Lead Marketer and crowdfunding expert for worker-owned sustainable foods startup

Manzanita Cooperative Inc (MCI) is a new majority worker-owned and democratically run seed-stage startup.
We are currently raising funds to launch California's first modern processing facility for acorn and other native tree-nuts this July, to be located in or near Ukiah, as well as grant-funded development of new climate-adapted crops derived from native species.
This is a critical hire with a huge impact on the business.
The ideal candidate has experience in viral marketing and crowdfunding and can lead the whole process of defining the brand and positioning, planning go-to-market, and helping us tell that story to potential customers and crowdfunding backers.
We believe that the story we can tell about using native plants to make farms sustainable habitat while reducing water usage and creating food security in the face of climate change is deeply compelling for the right audience.
We need someone who can help us get our story and mission in front of those folks so we can successfully crowdfund at least a portion of our startup funds.
We are also hoping to work with tribal governments and organizations throughout the North Coast and Bay Area to support their food security goals and improve their access to traditional ingredients.
If we can also attract them as investors, so much the better.
You will need to be comfortable doing outreach to this community.
Pre-funding you will be compensated in equity based on hours worked and a target salary of $160k for full-time work.
Once we secure adequate funding (target: June 2024), you get $4k/mo cash compensation for full time with the remainder of your salary paid in additional equity.
As the business grows, the cash compensation portion will increase over time.
The ideal candidate would be able to commit to working on at least half time.
The ideal candidate is deeply aligned with our mission to make high quality native foods available and accessible.
We are launching a new industry here and need people capable of seeing both the forest and the trees and translating ideas into action.
We need someone with the insight and vision to find new efficiencies, avoid waste, and pursue relentless improvement as we push towards profitability.
You don’t need to have all the good ideas yourself, but you do need to recognize, champion, and implement them.
We believe in what we call "Redwood culture.
" Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world and they achieve those heights by twining their roots together to support each other come storm or fire - they literally hold each other up.
We expect a similar level of collaboration and accountability from all team members and our management team must set the standard for everyone else.
Responsibilities * Work with your co-founders to map out market positioning, build strategy, create content, and lead the go-to-market.
* Research and business development to support the enterprise * Contribute to grant writing and other fundraising efforts * Over time you will recruit, lead, and scale a marketing team which will be responsible for social, digital advertising, earned media, and more to tell the story of the worker owned cooperative disrupting agriculture and making farms habitat.
* Manage your own work load and your team to ensure achievable goals and deadlines are set and met on schedule * Put out fires.
Identify things we haven't thought of and proactively deal with them.
Be awesome at every opportunity.
Qualifications * 8-12 years' of work experience * Strategic planning * Strong written and verbal and presentation skills * Strong leadership and organizational skills * Experience with crowdfunding and viral marketing * Experience with using earned media to tell a story and win recognition * Experience running marketing operations for early stage startups and getting big results on small budgets.
* Familiarity with California’s native plants and the unique challenges posed by habitat loss.
You’re probably a member of the California Native Plant Society or at least follow them on social media.
* Familiarity with Acorn and other native wild foods or an eagerness to learn _Candidates who are women, indigenous people, or who belong to other historically marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
_ Job Types: Full-time, Part-time Pay: $48,000.
00 - $160,000.
00 per hour Expected hours: 12 – 40 per week Benefits: * Dental insurance * Flexible schedule * Health insurance * Paid time off Schedule: * Choose your own hours Work Location: Remote