Company description

It’s not every day you can join an organization whose mission inspires you. Berkeley Food Network (BFN) seeks to end hunger and poor nutrition by using innovative, community-centered solutions to build a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food system. With an emphasis on fresh produce and high-quality protein, BFN’s programs improve access to healthy foods for residents of low-income neighborhoods throughout our service area. In 2021, the BFN team distributed almost 2 million pounds of food to over 6,000 clients every week!

Job description

The Programs Associate collaborates with operations staff, community partners, and volunteers to prepare and distribute food directly to the community through various organizational programs. This role includes preparing orders of food for Berkeley Food Network’s food distributions, as well as building relationships with community partners, volunteers and community members accessing our services.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Direct Distribution Programs Support - 50%

• Support 9th Street Pantry with restocking, distributing groceries, conducting pantry member check-in, orienting volunteers, operational needs and community member interactions
• Prepare orders for direct distribution at BFN’s neighborhood pantries by processing requests, pulling materials, packing boxes, and placing orders in the distribution area and/or organization vehicles.
• Maintain best practices for food handling by storing items in appropriate locations and at appropriate temperatures to prevent spoilage, infestation, and cross-contamination.
• Maintain safe and clean facilities and work environment by keeping shelves, pallet area, and workstations neat; participate in daily cleaning processes
• Work with inventory management software, Primarius, and order scheduling software, Airtable, to support order fulfillment
• Conduct interviews and surveys with pantry members to understand how we can improve our services

Volunteer Collaboration - 30%

• Greet and provide positive customer service to volunteers and community members entering the warehouse
• Lead pantry volunteers in the set-up, operation and take-down of BFN’s various pantries
• Lead by example: demonstrate to existing volunteers and train new volunteers on best practices for pantry operations and member interactions
• Work with Volunteer & Outreach Manager to identify necessary training for volunteers.
• Answer volunteer questions about processes
• Receive and report volunteer feedback
• Support the Volunteer & Outreach Manager and Pantry Programs Manager in identifying specific volunteer needs at pantries and other distribution events

Logistical Support - 20%

• Prepare orders for community pantries and home delivery programs
• Support the Pantry Programs Manager with the home delivery program by creating labels, suggesting menu offerings, and communicating with interested recipients
• Load, deliver, and unload food for community pantries
• Develop menus for pantry distributions
• Become familiar with the Client Voice software system to analyze the number of people receiving food

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to prioritize tasks based on a variety of factors; flexibility to reassess based on changing circumstances
• Ability to track scheduling and timing of deliveries and pick-ups. Maintain effective time management practices to ensure orders are loaded and delivered on time.
• Communication and people skills to successfully interact with a variety of partners and clients
• Basic computer skills, experience with Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail), and ability to learn data management softwares
• Valid California Drivers License with an insurable driving record; ease and familiarity with driving cargo vans

Preferred Qualifications

• Food Justice or Community Service experience desired
• Food Service or Food Distribution experience desired
• Basic knowledge of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) desired
• Experience and comfort operating a forklift and/or pallet jack is preferred

Personal Attributes

• Problem solving mindset, collaborative with other team members
• Flexible and able to adapt to an environment with changing procedures
• Seeks solutions to problems and issues that arise
• High level of personal responsibility and accountability to assigned tasks
• Cordial and helpful communication style with staff, volunteers, community members and partners
• Empathetic and compassionate communication with community members receiving food assistance

Physical Requirements

This position is primarily located in a warehouse environment. Able to perform the following duties with or without accommodation:

• Exert force and/or lift or carry items weighing 50 to 75 pounds occasionally, and up to 50 pounds frequently
• Walk, sit, squat, bend, twist, reach above and below shoulder height, push, pull, lift and carry frequently
• Work inside freezers and coolers frequently
• Work in a warehouse environment that is occasionally loud
• Handle compost and trash receptacles without discomfort
• Comply with BFN’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy and current COVID-19 safety requirements including the following: Ability to provide proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination series as recommended by CDC

Compensation & Benefits

This is an on-site, full-time, overtime-eligible position working 40 hours per week. The schedule for this position will be Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm OR 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, as determined by supervisor and organizational need, with a half-hour unpaid lunch break. The rate for this position is $25.00 per hour ($52,000 annualized). Benefits Include:

-Health Benefits: BFN pays 100% of employee premiums for the following:

• Kaiser Gold base plan with opportunity to buy up to Kaiser Platinum, Anthem Blue Cross, and Sutter Health Plans.
• Delta Dental OR MetLife Dental coverage
• VSP Vision Gold plan

-Twenty-one (21) paid holidays, including the end-of-year closure between December 23 – January 1 annually

-Accrued paid leaves, including up to ten (10) paid vacation days and up to 48 paid sick leave hours in your first year

-Elective 403(b) Retirement Plan

-Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

-Group Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Long-Term Disability (LTD) plans

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

January 12, 2024