Food Access Program Assistant - Northfield

Organization: Community Action Center (CAC) is a community-based, non-profit, human services
organization that provides and advocates for the basic needs of people and families throughout Rice
County. Its programs create a robust safety net for low-income families and include food access, housing,
employment services, clothing, emergency assistance, youth services, transportation, health care
assistance, and more.

CAC provides drop-in resource centers where immediate response and support are available, and its
thriving and abundant food shelves serve fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant food to thousands of
households each year. CAC also administers multiple housing services spanning from emergency shelter
to workforce housing, including ongoing support services with tenants. CAC’s Recovery Support program
helps individuals who are currently using or in recovery from substance use. Partnerships with local
employers allow CAC to connect individuals to job opportunities and enhance job skills, and CAC’s retail
clothing store provides the entire community with access to affordable clothing.

Mission & Values: CAC’s mission is to promote a healthy, caring, and just community for all people
through resources, advocacy, and volunteer effort. To that end, CAC strives to be a trauma-responsive
organization, providing services that embody the idea that people can adapt, heal, and even grow from
traumatic experiences. Recognizing the effects that trauma has on individuals, families, and our society
as a whole, CAC aims to reduce the impact of trauma on the lives that the organization touches by
helping individuals to feel safe, connected and in control—over the course of many interpersonal
interactions and in a variety of welcoming settings. Responding to the community in a trauma-responsive
way is critical to the success of this position and to the mission of the CAC.

CAC’s resources and staff are integral parts of their communities and include partnerships with schools,
businesses, faith communities, and other organizations. This extensive local network allows CAC to
pursue community-engaged solutions, prioritize partnerships, and collaborate with thousands of
volunteers. Currently, we are looking for a Food Access Program Assistant to help support the
community-responsive work of CAC.

Job Title: Food Access Program Assistant
Reports to: Food Access Program Director
Primary Location: Northfield
FLSA Status: Hourly, non-exempt
Compensation: $18-20/hr
Hour Status: 20-40 hours

Job Summary: The Food Access Program Assistant is a dynamic public-facing role focused on
general operational support of CAC’s food access work, community engagement, training and
coordination of volunteers, and will collaborate closely with other members of the Food Access Team to
ensure that our food shelves embody a culture of abundance, hope, support, and appreciation for those
we serve.

Primary Job Responsibilities: CAC’s success depends on the ability of its staff and volunteers to adjust and
adapt as they dynamically meet the needs of the community. Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

participants with other food resources and provide seamless referral to other support
services

General Responsibilities:
Demonstrate commitment to the agency’s mission: “To promote a healthy, caring and just

community for all people through resources, advocacy and volunteer effort.”
Employ trauma-responsive, person-centered care practices to create a safe and healing space,

trainings

Work Environment and Physical Demands:
This position is based in a blended warehouse/retail environment with some traditional office

work. Exposure to computers, copiers, scanners and printers, scales, pallet jacks, heavy loads
and minimal noise level

• This is a physical role. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required

Qualifications: CAC is committed to finding the right person for the position. Ideal candidates will
possess many of the following qualities:

Compensation: This position is designed as a 20-40-hour/week, non-exempt position. Starting hourly
wage will depend on experience and qualifications, with a starting range of $18-20/hour plus benefits
(including a stipend for health care). CAC offers flexible work arrangements, professional development
opportunities, and a chance to creatively build and implement innovative ideas.

Equal Opportunity: CAC is an equal opportunity organization. CAC believes that the most efficient and
effective workplaces include employees from diverse backgrounds. We strive to create a work
environment where all employees and individuals, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, public
assistance status or veteran status, can succeed and make an impact in the community.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Application and Hiring Process: CAC will be interviewing on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional
references to employment@communityactioncenter.org. Inquiries and questions can be sent to this
same e-mail address or by contacting CAC’s Project Coordinator, Lisa Percy, at
percy.lisa@communityactioncenter.org or 507-664-3506. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.