Operations Manager
The Emanuel Food Pantry is seeking a full-time, organized leader who is passionate about helping to end hunger in our community, and who loves working with people and volunteers, to serve as our Operations Manager (OM). The successful candidate will preferably have basic Spanish language skills and be comfortable multi-tasking the many operations details associated with the position. Ideally, the OM will have experience working in the food wholesale, grocery, or anti-hunger space, and possess the organizational skills to direct the work of roughly 120 volunteers over a dozen work teams per week.
The ideal candidate will be aware of the issue of food insecurity in Durham County, and of the role played in the community by organizations such as the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina and the Interfaith Food Shuttle. This person will possess the operational skills to direct the work needed to receive and properly store tons of bulk foods (both donated and purchased), and pack that food for distribution to over 830 families each week. The OM must enjoy networking, build strong relationships with the food providers and other organizations that provide many of the volunteers.
The OM should be proficient at using technology to track and report required metrics and should have strong math skills. The OM will report to the Executive Director and work together to improve the organization’s effectiveness and efficiency.
The ideal candidate will be aware of the issue of food insecurity in Durham County, and of the role played in the community by organizations such as the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina and the Interfaith Food Shuttle. This person will possess the operational skills to direct the work needed to receive and properly store tons of bulk foods (both donated and purchased), and pack that food for distribution to over 830 families each week. The OM must enjoy networking, build strong relationships with the food providers and other organizations that provide many of the volunteers.
The OM should be proficient at using technology to track and report required metrics and should have strong math skills. The OM will report to the Executive Director and work together to improve the organization’s effectiveness and efficiency.
ABOUT the emanuel food pantry:
The mission of the Emanuel Food Pantry is to provide fresh, nutritious food to families facing food insecurity, with a particular focus on underserved communities. By providing healthy food, we are addressing the multiple detrimental effects of food insecurity, enhancing personal dignity, and improving health outcomes. We are currently the largest provider of food to families at-risk for hunger in the county.
In 2010, the congregation of Iglesia Emanuel began preparing dinners every Wednesday evening for about 60 people from the community, followed by a very small food pantry. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the end of the shared dinners, but the church decided to move the food distribution outdoors to the parking lot. In response to growing food insecurity, the Food Pantry quickly found itself serving over 600 families every week, and that number has now grown to over 800. In order to ensure the sustainability of the Food Pantry, a board of volunteers formed a 501(c)(3), separate from the church, to operate the food pantry.
Due in part to our location and history, 62% of the clients we serve are Hispanic, 28% are African-American, and the rest are white or other refugee families.
Food banks, individuals, and other organizations donate a significant amount of food, but the Food Pantry purchases additional food every week from private wholesale suppliers. Local community organizations, the county government, and individuals contribute the funding to enable these wholesale purchases.
In 2010, the congregation of Iglesia Emanuel began preparing dinners every Wednesday evening for about 60 people from the community, followed by a very small food pantry. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the end of the shared dinners, but the church decided to move the food distribution outdoors to the parking lot. In response to growing food insecurity, the Food Pantry quickly found itself serving over 600 families every week, and that number has now grown to over 800. In order to ensure the sustainability of the Food Pantry, a board of volunteers formed a 501(c)(3), separate from the church, to operate the food pantry.
Due in part to our location and history, 62% of the clients we serve are Hispanic, 28% are African-American, and the rest are white or other refugee families.
Food banks, individuals, and other organizations donate a significant amount of food, but the Food Pantry purchases additional food every week from private wholesale suppliers. Local community organizations, the county government, and individuals contribute the funding to enable these wholesale purchases.
Responsibilities:
Volunteer Supervision
Food Acquisition
Food Preparation and Distribution
- Direct the tasks of over 120 weekly volunteers in order to fulfill our mission of providing fresh, nutritious food to the hundreds of families who rely on us each week.
Food Acquisition
- Carry out duties of food acquisition
- Review inventory of dry good foods (e.g. beans, rice, pasta and canned goods) to determine needs for upcoming weeks, and order additional dry goods
- Assess the quantity and quality of donated perishable foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables), and quickly order additional perishable foods from the most suitable sources to arrive in time to be packed for the Wednesday afternoon distribution
- Direct volunteers to pick up food donated by grocery stores
- Maintain inventory of supplies such as boxes and bags
- Coordinate cardboard recycling and compost services
- Maintain communication and provide reports to the food banks, private food distributors and grocery stores that donate and sell food to the Pantry
Food Preparation and Distribution
- Decide the amount and type of dry, perishable and other food to be included in each bag for distribution to families
- Direct volunteer teams to assemble boxes of fresh food for distribution to families.
- Coordinate home deliveries
- Oversee all areas involved in food distribution on Wednesday afternoons, including volunteers who direct traffic, give out numbers to cars, hand out food to walkers, and work at the three distribution stations
- Ensure space is left clean & organized at the end of each day
position requirements:
- A passion for combating food insecurity in our community and in taking a leadership role
- Basic Spanish is preferred
- Comfortable working in a mutli-cultural setting
- Experience in a supervisory role
- Highly organized to allow for proper coordination of up to120 volunteers each week
- Experience working with volunteers preferred
- Excellent spoken and written communicator who thrives working with other people and has the ability to lead and inspire others
- Demonstrable team building skills and the ability to clearly delegate duties and responsibilities to individuals and teams
- Proficient in emails, word processing, and spreadsheets
- Excellent mathematical skills
- Have a valid NC driver’s license
- This is a very physical position, requiring the ability to lift up to 50 pounds
compensation:
- 40 hours a week (Monday - Friday)
- $50,000 - $58,000 per year, depending on experience
- $400/month healthcare stipend
- 4 Weeks of paid vacation (week of July 4th, the week between Christmas and New Year’s, plus 2 additional weeks that are self-determined)
- Sick time as needed
APPLICATIONs AND SELECTION:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. References will be required of finalists. Credit and criminal checks will be conducted before a final offer is made.
Apply here: forms.gle/ogAY6GKeESsR5G9o6
If you do not meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. We are looking for people with enthusiasm for what we do, and we will consider you for this opportunity.
The Emanuel Food Pantry is an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender identity, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable law.
Apply here: forms.gle/ogAY6GKeESsR5G9o6
If you do not meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. We are looking for people with enthusiasm for what we do, and we will consider you for this opportunity.
The Emanuel Food Pantry is an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender identity, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable law.