Emergency Food Pantry Coordinator

Emergency Food Pantry Coordinator

Join Harvest Hope Food Bank, South Carolina's largest hunger-relief organization, serving 20 counties and distributing 30 million pounds of food annually. We value innovation, collaboration, and diversity, offering a rewarding experience for those dedicated to ending hunger. Join our team and partner with nearly 400 agencies to make a meaningful impact on food insecurity across the state.

The Emergency Food Pantry Coordinator is responsible for ensuring efficient and effective daily operations of the Emergency Food Pantry (EFP) area, coordinating with Operations and Fulfillment, supervising staff and volunteers, and providing food for those in need of assistance with dignity, compassion, and education.

The emergency food pantry provides free groceries to individuals and families who need help putting food on the table. We offer shelf-stable items and, when available, fresh foods such as produce, dairy, and bread. The pantry is open to anyone experiencing a temporary hardship, with no complicated requirements. Our goal is to ensure neighbors in our community have access to nutritious food during difficult times.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Coordinating the efficient operation, supervision, and maintenance of the EFP daily service to ensure clients receive nutritionally balanced food and supplies and best practices for food pantry service are being followed.
• Training and supervising volunteers daily.
• Ensuring the EFP is operating in accordance with all appropriate guidelines set by HHFB compliance policies and procedures for food safety and employee safety as well as the USDA, OSHA, DHEC, Feeding America and all other relevant agencies.
• Maintaining the EFP area of the facility and coordinating cleaning, repairs and needs with the Warehouse Manager.
• Managing daily and monthly inventory, balancing supply vs. demand, and monitoring waste according to budget.
• Coordinating the EFP schedule with the Volunteer Coordinator to ensure daily supply of volunteers and projects needed to meet service demand.
• Providing for the client intake process, ensuring clients are treated with dignity and compassion.
• Providing community resource materials/information to clients.
• Monitoring and assessing the EFP inventory to properly secure food through the appropriate departments as needed in a timely and consistent manner.
• Maintaining all client records, USDA forms, records checks, and all monthly and yearly reports for food service and all other programs run by EFP; gathers, records, and safeguards confidential client information.
• Ensuring that all service data sets are maintained including USDA income eligibility, service, temperature logs, inventory, damaged product, and monthly reporting.
• Coordinating appropriate volunteer recognition and fellowship activities to thank the volunteers.
• Providing monthly reports on client data analysis for grant reporting, advocacy and strategic planning purposes.
• Supporting a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and communicating process and safety improvements.
• Other duties as assigned.

HHFB team member accountabilities include:

• Demonstrating a commitment to the HHFB mission and to fighting to end hunger in South Carolina.
• Displaying a desire to work with culturally diverse populations using a compassionate, collaborative, and respectful approach.
• Supporting a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and communicating process and safety improvements.
• Following all safety policies and procedures, including reporting all unsafe acts and behaviors, safety hazards, incidents, or accidents immediately.
• Acknowledging that HHFB team members are considered emergency responders and may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties in instances of a federal, state or locally declared emergency.

Requirements include:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree preferred.
• Two or more years of experience in social work, volunteer coordination, and/or a supervisory role.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to engage and direct volunteers.
• Exceptional ability to interact with others in a diplomatic, courteous, and positive manner, maintaining a professional demeanor and respond with urgency when necessary.
• Must be able to capable of safely lifting to 30lbs on a regular basis.
• Proficient in handling a pallet jack.
• Experience in driving a stand-up forklift or willingness to obtain certification.
• Previous experience in a warehouse setting is preferred with a strong understanding of safety protocols and best operational practices.
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects or events and adhere to deadlines in a high-energy, fast-paced environment.
• Self-directed, proactive, and independent problem-solver.
• Ability to motivate and give instruction to large, diverse groups.
• Exceptional organization skills and attention to detail.

Harvest Hope Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer and embraces a philosophy that recognizes and values diversity. Our goal is to attract, develop, retain and promote a talented diverse workforce in a culture where all employees will contribute to their full potential.