Careers

Description:

Northwest Harvest is Washington’s leading hunger relief agency – supporting a statewide network of 375 food banks, meal programs, and high-need schools. Focused on improving equity in our food system, Northwest Harvest believes everyone in Washington should have consistent access to nutritious food that feeds the body, mind, and spirit. In addition to making sure those who suffer from hunger are being fed, Northwest Harvest aims to shift public opinion, as well as impact institutional policies and societal practices that perpetuate hunger, poverty, and disparities in our state. Learn more at http://www.northwestharvest.org 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Kent Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for volunteer scheduling, orientations, and community engagement while at our Northwest Harvest Kent Distribution Center.  

This role will engage in cutting hunger rates in half by 2028 through effective stewardship of resources and implementation of best practices to support our partners, volunteers, and employees in completing the mission of Northwest Harvest. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Schedule and recruit volunteers for the Kent Warehouse (75%)

• Serve as the first and primary point of contact for volunteers at the Kent Warehouse.

• Work in volunteer database for tracking, communicating with, and scheduling volunteers.

• Provide excellent customer service to volunteers and the public.

• Respond quickly to interested volunteers by phone or email, providing information and processing applications in a timely fashion.

• Responsible for staffing the volunteers at the Kent Warehouse to the necessary levels as determined by the Volunteer Program Manager and Kent operations staff. 

• Implement scheduling and confirmation procedures to create the daily schedule for the Kent staff, ensuring information is accurate and all necessary logistics are communicated and provided for.

• Build friendly, professional relationships with volunteers.

• Collect feedback from volunteers and share information and ideas with the Volunteer Program Manager and Kent staff to improve the overall volunteer experience.

• Participate in volunteer recognition activities.

• Provide stories/ideas for the monthly e-news and quarterly newsletter.

• Resolve disagreements and manage volunteers in a respectful manner.

• Responsible for keeping the Volunteer Team Room organized and ready for volunteers, including making coffee, cleaning tables, and ensuring that supplies are available for volunteers.

• Communicate daily with Kent staff, providing volunteer numbers for each shift and discussing details relevant to the day  

• In collaboration with other Volunteer Coordinators, perform weekly screenings of all incoming volunteer applications in volunteer database and assign volunteers to the requested Northwest Harvest location.

• Work with Volunteer Program Manager to plan and organize volunteer activities.

• Support Advancement team by scheduling volunteers for events.

• Work with Volunteer Program Manager to bolster volunteer involvement in Theory of Change and Equity & Inclusion.

Provide orientations for Kent Warehouse volunteers (20%)

• Greet volunteers at the beginning of each shift and interact with volunteers during and after the shift

• In partnership with the Kent staff, provides orientation for all new volunteers.

• Ensures all individuals and groups sign in and verifies attendance during each shift.

• Shares appreciation during and after each shift.

• Provides advocacy and public policy messages and actions with volunteers.

• Provides acknowledgements (thank you stickers, etc.) and wrap up messaging at the end of each shift.

Track hours for volunteers at the Kent Warehouse (5%)

•Prepares volunteer sign-in sheets and group table top labels for each shift.

• Inputs all Kent Warehouse volunteer hours into volunteer database.

• Maintains Attendance Matrix and other tracking documents (calendar, etc.) as requested by Volunteer Program Manager.

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 contact with staff and management at Kent location, as well as volunteer coordinators and liaisons within the agency.

External – Continuous daily contact with the public functioning as volunteers at Northwest Harvest.

COMPENSATION:

Northwest Harvest offers a competitive salary and generous benefits which include but are not limited to paid time off, health/vision/dental insurance, and 401(k) retirement plan.

Pay for this position starts at $21.60 per hour

DISCLAIMER:

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification.  It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an adaptive organization, responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and mission metrics.

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

Successful completion of Criminal History Background check is required.

Knowledge of:

• Volunteer appreciation practices.

• Verbal and written communication skills

• Volunteer management software such as Volgistics or Salesforce.

• Demonstrated Microsoft office skills. 

• Bilingual in Spanish, Vietnamese, or Cantonese preferred. 

Ability To:

• Work with diverse populations.

• 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, LGBTQ populations and people living with disabilities. 

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and leadership.

• Organize with attention to detail.

• Provide excellent customer service and coordinating many moving pieces.

• Work occasional off-shift hours as necessary for special events or other duties assigned. 

• Maintain a positive attitude - Work effectively under pressure and at a sustained pace, managing emotional highs and lows, while maintaining focus on objectives despite setbacks.  

• Commit to decreasing food insecurity by 50% by 2028

EXPERIENCE:  

2 plus years of progressively responsible experience in customer service. 2 plus years in volunteer organizations. Experience in a nonprofit organization is desired but not required. 

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

High School Diploma and/or GED is preferred or equal combination of experience and education. 

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION:

Northwest Harvest (NWH) is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants.  NWH does not discriminate with regards 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.

Apply via the Northwest Harvest website.