Food Donations Coordinator

Position Summary

The Food Donations Coordinator is the primary relationship coordinator for assigned food donors, ensuring consistent communications, exceptional customer service, and growth within the Food Bank’s food rescue program. This position requires extensive local travel, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to build trust while representing the Food Bank in a professional manner.

Arkansas Foodbank team members will demonstrate a commitment to our mission and to the fight against hunger in Arkansas. They must have a clear understanding of and ability to articulate the mission and vision of Arkansas Foodbank and a desire to work with diverse populations. Team members must exemplify Arkansas Foodbank values while representing the organization at public, social, and business settings. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibilities and essential functions of this position but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.  Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other areas to cover absences or to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.  Individuals in this position may occasionally work irregular hours as necessary.

The Food Donations Coordinator will be comfortable learning new technology, as well as an eagerness to utilize Arkansas Foodbank software systems. They will possess strong interpersonal skills, a spirit of collaboration and teamwork, and a commitment to hunger relief.

1. Directly oversees the development, retention, and enhancement of our food donation accounts.
   1. Work in conjunction with Retail Rescue and Procurement Manager to formulate strategies, develop, and implement a work plan to solicit food and products from food industries including manufacturers, distributors, farmers, and grocery stores to meet the distribution needs.
   2. Visit donor sites to develop and enhance food donor relationships. Cultivate current food donors with the goal of increasing donation quality, expand participation, improve donation quality, and increase donation frequency.
   3. Identify and cultivate new food donation opportunities within the assigned territory.
   4. Maintain donor files and visit logs
   5. Maintain donor recognition programs and awards for major food donors as provided by the Retail Rescue and Procurement Manager.
   6. Investigate and resolve donor concerns, scheduling conflicts, or barriers that may impact successful food recovery.
   7. Stay informed on food safety regulations, donation best practices, and organizational policies to provide accurate guidance to donors.
   8. Exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, and tact when handling sensitive situations or difficult conversations. 
2. Help foster relationships between agencies and retail sites.
3. Collaborate with Operations staff to make the most efficient use of transportation and other logistics needed for handling donations.
4. Monitor retail donation program progress, including but not limited to pounds per store per pickup and donation readiness including stores enabled to agencies. Work with the Retail Rescue Manager and Procurement Manager to identify any potential issues and opportunities for improvement.
5. Monitor the quality of donations received and monitor the percentage of trash pounds generated by these donations.
6. Provide information and tours of Foodbank to visitors, donors, and other interested parties.
7. Provide training and or coaching to donors, staff, or agency personnel that promote food safety, best practices, efficiency, and      increased donations.
8. Represent the Foodbank professionally; maintain positive public relations and exceptional customer service.
9. Represent Arkansas Foodbank at select food industry events including food shows as needed.
10. Keep up to date and knowledgeable about Foodbank related issues and trends as they pertain to increasing location donations.
11. Carry out general office duties, as they apply to the aforementioned areas of responsibility on an as-needed basis, including photocopying, filing, faxing and preparation and distribution of correspondence.
12. Attend required staff meetings, training, and conferences.

13. Ability to travel up to 75% of work schedule.

1. May occasionally work nights and weekends. Must have a good driving record.

Qualifications 

The following qualifications are preferred for the candidate or employee; however, other job-related education and/or experience may be substituted for all or part of these basic requirements upon approval of management.

• Associate degree. A Bachelor's degree is preferred.
• At least three years’ experience in food industry, sales, marketing.
• Familiarity with computer operations including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Valid Arkansas driver’s license and proof of insurance required
• Must pass a background check
• Must pass a preemployment drug screening

Physical Requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

This job operates in the community and a professional office environment. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet to humid conditions; extreme cold or heat; and general outside weather conditions. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and lift/move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. Frequently required to operate vehicles.