Program Coordinator-Food Access - Vermont Foodbank : Job Details

Position Purpose:

VeggieVanGo (VVG) is a statewide fresh food program of the Vermont Foodbank (VF). The program partners with schools and hospitals to provide fruits and vegetables every month to anyone looking to stretch their food budget. Our truck arrives with large bins of fresh food, and, with the help of volunteers, we provide produce to thousands of families and individuals in need each month.

As a member of the Food Access Programs team, the Food Access Program Coordinator is responsible for hands-on program support for VeggieVanGo events in Southern/Central Vermont executing distribution plans and communicating emerging needs to the Senior Manager of Food Access Programs. This includes field support, volunteer and logistics coordination, technical assistance, and community engagement, at VVG events.

The position works with a cross-departmental VVG team to ensure VVG events provide a welcoming, dignified, and safe service to people accessing food. This role will focus on monitoring, sustaining, and adapting direct distributions to meet elevating need. The coordinator will serve as a liaison between community partners and the VF working to build community responsiveness and ownership.

The Food Access Program Coordinator also encompasses special projects related to capacity and sustainability .This includes relationship-building and developing and improving program systems such as program evaluation, reporting databases, resource development, standard operational procedures, and developing programmatic materials.

The position is hybrid and field-based with a preference of commuting distance from the VF Brattleboro or Rutland distribution centers. Travel is a core part of the work as the role will be coordinating at least 13 VVG events per month in Southern/Central Vermont. Current sites include-Brattleboro, Bennington, Windsor, Springfield, Rutland, and Fair Haven (locations may change depending on community need). Communication via email, text, and Microsoft Teams and in person with both VT Foodbank staff and community partners is integral to this role. This position centers Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work (DEI) in collaboration with community and network partners.

The starting pay for the position is set at $26.87 with eventual potential range ($52,793 to $71,425) placement based on years of experience within VF compensation equity roadmap.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Work cross-departmentally with the VF and be able to communicate with staff and volunteers to support the VF's mission, as well as meet and sustain organizational goals.
• DEI Mindset: Foster diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices and challenge practices which may be exclusionary.
• Positively contribute to an organizational culture of safe and secure food handling, warehousing and distribution.
• The Foodbank relies on volunteers every day to fulfill our mission. All Foodbank employees must support our culture of philanthropy by treating every volunteer with appreciation and respect

VeggieVanGo Field-Support:

• Coordinate, organize and implement VeggieVanGo food distributions in Southern/Central Vermont. This includes field support and ongoing communications with site sponsor coordinators, VF staff, and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to a high level of customer service and help foster a safe and dignified experience for participants at VVG events.
• Support volunteer recruitment efforts for assigned VVG events and assist the VF Volunteer Manager with volunteer appreciation and on-site orientation, training, and support.
• Support efforts to create a positive food environment and resource connection.

Community Engagement:

• Maintain regular, clear, and open communication with Senior Manager of Food Access Programs, VF staff, and a larger number of community stakeholders related to VVG events and food access programs.
• Build community relationships and networks to support program sustainability and increase food access within communities.
• Improve fresh food distributions in response to emergent community need-ensuring program feedback is represented in programmatic decisions.
• Act as a liaison between community sites and internal VF systems, negotiating solutions that work for varied needs and communicate decisions transparently.

Programmatic Support:

• Provide technical, research, and communications support to the Senior Manager of Food Access Programs to establish effective operations for the VVG program.
• Attend meetings and trainings with VF staff and community members that support organizational learning and continuous quality improvement of VVG and intersecting VF programs.
• Collaborate or take the lead on special projects related to capacity, sustainability, and expansion of the VVG program and increasing community food access. This may include creating and streamlining program systems; resource-sharing platforms; organization-wide program communication channels; and easy data access for reporting and donor communications.
• Respond to Food Access program inquiries-connecting neighbors to program information and additional resources-both within VF and in Vermont.

Health & Safety/Emergency Response:

• Promote a culture of health and safety at events and adhere to all established food safety procedures. This includes ensuring the safety and comfort of all staff, volunteers, and participants by making sure that everyone on site is upholding safety protocols.
• In instances of a federal, state or locally declared emergency, Vermont Foodbank is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all its employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties.

Other Functions:

• Work on other projects and duties as assigned by Senior Manager of Food Access Programs

Skills/Qualifications:

• The requirements listed below are representative of the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities an individual needs in order to perform this job successfully.

Education and/or Experience:

• Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience, particularly in managing volunteers and interns, working with diverse populations, community engagement work, or related field.
• Bachelor's degree or comparable work experience.
• A proven track record of event management.
• Experience working with remote teams desired.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluating projects desired.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• An ability to adapt well to changing organizational and community priorities is necessary.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills including active listening, participatory dialogue, and conflict resolution to be able to successfully work with community partners, donors, co-workers, volunteers, and the public.
• Community outreach and engagement work, including people-center programming and partnership building.
• Be able to manage ambiguity in the work environment, including effective change management; trouble-shoot; decide and act without having the whole picture; and comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
• Ability to work independently and in successful collaboration with diverse groups of people.
• Excellent organization and time management skills, including the ability to juggle multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to contribute to making our programs more equitable, inclusive, and accessible.
• The individual must be self-motivated and committed to being part of a team.
• The individual must understand and agree with the vision and mission of the Vermont Foodbank and be committed to providing services to people facing situations of hunger and poverty.
• Able to handle stress as well as balance work with self-care.
• A strong systems thinker with excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• This job requires flexibility in office hours and travel.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Have a valid drivers license and access to a reliable vehicle to attend in-person events, meetings, and other duties as needed.

Language Skills:

• Excellent communication in customer-facing role within predominantly English speaking communities. Bi-Lingual applicants strong encouraged to apply.

Compensation details: 26.87-26.87 Hourly Wage

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