Description

En español

Position Title: Community Engagement Coordinator

Department: Community Impact

FLSA Status: Full Time Hourly/Non-Exempt

Schedule: 40 Hours per Week/Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm (May occasionally vary depending on community programs)

Benefits: Eligible for Full Time Employee benefits including Health, dental, and vision insurance, 8 paid Holidays, 1 FloatingHoliday, generous PTO, and more.

Reports To: Director of Community Impact

Salary Range: $19.21/hour-$23.04/hour

WHO WE ARE:

Food Bank of Central New York is a not-for-profit organization leading the effort to eliminate hunger in our region, by partnership with others in our community, through education, advocacy, and distribution of nutritious food. We partner with 360 community partners in the counties of Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and St. Lawrence.

The core of our work is achieved by partnering with local agencies that distribute food to individuals and families in need. The key partners that make up our emergency food network are food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters. Other not-for-profit agencies such as day care centers, rehabilitation centers, senior centers, and group homes are able to utilize membership as a way to supplement their agency food needs.

Our Vision is to see a community where everyone has access to nutritious food and no one is hungry.

Our Mission is leading the effort to eliminate hunger in our region, by partnership with others in our community, through education, advocacy, and distribution of nutritious food.

Hunger is a very serious problem in the United States today. Despite its great wealth, an estimated one in eight Americans rely on emergency food assistance. Among the thousands of people who depend on charitable food programs in central and northern New York, and the Mohawk Valley:

· 29% are children 18 or younger

· 10% are without health insurance

· 68% have been unemployed for more than two years

· 32% have a working family member

· 91% are below the federal poverty line

· 41% earn less than $12,000 annually

JOB SUMMARY:

The Community Engagement Coordinator is responsible for educating the general population, 

with specific focus on at-risk populations, to increase awareness about the Food Bank of Central New York’s programs and services. The Community Engagement Coordinator works with neighbors utilizing the Food Bank’s programs to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in current services. This position supports equitable, culturally appropriate, and 

community-driven food security programs to ensure people are informed about and know how to access the available services.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Strategy

• Helps develop and implement the Food Bank’s organizational community engagement strategy.
• Uses data to identify communities or sub-populations that need more resources to improve food security.
• Helps communities learn about and access community resources, including individuals in need of assistance and organizations that connect people to resources.
• Conducts community conversations about access to food and how decisions are made about the foods people eat. 
• Coordinates and/or facilitates focus groups with community members to understand their needs; summarize information and share with Food Bank leadership to inform programs and services. 
• Helps collect client stories from programs, agencies, and the community.
• Identifies potential partnership opportunities with communities and provides recommendations for Food Bank initiatives to improve food access and food security.
• Utilizes community engagement models and a best practices framework for engaging with the community.

Interdepartmental Collaboration

• In conjunction with Agency Relations department, helps Food Bank’s partner agencies and host sites create welcoming environments for diverse populations. 
• Work cross-departmentally within the organization to identify opportunities for collaboration to implement the Food Bank’s priority initiatives related to food access and food security. 
• Coordinate surveys with individuals receiving Food Bank services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

• Works effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with deadlines, embracing change, and facilitating innovation.
• Outstanding customer service abilities and a positive attitude.
• Enjoys working with people.
• High level of ethical behavior and confidentiality.
• Strong analytical abilities and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work, interact, and connect well with individuals from a variety of socioeconomic and culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Always maintains a professional appearance and represents Food Bank of Central New York in diverse settings.
• Committed to the mission of Food Bank of Central New York and the achievement of the strategic goals.
• Ability to use sound judgment to make decisions or solve problems. 
• Ability to take initiative and work independently, with frequent travel within assigned area.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or an equivalent combination of work and lived experience, education, and training.
• At least two years of relevant experience working in a field related to food insecurity, working with underserved populations, healthcare, or the social work sector. Preferred if experience in multiple areas.
• Experience connecting clients to social service programs within the community or knowledge of those social service programs. 
• Experience using Microsoft Office 365.
• Experience organizing and summarizing information and preparing reports.
• Preferred verbal and written fluency in Spanish.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position will be performed in an office setting and in the community.

Physical Demands: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting. This includes: the ability to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; Exerting up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work. Functions also require ability to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard, and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Community event participation may include setting up booths, lifting materials up to 25 pounds, standing for extended periods, and navigating crowds. The role necessitates the occasional flexibility to work outside of traditional office hours, including evenings and weekends, depending on event schedules.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for employees who require them due to medical conditions or disabilities. 

Travel: Regular travel will be required within the service area. Occasional travel out of state for conferences. Current driver’s license required; reliable vehicle; copy of current auto insurance; and clean Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) required.