Food Pantry Coordinator

Associated Students Inc., CSUF provides student development opportunities through leadership, volunteer, and employment experiences. In addition, the Associated Students provides campus community members with important social, cultural, and recreational opportunities, as well as, a wide range of programs and services.

Summary:
The Food Pantry Coordinator plays a critical role in supporting Associated Students Inc. (ASI)'s mission to address food insecurity among California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) students. This position oversees the daily operations of the ASI Food Pantry, ensuring equitable access to nutritious food resources for students in need. The coordinator fosters a welcoming environment, manages inventory, coordinates educational programs, and collaborates with various partners to promote food security initiatives and sustainability on campus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Inventory Management and Food Acquisition

• Responsible for the day-to-day operation of The Pantry, including daily food display and replenishment, ordering of food items, and food delivery and food safety.
• Coordinates product ordering by working with local agencies and managing ordering logistics. Travels locally to pick-up and transport food from the Food Bank(s) and/or other campus and community partners.

Client Services and Outreach

• Maintains, manages and coordinates outreach relations with community partners. Develops and implements an outreach plan to promote the ASI Food Pantry and engage campus and community interest.
• Assists the Associate Director, TSU Programs and Food Pantry collaboratively with the ASI Marketing, Design and Communications departments to maintain the ASI Food Pantry website and other marketing and communications related to The Pantry.

Program Development and Education

• Plans and implement student programs and/or training sessions as needed.
• Coordinates, schedules and facilitates educational workshops regarding food preparation, healthy eating, etc. for CSUF students. Provides innovative, intentional programs and initiatives that actively engage the campus community in issues related but not limited to food insecurity, sustainability, and basic needs.
• Assists with various Food Pantry projects, including operational policy development and review, project proposal development, assessment and food inventory tracking.
• Maintains a list of on-campus resources for those who are experiencing food insecurity.
• Support ASI’s DEI plan in all programming, services, and interactions

Operations and Administration

• Collects, analyzes and reports weekly and monthly on food insecurity data gathered.
• Utilizes existing systems to track and analyze the ASI Food Pantry program/participant data; provides regular reports for assessment needs while protecting the confidentiality of student users.
• Assists with maintenance and management of department software programs.
• Responsible for recruitment, hiring, training, and supervision of 10-15 Food Pantry Assistants and 2 Graduate Assistants.
• Ensures customer service is conducted in a courteous and professional manner.
• Adheres to food handling safety guidelines as well as physical ergonomics safety standard guidelines.
• Manages daily, weekly, and monthly space maintenance of food pantry, storage room and any supplies.
• Maintains strict adherence to safety procedures; attending safety meetings as scheduled.
• Completes other related tasks or projects as assigned by supervisor.

Budgeting and Fundraising

• Assists with researching public and private grant agencies and CSUF University Advancement to identify potential sources of funding. Assists with writing, editing, and proofreading grant proposals.
• Oversees the Food Pantry budget and related grants. Assists with the preparation of annual budget requests.
• Assists in fundraising and development for the pantry, including coordination of food drive donations, and project drives both on and off campus.

Supervisory Duties:Directly Supervises:

• Food Pantry Assistants

This role has the authority to perform or effectively recommend the following functions for the employees listed above:

• Make decisions on hiring, terminating, or effectively recommend such actions.
• Assigning work, designating tasks, or giving significant duties to employees using independent judgment and discretion.
• Reward or discipline employees, including issuing written warnings, or making recommendations for promotions or disciplinary action.
• Direct employees by deciding which employees will perform a task and the order in which tasks are completed using independent judgment and discretion and often considering the individual employee’s skills and aptitudes.
• Adjust employee grievances.
• Authority to transfer, suspend, lay off, or recall employees, which includes managing time off requests and leaves of absence.
• This role is held accountable for the performance of the employees they supervise and if employees under the coordinator’s supervision have performance failures, that may lead to a negative impact on the coordinator’s employment with ASI.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university required.
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in logistics, customer service or a related field required.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience working in a higher education setting is preferred
• 1-2 years of supervisory experience required, student supervisory experience is preferred

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Understanding of food insecurity issues faced by college students and the impact on their well-being.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and proper handling procedures to ensure safe food distribution.
• Basic understanding of healthy eating habits and nutritional needs.
• Awareness of on-campus and community resources available to students facing food insecurity.
• Ability to manage food stock, including ordering, receiving, storage, and rotation to minimize waste.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact with students from diverse backgrounds in a compassionate and professional manner.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to develop outreach materials, conduct workshops, and collaborate with various stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines effectively.
• Skills to plan, organize, and implement educational programs and workshops related to food insecurity and healthy eating.
• Ability to motivate, train, and supervise staff and volunteers to ensure smooth pantry operations.
• Proficiency in basic computer skills for data entry, record-keeping, and potentially using relevant software (e.g., inventory management).
• Ability to identify solutions to address challenges related to food acquisition, inventory management, or program implementation.
• Ability to build positive relationships with staff, volunteers, community partners, and university departments.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations and unexpected challenges.
• Ability to manage time effectively to meet deadlines, juggle various tasks, and prioritize effectively.
• Ability to take initiative, identify areas for improvement, and proactively address issues.
• Ability to analyze data on food pantry usage and translate it into meaningful insights for program improvement.

Core Competencies:

• Food Insecurity Expertise
• Inventory Management and Food Acquisition
• Client Services and Outreach
• Program Development and Education
• Collaboration and Relationship Building
• Data Analysis and Reporting

Additional Requirements:Work Environment:

• Work is primarily performed in an office setting with extended computer use.
• Occasional exposure to varying indoor/outdoor environments.
• Interaction with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Participation in off-campus or after-hours events, meetings, or retreats may be required.

Typical Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Sitting and standing for extended periods: The role involves significant computer work and meetings, requiring sustained sitting or standing.
• Walking and climbing stairs: Moving around the campus, attending events, and potentially using stairs regularly.
• Lifting and carrying moderate weight: This could include lifting and carrying materials for presentations, events, or production activities no more than 50lbs.
• Dexterity and fine motor skills: Operating computer equipment, handling small objects, and performing tasks requiring hand-eye coordination.
• Visual and auditory acuity: Effective communication and interaction in various settings require good vision and hearing.
• We are committed to working with qualified individuals with disabilities to identify and implement reasonable accommodation that would allow them to perform the essential functions of the job. If you have a disability and require accommodation to perform the essential functions of this job, please notify the hiring manager during the application process or upon accepting an offer of employment.

Special Requirements

• Employment will be contingent on a satisfactory employment history and criminal background investigation.
• May be required to drive occasionally as needed. Valid driver’s license and current auto insurance must be on file at all times and must meet CSURMA driving standards.
• Required to be a Mandatory Reporter and sign ASI Mandatory Reporter Form.

The Associated Students Inc., CSUF is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.