practical support, and a launchpad for food businesses through training, connections, and real-world operating experience. https://www.fpcommunitycommons.org/commissary-kitchen-fourth-plain-vancouver-wa The Business Development Coordinator (Commercial Kitchen) plays a central role in the daily success and growth of the shared commercial kitchen at the Fourth Plain Community Commons. This position works across two core responsibilities: supporting front-line kitchen operations and driving new business into the space. In this role, you will be a key on-the-ground presence for food entrepreneurs—helping with onboarding, scheduling, shared-use standards, and day-to-day coordination—while also leading outreach to identify, engage, and convert new kitchen users. You will work closely with the Kitchen Manager to ensure the kitchen is well run, highly utilized, and provides a strong experience for every member. This is a hands-on role for someone who is comfortable in busy, real-world environments, enjoys building relationships, and is motivated by helping food businesses move from idea to operation and growth. Salary: $60,000 - $65,000 Benefits: We provide Paid Time Off (PTO) and sick leave upfront, giving you full access to your leave balance from day one. This includes 80 hours of prorated sick leave, 15 days of prorated PTO, 3 personal days, and 12 hours of volunteer time. Additionally, we offer a $1,000 professional development stipend, healthcare coverage with up to100% of the premiums covered (including dependents), and dental coverage with 50% of the premiums covered from your first day on the job. You will also receive a 401k plan with a 4% match, fully vested after 12 months. As a unique benefit, we provide an extra week of paid time off before your first day in the office, allowing you time to recharge, take a vacation, or enjoy some personal time. We also observe all federal holidays and are closed from December 23rd to January 2nd, providing a restful holiday break. The role: This role is based in the Fourth Plain Community Commons commissary kitchen. You’ll be an on-site presence for food entrepreneurs keeping things running smoothly while also leading outreach to bring new users into the space. You’ll work closely with the Kitchen Manager to ensure strong operations, high utilization, and a great experience for every kitchen member. On a typical week, you might: → Staff the kitchen office and serve as the daily point of contact for users → Support the Kitchen Manager with scheduling, onboarding, and member communication → Ensure users follow cleaning protocols and food safety standards → Attend farmers markets, pop-ups, and community events to connect with vendors → Generate and follow up on leads; schedule tours and orientations → Collect onboarding documents and help move prospects into active members → Coordinate open houses or kitchen events → Work with our Social Media Manager on user success stories → Maintain the pipeline tracker and contribute data for reports You’ll be expected to consistently generate 15–20 new leads per month while helping keep the kitchen fully utilized and well run. What we’re looking for: → 3+ years experience in business development, sales, outreach, or customer acquisition, ideally in food, restaurant, or hospitality environments → Strong comfort with relationship-based, sales-oriented outreach and follow-up → Highly organized, reliable, and able to manage multiple priorities in a busy environment → Willingness to be hands-on in a shared kitchen setting → Flexibility for some evenings and weekends for events and outreach → Spanish language skills strongly preferred → Familiarity with commercial kitchen operations a plus Skills and Competencies: • Business development & lead conversion: Demonstrated ability to generate, qualify, and convert leads into active customers or members through relationship-based outreach. • Operational coordination: Ability to manage day-to-day workflows, schedules, onboarding, and inquiries in a shared, customer-facing environment. • Relationship & stakeholder management: Builds trust with entrepreneurs, resolves issues constructively, and maintains positive working relationships over time. • Organization & follow-through: Strong systems for managing multiple priorities, documentation, and deadlines with consistent execution. • Communication & influence: Communicates expectations clearly, navigates difficult conversations, and aligns others around shared goals. • Collaboration & accountability: Works effectively with a manager and team, shares information, and takes ownership for outcomes. Application Process: For consideration, please email your resume and a cover letter with the subject line “Business Development Coordinator” to the following email address: recruitment@fourthplainforward.org. Reasonable Accommodations If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please let us know at recruitment@fourthplainforward.org Equal Opportunity & Encouragement to Apply Fourth Plain Forward is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability. We also recognize that some candidates—particularly women and people from underrepresented backgrounds—may hesitate to apply unless they meet every qualification listed. If this role excites you and you believe your experience aligns with most of what we’re looking for, we encourage you to apply. We value potential, lived experience, and transferable skills as much as direct experience.