Outreach Food Program Manager

For Water Street Mission to fulfill our mission and purpose, it is critical for all staff to participate in the development and maintenance of a healthy Christian Community. By living out our faith with one another and creating a space where our guests are invited to experience that community with us, we participate in lives being restored. Even as some positions have minimal direct contact with guests, each staff member has an essential role in forming and maintaining Christian community. The love of Christ, evidenced in our Water Street community, is the real impetus for change with our guests.

Job Summary: The Outreach Food Program Manager leads the daily operations of WSM's pantry, ensuring a welcoming, dignified, and well-organized environment for neighbors and volunteers. This role provides leadership, coaching, and supervision to volunteers, oversees inventory and food management, and coordinates with Outreach, Warehouse, Kitchen, and Volunteer Ministries teams. The Manager monitors program effectiveness, promotes continuous improvement, and models Christ-centered leadership in alignment with WSM's mission, values, and ministry goals.

FLSA: Full-time, Non-exempt

All Water Street Mission Staff Must Be

• Willing to sign the Water Street Mission Statement of Faith
• A current and active member and/or regular attendee of a local church
• Able to fully support the Water Street Mission core values and ministry philosophy
  
  

Essential Functions

Culture and Values

• Share the Good News of Jesus Christ in words and actions with people we serve, communicating hope and dignity.
• Walk alongside fellow WSM staff in Christian community as we journey toward maturity.
• Encourage restoration in the lives of guests, recognizing we are each restored by God to become restorers.
• Work in full coordination with other WSM staff at all times to identify, report and respond appropriately to any potential threats to the safety and wellbeing of guests.
• Embody, encourage and cultivate WSM culture, purpose, mission and values in words and actions
  
  

Role Specific Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day pantry operations, including safe food handling, inventory management, volunteer service, neighbor flow, and adherence to policies and procedures.
• Partner with the Director of Outreach to identify opportunities for program improvement and implement enhancements, ensuring initiatives are aligned with ministry goals and supported through collaborative planning.
• Cultivate a welcoming, dignified, and safe environment for neighbors, modeling respectful interactions and appropriate boundaries.
• Manage inventory and food resources, maintaining organized, well-stocked shelves, removing expired items, and upholding food safety standards.
• Collaborate with the Logistics and Operations team to ensure timely and efficient delivery of food from the warehouse to Outreach each day.
• Track key metrics, gather feedback from volunteers and neighbors, and implement improvements to enhance pantry efficiency, volunteer effectiveness, and neighbor experience.
• Develop, implement, and oversee programs that equip neighbors with practical skills and knowledge to prepare, utilize, and make the most of available food in support of long-term health and well-being.
• Model Christ-centered leadership and ministry presence, encouraging teamwork, grace, and mission-focused service among staff, volunteers, and neighbors, resolving conflicts and responding to situations as they arise.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Supervision

• Lead, schedule, train, and supervise pantry volunteers, fostering a positive volunteer experience and supporting daily operations, in collaboration with Volunteer Ministries.
  
  

Qualifications

Education: A bachelor's degree or equivalent training and experience is preferred.

Experience: Minimum two years' experience in human services ministry, those with experience supervising long-term volunteers, and/or those with experience in faith-based food distribution ministry strongly preferred.

Experience Managing Supply And Storage Of Food Is Preferred.

Language and Communication Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, computer-based data management, and email communication are required. A valid PA driver's license is required. Spanish language proficiency is an asset.

Reports To: Director of Outreach

Key Internal Relationships: Community Resources Team, Volunteer Ministries

Physical Demands

Occasionally = 1%-33%; Frequently = 34%-66%; Continuously = 67%-100%

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

• Stand, walk, or sit- Continuously
• Use of fine motor skills- Continuously
• Bend, squat, kneel, and reach- Continuously
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds- Occasionally
• Weekend and evening availability- Occasionally
  
  

Christian Life

Water Street Mission is a privately funded 501(c) 3 non-profit, evangelical Christian ministry. Our designated purpose is religious, and we are a Christ-centered ministry that is dedicated to sharing the Gospel and helping the homeless and impoverished. We consider every position to be essential in the fulfillment of our ministry and purpose statement. As such, each employee must have a relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. All employees must:

• Be able and willing to share the Gospel and participate in the ministry activities of Water Street Mission.
• Subscribe to the Water Street Mission Statement of Faith and Qualifications of Employment upon hire and continuously while employed.
• Adhere to the Water Street Mission Employee Handbook.