Description

OUR EXCITING OPPORTUNITY

Community Action Partnership has an exciting opportunity for

Giving Farm Volunteer Coordinator

Under the direction of the Food Bank Volunteer Manager, the Giving Farm Volunteer Coordinator will coordinate the Giving Farm volunteer program, a collaborative student farm site in Westminster, and assist with the daily operations of the Giving Farm. The Giving Farm Bank Volunteer Coordinator will ensure that volunteers have a rewarding, productive experience at The Giving Farm. The Giving Farm Volunteer Coordinator will also assist the Westminster High School Giving Farm Manager with the daily operations in order to ensure procedures are followed and production targets and volunteer needs are reached.

WHAT YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH IN THIS ROLE

The Giving Farm Volunteer Coordinator provides onsite daily management of the Giving Farm volunteers, including recruiting, onboarding, training, communicating expectations and ensuring a safe environment. Additionally, this position also trains OC Food Bank staff for on-site Giving Farm back-up to ensure coverage when the Volunteer Coordinator is out sick or on vacation. This role will recruit volunteers to satisfy the total number of volunteers needed. The Volunteer Coordinator will collaborate with the CAP OC Philanthropy Department regarding the schedule of corporate volunteer teams. The Giving Farm Volunteer Coordinator will use the CAP OC Volunteer Hub software platform for the management and recruitment of volunteers. The Volunteer Coordinator will collaborate with the school VIP Coordinator to maximize student engagement in managing Farm operations.

This position works on-site five days per week, including most Saturdays (when working on Saturday, a weekday is taken off); a remote or hybrid schedule is not offered.

The rate for this position is $23.00 - $25.00 per hour.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

VOLUNTEER-RELATED:

• Schedules, coordinates, manages, and ensures appropriate number of volunteers are scheduled to complete Giving Farm needs relative to planting, harvesting, weeding, and general maintenance based upon Food Bank community needs and pick up schedule.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for volunteer needs at The Giving Farm by working with the Westminster High School Giving Farm Manager, the school VIP Coordinator, and the Philanthropy Department (on any corporate volunteer groups they have referred) to ensure all volunteers have an EPIC experience.
• Greets, trains, and supervises the work of volunteers at the Giving Farm; when not possible to be at The Giving Farm, delegates these responsibilities to a trained CAP OC Food Bank representative.
• Proactivity seeks opportunities to speak to community groups (i.e., corporations, schools, faith communities, service clubs and organizations) regarding volunteer opportunities at the CAP OC Food Bank and The Giving Farm.
• Recruits volunteers through traditional mail, e-mail, social media, and other means of solicitation, and timely responds to emails and phone calls regarding volunteer opportunities; takes the lead on any corporate volunteer groups the Philanthropy Department refers to this position.
• Updates and maintains a CAP OC Volunteer Handbook and other volunteer materials as training tools.
• Ensures all volunteers have the necessary onboarding and training to successfully meet targets and do so in a safe environment.
• Plans, coordinates, and manages large scale volunteer events.
• Updates and manages an online volunteer registration system on the CAP OC Volunteer software platform.
• Tracks and reports service hours of all volunteers and produce harvested and distributed to the Food Bank.
• Ensures customer service is maintained in a manner reflective of the spirit of the Agency’s Mission, Vision, and Promise.
• Prioritizes providing Westminster High School students first right of refusal on all work at The Giving Farm.
• Other volunteer management duties as assigned.

MANAGEMENT-RELATED:

• Manages the long term and short-term volunteers at The Giving Farm as well as assigned interns, and any AmeriCorps or Vista Fellows, that might be assigned to the Giving Farm.
• Interviews and retains assigned fellows and staff.
• Advises and recommends necessary changes or modifications to current work procedures to ensure the safety and efficient work of all volunteers.
• Ensures assigned volunteers are following all CAP OC policies, procedures, and guidelines, including all safety standards and procedures.
• Manages discipline and termination of assigned fellows with support from the Food Bank Volunteer Manager, Senior Warehouse Manager, and Human Resources.
• Monitors all program’s expenses and revenue according to the program’s budget.
• Other coordinator duties as assigned.

WAREHOUSE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contributes to the safe handling of food by volunteers by ensuring health standards are met, food stored properly.
• Provides training in warehouse, farm safety, and food storage procedures to volunteers, including safe work practices and ensuring federal, state, and local regulations of safe food storage are in compliance on a consistent basis.
• Performs hands on duties of forklift, pallet jack and/or other light equipment as needed to support staff.
• Provides hands-on training in the safe and proper use of trucks, forklifts, lifting methods and other warehouse matters.
• Other Giving Farm and related duties as assigned.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE HAS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN

• Managing and motivating diverse groups of volunteers, to work collaboratively together to meet participant/client needs and agency goals.
• Strong interpersonal, public speaking and customer service skills.
• Being a leader and the face of a large organization to outside partners and volunteer groups.
• Techniques related to volunteer recruitment, supervision, and recognition.
• Strong time management skills, working effectively within demanding time constraints.
• Problem solving/analysis in order to resolve short-term problems and anticipate possible long-term problems.
• Effective communication and training skills, and an ability to work with a diverse set of individuals and groups of varying background, age, and ability to complete projects as part of a team.
• Understanding, applying and complying with health and safety regulations of an operating farm.
• Manage inventory, run reports, ensure accuracy of information input.
• Safe operation of heavy equipment such as forklifts and electric pallet jacks, other warehouse procedures such as Cal OSHA compliance, safe lifting methods, prevention of work-related injury and/or illness.

IDEAL CANDIDATE MUST BE

• Customer service focused: Establishes rapport with fellows, staff, volunteers, volunteer resources, and participants from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Ethically focused: Understands ethical behavior and business practices and ensures own behavior and the behavior of others are consistent with these standards and in alignment with the values of the organization.
• Inclusive: Works cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Strong Leader: Positively influences others to achieve results that are in the best interest of CAP OC.
• Creative/Innovative: Develops new and unique ways to improve the standing of the department and looks for new opportunities.
• Collaborative: Works collaboratively in a team environment both internally and externally with the capability to negotiate success outcomes for all parties.
• Strong Planner/Organizer: Consistently demonstrates planning, organizational, execution and delivery skills for projects, events, and reports to be delivered on time, within budget and achieving intended results.
• Work focused: Is detailed oriented while working accurately and efficiently on a consistent basis without assistance. May require working weekends, evenings, and holidays when/if needed to meet goals and/or grant demands. Workdays and hours of work are subject to change.
• Language skilled: Demonstrates clear, concise, and effective command of the English language in both oral and written forms. 
• Mathematical: Writes, composes, and completes mathematical calculations correctly and in a timely manner. Composes and compiles numbers, statistical data, and obtains other information for forms, reports, and presentations.
• Computer literate: Competently uses the Internet, Web based databases, inventory systems (Primarius experience preferred), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams), and other applications via a desktop and/or laptop computer, PC Tablet and/or Notebook, or I-Pad. Competently uses a printer, copier, Smart cell phone and/or other electronic devices. 

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

High school diploma or GED required. At least one year of agriculture experience or working with volunteers or non-profit experience.

Must understand the operation of forklifts and electrical pallet jacks and possess strong safety knowledge, and also learning to operate farm equipment. Nonprofit experience and/or education preferred.

TRAVEL

Possess a valid California Driver’s License with a driving record that meets minimum standards established by CAP OC insurance carrier, proof of vehicle insurance, access to a vehicle and willingness to drive/travel when required.

Typically, travel is local during the business day to/from CAP OC locations, The Giving Farm and distribution sites. Incumbents will use personal vehicle, CAP OC vehicle or truck. Travel may be during evening hours and out-of-the-area and overnight travel.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to bend, stoop, reach, pull, push, stand, kneel, sit, twist, turn, walk, climb, bend at the waist, talk and hear, vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, ability to adjust focus, prolong manual dexterity of wrist and fingers, prolong computer work, standing and sitting. The employee must regularly lift and/or move objects up to thirty (30) pounds. Work is performed in a warehouse environment with varying temperatures, including work in a freezer, without direct air conditioning or heating, and work outdoors in varying temperatures and weather conditions.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND BACKGROUND CHECK

A medical examination is required of each new employee whose physical condition must meet the minimum requirements prescribed for the position. In addition, prospective employees must pass a pre-employment physical, drug screen, Live Scan, and background check. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

THE PROMISE OF COMMUNITY ACTION

Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

HOW TO APPLY

Please Apply at Community Action Partnership of Orange County’s website at www.capoc.org.