Food Pantry Manager, Bilingual

Organizational Summary

In a community-based, confidential, respectful environment, Jim Luther New Hope Center (JLNHC) seeks to provide nutritionally-sound, short-term relief to families experiencing food insecurity while simultaneously empowering families to achieve long-term food security.

Located on the Milwaukee South Side, the JLNHC is one of the largest food pantries in this designated “food desert” part of Milwaukee, serving over 17,000 individuals in the past year. Located in a vibrant, diverse neighborhood, our food pantry serves families of many different cultures, many of whom struggle with poverty.

In addition to the food pantry, the JLNHC has a food cooperative; a client-run, neighborhood-based food security program where residents take ownership in running the program. Members of this program receive a self-reported 60-100% of their food needs covered, as well as support for their mental health, access to job resources, and more. The food pantry and the food cooperative are two distinct and separate programs.

Job Overview

This individual will oversee the day-to-day and strategic operations of the JLNHC, primarily related to our food pantry distribution. A good fit for this position will be someone who is knowledgeable and sensitive to the cultural needs of our Latino/Hispanic community, dedicated to the mission of empowering the community residents, and able to be flexible to the needs of each day!

This individual will work closely with the current Operations Manager, Chief Advancement Officer, President of the Board of Directors, and volunteers meeting on a frequent basis related to strategic direction, planning, and logistics.

We are in the midst of huge organizational growth. This candidate should be someone who enjoys taking initiative, thinking proactively, and can act autonomously in making decisions.

Job Responsibilities

1. Manage and Oversee Food Pantry Distribution
   • Work with a team of volunteers in coordinating the food pantry operations
   • Ensure volunteers are well informed and equipped to handle pantry demands
   • Address needs of volunteers and clients as needed
2. Manage and Oversee Food Inventory and Stocking
   • Oversees food ordering and coordinates food drives
   • Oversees delivery, sorting, and organizing of food in storage and on the shelves
   • Maintains, creates, and initiates partnerships with food suppliers in the community
3. Pantry promotion and program expansion
   • Increase neighborhood volunteerism
   • Connect with non-food organizations to help address client needs and build our compendium of resources
   • Increase promotion of JLNHC to all stakeholders (volunteers, donors, clients, partners) through various means
   • Responding to communications in a timely manner (email, text, Slack, etc.)
4. Manage Client Database and Reporting
   • Utilize online Salesforce CRM to manage our client database
   • Make corrections to input errors
   • Submit monthly inventory and client data
   • Make adjustments in system as needed
5. Other tasks and responsibilities as needed

Qualifications

1. Experience and/or interest with non-profit social services
2. Experience with building and maintaining programs
3. Bilingual in Spanish and English (required)
4. Ability to lift 50+ pounds and perform frequent physical tasks daily (preferred)
5. Computer Literate, able to navigate email, internet, and website
6. Experience with Salesforce or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software experience (preferred)
7. Experience in initiating and maintaining collaborative efforts with community leaders and organizations
8. Interest in meeting with neighborhood residents and supporting individual patrons

Soft Skills Desired

1. Ability to be flexible in the workday
2. Cultural competency and sensitivity
3. Demonstrate initiative and problem solving
4. Demonstrate ability to actively listen and incorporate feedback
5. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
6. Conflict resolution experience
7. Excellent team working ability
8. Strong interpersonal skills
9. Strong communication skills

Work culture

Work with a collaborative and passionate team to address food insecurity through a holistic approach; focusing on the economic, social, and traumatic factors that may impact our clients. We value the individual liberty and freedom of our clients, while providing mentorship, collaboration, and advice as needed. The JLNHC ensures the needs of the community are heard and incorporated into our decision making process. We believe in the servant-leader model, and are guided by principles of subsidiarity and upholding the dignity of the human person.

Work-life balance is important to us, and there is opportunity for flex-time throughout your work week. This would be our second full time employee.

Benefits and Salary

• $25,000 – $50,000 annually (based on experience, expertise, and part time/full time employment)
• Medical premium reimbursement
• PTO package of 8-15 days (based on part time/full time employment)