Pantry Associate | Berkeley Food Network

The Pantry Associate supports Berkeley Food Network’s 9th Street Pantry and Berkeley Unified School District pantry programs to distribute food directly to the community. This role collaborates with Berkeley Food Network programs & operations staff, community partners and volunteers. This role includes building relationships with community partners, volunteers, and community members accessing our services.

Hours: Part-time 20 hours/week. Non-Exempt/Hourly.
Schedule: Tuesdays 11am-7:30pm, Wednesdays 11:30am-5pm, Thursdays 11am-7:30pm
Location: Onsite at our West Berkeley warehouse.
Driving: Frequent (2-3 days/week)

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
*9th Street Pantry Program Support 40%* -Orient volunteers and support them with pantry set-up, check-in processes, and community member interactions. -Restock pantry as needed using inventory systems. -Serve as the staff member on site for the evening pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays, supporting volunteers and closing the warehouse. -Conduct interviews and surveys with pantry members to understand how we can improve our services. -Maintain best practices for food handling by storing items in appropriate locations and at appropriate temperatures to prevent spoilage, infestation, and cross-contamination. -Maintain safe and clean facilities and work environment by keeping shelves, pallet area, and workstations neat; participate in daily cleaning processes. *Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) Pantry Support 20%* -Support volunteers, student interns and community members with pantry set-up at pantries at BUSD school sites, oversee check-in processes, orient volunteers, and support positive community member interactions. -Support high school student internship program at BUSD high school pantry sites -Load and unload BFN van for BUSD school site pantries. -Drive the BFN van to BUSD school site pantries. *Volunteer Collaboration 30%* -Greet and provide positive customer service to volunteers and community members entering the warehouse. -Lead pantry volunteers in the set-up, operation, and take-down of BFN’s 9th Street and BUSD pantries. -Lead by example: demonstrate to existing volunteers and train new volunteers on best practices for pantry operations and member interactions. -Work with the Volunteer & Outreach Manager to identify necessary training for volunteers. -Solicit and report volunteer feedback and answer volunteer questions. -Support the Volunteer & Outreach Manager and Pantry Programs Manager to identify specific volunteer needs at pantries and other distribution events. *Logistical Support 10%* -Develop menus for pantry distributions with the Pantry Program Manager. -Use the Client Voice software system and Airtable database to interpret pantry schedules and understand how many community members access our services.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

9th Street Pantry Program Support 40%
-Orient volunteers and support them with pantry set-up, check-in processes, and community member interactions.
-Restock pantry as needed using inventory systems.
-Serve as the staff member on site for the evening pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays, supporting volunteers and closing the warehouse.
-Conduct interviews and surveys with pantry members to understand how we can improve our services.
-Maintain best practices for food handling by storing items in appropriate locations and at appropriate temperatures to prevent spoilage, infestation, and cross-contamination.
-Maintain safe and clean facilities and work environment by keeping shelves, pallet area, and workstations neat; participate in daily cleaning processes.

Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) Pantry Support 20%
-Support volunteers, student interns and community members with pantry set-up at pantries at BUSD school sites, oversee check-in processes, orient volunteers, and support positive community member interactions.
-Support high school student internship program at BUSD high school pantry sites
-Load and unload BFN van for BUSD school site pantries.
-Drive the BFN van to BUSD school site pantries.

Volunteer Collaboration 30%
-Greet and provide positive customer service to volunteers and community members entering the warehouse.
-Lead pantry volunteers in the set-up, operation, and take-down of BFN’s 9th Street and BUSD pantries.
-Lead by example: demonstrate to existing volunteers and train new volunteers on best practices for pantry operations and member interactions.
-Work with the Volunteer & Outreach Manager to identify necessary training for volunteers.
-Solicit and report volunteer feedback and answer volunteer questions.
-Support the Volunteer & Outreach Manager and Pantry Programs Manager to identify specific volunteer needs at pantries and other distribution events.

Logistical Support 10%
-Develop menus for pantry distributions with the Pantry Program Manager.
-Use the Client Voice software system and Airtable database to interpret pantry schedules and understand how many community members access our services.

Skills, Knowledge, & Abilities
*Required Qualifications* -Ability to prioritize tasks based on a variety of factors; flexibility to reassess based on changing circumstances. -Effective time management practices to ensure orders are loaded and delivered on time. -Strong Communication and people skills to successfully handle difficult conversations with a variety of community members experiencing food insecurity. -Basic computer skills and using Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail). -Must have a valid California driver’s license. -Must pass a background check. -Must be comfortable working with high school-aged youth. *Preferred Qualifications* -Food Justice or Community Service experience desired. -Food Service or Food Distribution experience desired. -Experience and comfort operating a pallet jack is preferred. -Native or fluent language ability in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Arabic preferred. -Experience working with volunteers or volunteering. -Experience working with high school-aged youth. Personal Attributes -Problem solving mindset, collaborative with other team members. -Flexible and able to adapt to an environment with changing procedures. -Seeks solutions to problems and issues that arise. -High level of personal responsibility and accountability to assigned tasks. -Cordial and helpful communication style with staff, volunteers, community members and partners. -Empathetic and compassionate communication with the community members receiving food assistance.

Skills, Knowledge, & Abilities

Required Qualifications
-Ability to prioritize tasks based on a variety of factors; flexibility to reassess based on changing circumstances.
-Effective time management practices to ensure orders are loaded and delivered on time.
-Strong Communication and people skills to successfully handle difficult conversations with a variety of community members experiencing food insecurity.
-Basic computer skills and using Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail).
-Must have a valid California driver’s license.
-Must pass a background check.
-Must be comfortable working with high school-aged youth.

Preferred Qualifications
-Food Justice or Community Service experience desired.
-Food Service or Food Distribution experience desired.
-Experience and comfort operating a pallet jack is preferred.
-Native or fluent language ability in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Arabic preferred.
-Experience working with volunteers or volunteering.
-Experience working with high school-aged youth.

Personal Attributes
-Problem solving mindset, collaborative with other team members.
-Flexible and able to adapt to an environment with changing procedures.
-Seeks solutions to problems and issues that arise.
-High level of personal responsibility and accountability to assigned tasks.
-Cordial and helpful communication style with staff, volunteers, community members and partners.
-Empathetic and compassionate communication with the community members receiving food assistance.

Physical Requirements
This position is primarily located in a warehouse environment. Able to perform the following duties with or without accommodation: -Ability to exert force and/or lift or carry items weighing 50 and occasionally up to 75 pounds, and up to 50 pounds frequently. -Ability to walk, sit, squat, bend, twist, reach above and below shoulder height, push, pull, lift, and carry frequently. -Ability to work inside freezers and coolers frequently. -Ability to work in an occasionally loud warehouse environment. -Ability to handle compost and trash receptacles.

Physical Requirements

This position is primarily located in a warehouse environment. Able to perform the following duties with or without accommodation:

-Ability to exert force and/or lift or carry items weighing 50 and occasionally up to 75 pounds, and up to 50 pounds frequently.
-Ability to walk, sit, squat, bend, twist, reach above and below shoulder height, push, pull, lift, and carry frequently.
-Ability to work inside freezers and coolers frequently.
-Ability to work in an occasionally loud warehouse environment.
-Ability to handle compost and trash receptacles.

Compensation & Benefits
The compensation for this position is $24/hour. The benefits for part-time employees at BFN are as follows: -Twenty-one (21) paid holidays, including the end-of-year closure between December 23 – January 1 annually, and a paid day off for your birthday. -Accrued paid leaves including up to ten (10) vacation days and up to 80 paid sick leave hours in your first year, depending on the number of hours worked. -Elective participation in 403(b) Retirement Plan

Compensation & Benefits

The compensation for this position is $24/hour. The benefits for part-time employees at BFN are as follows:

-Twenty-one (21) paid holidays, including the end-of-year closure between December 23 – January 1 annually, and a paid day off for your birthday.
-Accrued paid leaves including up to ten (10) vacation days and up to 80 paid sick leave hours in your first year, depending on the number of hours worked.
-Elective participation in 403(b) Retirement Plan

Application Process
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with the first resume review on July 25th. Please submit your resume and cover letter to hiring@berkeleyfoodnetwork.org with "Pantry Associate" in the subject line. In your cover letter, please: -Introduce yourself and your relevant work experience. -Describe your experience or interest in food, food assistance, food justice, or working with youth. -Share what makes you a good candidate for this role. -Indicate whether you have the permanent, unrestricted, legal right to work in the United States, as BFN cannot sponsor visas at this time.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with the first resume review on July 25th. Please submit your resume and cover letter to hiring@berkeleyfoodnetwork.org with "Pantry Associate" in the subject line.

In your cover letter, please:
-Introduce yourself and your relevant work experience.
-Describe your experience or interest in food, food assistance, food justice, or working with youth.
-Share what makes you a good candidate for this role.
-Indicate whether you have the permanent, unrestricted, legal right to work in the United States, as BFN cannot sponsor visas at this time.