FCM Volunteer Coordinator

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Fruitvale Community Market Volunteer Coordinator position contributes to the mission of Northwest Harvest by effectively administering the volunteer experience at Northwest Harvest’s Fruitvale Community Market, this can include but is not limited to; volunteer scheduling, orientations, and community engagement and requires extensive information management using Microsoft Office and other organizational database systems.

This position plays a vital role in engaging with surrounding corporate volunteer groups and other individuals within the communities of the Yakima Valley.

The successful incumbent in this position will align with the Volunteer Program’s mission; to provide the community with opportunities to engage in the work of hunger response and food justice through volunteer tasks that directly support food distribution operations, advance advocacy work, inspire financial giving, and equity programs. By providing and continuing education to our volunteer constituents, we continuously ensure that our volunteers understand the importance of Northwest Harvest’s mission and the impact they make while volunteering at our Community Market

Schedule: This position may be required to work occasional off-shift hours as necessary for special events or other duties assigned.

Travel:  Be responsive and adaptive to opportunities throughout Washington (WA). This can include but is not limited to local travel and occasional travel to Eastern and Western WA.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Program Administration

• Schedule and recruit volunteers for the Fruitvale Community Market
• Serve as the first point of contact for prospective volunteers
• Schedules, confirms, and maintains the volunteer database system for tracking, communication, and scheduling
• Communicate with the Fruitvale Community Market team to ensure that volunteer scheduling is in alignment with market capacity and operational needs
• Works in partnership with local businesses, schools, and service groups sharing volunteer opportunities at the Community Market
• Screens all incoming volunteer applications in Salesforce, collects and enters all volunteer data, tracks volunteer hours, maintains the volunteer database system, and assigns them to the requested location
• Maintains attendance matrix and other tracking documents (calendar, etc.) as requested by the Volunteer Program Manager
• Connect with the Fruitvale Community Market team during monthly cross-functional team meetings addressing any topics for discussion that improve collaborative daily functions and SOPs
• Oversee inventory of Volunteer Program break area supplies (coffee, cups, cleaning supplies)
• General upkeep of Volunteer areas (sign-in area, lockers, tables, counters)

Volunteer Relations & Community Engagement

• Builds friendly, professional relationships with all new and returning volunteers
• Collaborates with the Fruitvale Community Market Manager and staff to create a friendly, welcoming environment and to ensure a positive experience for all volunteers
• Greets and interacts with volunteers at the beginning of and during each shift provides orientations for all new volunteers and welcomes returning volunteers in partnership with the market staff
• Plans volunteer engagement activities, listening sessions, and events marking volunteer service milestones, and collecting feedback
• Documents any volunteer complaints, incidents, or problems and reports them to management
• Works with the SODO Community Market Volunteer Coordinator and members of other NWH departments to create other pathways of engagement for volunteers when needed for specific projects
• Identifies and builds relationships with community partners to create a network of resources and services for market customers
• Assists with other community engagement tasks, including market tours, open houses, and speaking with donors, community partners, volunteers, and other stakeholders as requested
• Provides backup support in messaging safety-related information to volunteers
• Assists with de-escalation when customers are agitated or disruptive
• Partners with the Fruitvale Community Market Manager and Volunteer Program Supervisor to resolve volunteer-related situations and respectfully address volunteers

Performs other duties as assigned.

While performing the duties of this position:

• Regularly required to sit, talk, see, and hear
• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, standard keyboards of office equipment or controls, and reach with hands and arms
• Frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds
• Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close and distant vision and the ability to adjust focus

EQUITY AND INCLUSION 

Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency, and an understanding of oppression and its impact.  

Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency.  

RELATIONSHIPS: 

Internal – Frequent in-person contact with site LEAD Volunteer Repack Liaison, Distribution Center Leads/Supervisors and management, market staff, and remote communication with the statewide Volunteer Program Manager. Communicate with other departments, ask questions, receive, and provide information relevant to the volunteer process.  

External: Engage in conversation with volunteers and share Northwest Harvest's current events and updates of organization goals to reduce hunger.  Speak knowledgeably about Northwest Harvest’s role in Food Justice and the drive to increase equitable access to food for all in Washington state.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A combination of the real-life experience, education, and training listed below provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position.

Successful completion of a background check is required.

Knowledge of:

• Proven organizational skills with attention to detail
• Familiarity with Safety practices and procedures i.e., safety regulations, observation skills, proper use of tools and machinery, workplace hazards, clean workspace, and wearing necessary safety gear
• General knowledge of the volunteer experience i.e., program coordination/administration, customer service, and or providing training to volunteer staff
• Proficient in the use of Salesforce and/or other volunteer management software or Database systems is a plus
• Critical thinking by identifying, analyzing, and inclusively solving problems with team members
• Work effectively under pressure serving both customers at the market and managing volunteers. This requires a keen understanding of our customers and the information and training our volunteers need to best serve them
• General knowledge or the willingness to learn new systems with Microsoft Office applications; particularly Word, Excel, PPT and Outlook, Teams, and Zoom, and the ability to work efficiently and effectively with other organizational platforms such as ADP, SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics NAV systems

Ability To:

• Understand individuals who have experienced poverty or food insecurity
• Demonstrate interest and commitment to supporting equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ populations, and people living with disabilities
• Adopt the PACI (purpose-driven, anti-racist, connected, and interwoven) framework and practice the Six Agreements (speak truth responsibly, listen to understand, stay engaged, experience discomfort and do things differently, expect and accept non-closure, and honor confidentiality)
• Create and maintain a positive culture of hospitality, generosity, empathy, and graciousness, and model these NWH values for other staff, volunteers, guests, donors, and vendors
• Join Northwest Harvest in its mission to serve this population with dignity
• Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, including the ability to listen effectively.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and leadership to ensure a high degree of mutual accountability
• Ability to work with diverse populations and multitask in demanding situations and tight deadlines.
• Ability to anticipate problems and create solutions in advance
• Attention to detail, ability to manage multiple projects, strong written and verbal communication skills, and ability to listen effectively to build collaborative, cross-functional relationships
• Excellent communication skills, and ability to speak in front of small or large groups of people
• Efficiency in managing time and resources to meet volunteer program deadlines and objectives
• Strong ability to plan, prioritize, and manage tasks efficiently to coordinate volunteer activities
• Ability to work independently within written SOP’s and guidelines
• Be nimble and curious by asking questions to understand the merits of different approaches, and shift approach in response to demands of a situation
• Have and exercise a sense of humor

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

High school diploma, GED certification, and/or a combination of education and experience with a personal orientation as a life-long learner.

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of (2) + years’ experience that includes clerical tasks i.e., data entry, preparing documents, responding to emails, customer service, human services, food bank environment. (1) year experience in a volunteer program setting.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Non- Profit experience is desired but not required.
• Ability to speak a second language or ability to speak Spanish, Vietnamese, or Cantonese is desired but not required.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATIONS

Valid Driver’s license and/or reliable transportation to commute to and from Northwest Harvest locations.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:
Northwest Harvest offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package that includes but is not limited to; medical/dental/ vision/ insurance, long-term disability insurance, Life/AD&D insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 401(k) retirement plan, Vacation and Sick leave, 8 paid holidays; New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, Floating holidays for you to use should you observe a holiday not outlined in Northwest Harvests current observed holidays or at your discretion, and birthday holiday. Employees are eligible to participate in payroll deducted supplemental benefits i.e., Flexible Spending account-HRA and DCE, various AFLAC and New York Life plans.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION:

Northwest Harvest (NWH) is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants.  NWH does not discriminate with regard to hiring, assignment, promotion, or other conditions of staff employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected under local, state or federal law. 

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, upon request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of our positions.