Hunger Relief Program Assistant

General Description:

Metropolitan Family Service position descriptions are guidelines.  They are not intended to identify every task that an employee will be asked to complete.  They are intended as a general outline of the essential work responsibilities and qualifications of the position. 

This position is open to both internal and external employees. Application instructions are at the end of the description. This position is Tuesday- Friday. It is primarily based at Glenfair Elementary School, Alder Elementary school, David Douglas High School, and Parklane Elementary School.

Values:

• We use creative and proactive problem solving to build and sustain dynamic community-based programs and quality services
• We believe in the potential of families and individuals at all life stages and focus on prevention, wellness, and independence
• We build strong relationships by collaborating with our funders, partners, and highly trained volunteers, always striving for an extensive commitment to diversity

General Function:  

Under the general supervision of the Hunger Relief Coordinator, the Food Pantry Assistant is responsible for supporting the overall functioning of Hunger Relief efforts at multiple Community School sites. This includes assisting with the set up and distribution of food at pantry sites, tracking and reporting on volunteer and client data, ensuring food safety standards are being met; assisting in training and tracking of site volunteers; and supporting resource referrals and opportunities for partner engagement. 

CORE VALUES 

Equity & Social Justice 

• Values working in a multicultural, diverse environment
• Values and supports inclusion and program access for clients
• Supports agency goals for reducing disparity in outcomes for communities of color
• Adopts anti-racism approaches to services by understanding and acknowledging systemic and individual racism and privilege

Collaboration

• Ability to work effectively in collaboration within all program areas of MFS as well as other agencies
• Ability and commitment to work effectively within a team-dependent environment and provide leadership and support to staff to demonstrate effective team dynamics
• Provide information and assist with linkage to broader community and social services
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with a broad range of individuals and groups
• Ability to connect position roles and agency mission

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support multiple SUN Community School sites with hunger relief services aspects of delivery, setup and distribution
• Assist in food pantry deliveries, setup, and distributions while assuring food safety protocols are being met 
• Oversee volunteer protocols and processes for all food distribution sites, including volunteer paperwork and data, recruitment, and training
• Support in both internal and external resource referrals for clients when possible
• Work with the Hunger Relief Coordinators at each site to assure all school staff and clients are notified of closures and changes in the schedule
• Keep temperature logs, monitor food shelf dates, and keep all areas food safe and in compliance with OFB and MFS policies
• Maintain MFS confidentiality policies and respect the privacy of participating families
• Complete site OFB reports, and assist with any additional data collection, tracking, and reporting as needed, including proper data entry in Link2Feed
• Keep pantries in compliance during recalls
• Maintain food pantry files in collaboration with the SUN Site Manager 
• Schedule regular social media posts and collaborate with the Hunger Relief team on opportunities for outreach to families and donors
• Communicate ideas and concerns to the SUN Site Manager, Hunger Relief Program Coordinators, and Program Manager in a timely manner
• Comply with policies and procedures as outlined in Metropolitan Family Service Employee Handbook
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bi-lingual written and verbal communication in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Vietnamese, Karen, Tagalog, Nepali, or Burmese
• Experience working with families in an enriching, positive manner
• Experience working in public school settings
• Experience in food distribution, customer service, or similar field
• Willingness to ask questions and seek clarification when needed
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment 
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality
• Possess excellent time management and organizational skills
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to maintain appropriate and professional relationships with clients and volunteers
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of individuals and groups

Education and Experience Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED
• Program Assistant will need to obtain a valid Food Handlers’ Card for Multnomah at time of employment. Further food safety trainings may be required by partner organizations
• Fluency and ability to communicate effectively in languages in addition to English is beneficial 

MFS requires all employees and volunteers to complete a criminal background check.  We review the results of all background checks individually and consider all of the circumstances of any issues that arise in a background check during the hiring process.

Work Environment:

Work is normally performed in a school and outdoor setting, and at multiple sites. Work typically takes place between the hours of 9:45am- 5:45pm and is primarily outdoors. Position requires use of computer, telephone, copier, and may require accessing locations by use of stairs. This position requires the ability to lift up to 30 pounds on a regular basis and to move high volumes of food in an average workday. Must be able to regularly perform the following activities: bend, stretch, squat and twist while lifting or carrying items and moving in a safe manner. Must practice safe lifting techniques at all times. On occasion, repetitive heavy lifting may be required.

Metropolitan Family Service is committed to building a diverse workforce to broaden and deepen our work in the communities we serve. We strongly urge candidates from communities of color, disability, LGBTQI2S , linguistically diverse populations, older adults and military veterans to consider application to our positions. MFS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Application Instructions:

Interested internal candidates may submit a cover letter (preferred) and a resume (required) on Paycom and follow application instructions. If there are questions on completing the application, please contact Anna Walter at annam@mfs.email.

Salary : $19