Agency Capacity Specialist - Waste Not (part-time)

at United Food Bank in Mesa, Arizona, United States

Job Description

Are you passionate about sustainability and making a meaningful impact in your community? Join us as an Agency Capacity Specialist on our Waste Not team and become an integral part of our mission to support local human services agencies by building partnerships to distribute rescued food to people in need, upholding food safety standards, and keeping excess prepared food out of landfills.

This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic and innovative nonprofit organization. Waste Not rescues perishable food from donor organizations and makes deliveries on the same day to a variety of local agencies that feed the hungry.

United Food Bank Mission and Values:

We are passionate about our Mission of Uniting Communities to Alleviate Hunger. You are most likely to find success at United Food Bank if you are motivated to embrace our values:

• We are Uniters – working together as one united team.
• We are Cultivators – with a growth mindset and willing to try new things.
• We are Optimists – with a positive attitude and a commitment to move our mission forward.

At Waste Not, an affiliate of United Food Bank, we’re creating sustainable food systems that help people and the planet flourish. We do this by eliminating food waste and hunger through innovative community partnerships. A great deal of time, money, and resources go into growing and delivering nutritious food. Yet, each year, 40% of that food is thrown away. At the same time, nearly 1 million people in Arizona are struggling with food insecurity. We’re transforming this broken system by connecting tens of thousands of Arizonans with quality food that would have otherwise gone to waste. By reimagining what’s possible for food rescue, we’re making our community and our planet healthier. 

Position Summary:

The Agency Capacity Specialist supports our partner agencies in maintaining compliance with food safety guidelines, food distribution management, sustainable capacity & community relationship building, and reporting needed for Waste Not partnership. This position is responsible for auditing and managing support of Waste Not’s agencies annually, communicating best practices, and reporting agency impact monthly. This role is based in Mesa, AZ, but requires frequent travel throughout the service area, including local locations (40% local travel). This is a part-time position 20-30 hours per week.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct a needs assessment within their assigned geographical region to identify individual agency strengths, areas for growth, and barriers to service.
• Coordinate onboarding of new agencies.
• Address any ongoing troubleshooting for all partnership requirements.
• Conduct regular on-site monitoring visits to agencies to audit and ensure compliance with Feeding America, DES, and United Food Bank standards. 
• Follow up with sites after audits and facilitate the resolution of any compliance issues.
• Maintain Recipient Organization List (ROL) for their assigned region.
• Responsible for monthly reporting to the Director of Agency Network and Executive Director.
• Attend distributions on a regular rotation to monitor and provide feedback.
• Support all program efforts and increases enrollment to services at Waste Not and within the agency network.
• Oversight of all agency files and documentation in keeping with Arizona Department of Economic Security and Feeding America contract standards, including the tracking of contracts, civil rights training, food handler’s cards, and volunteer confidentiality forms.
• Support the use of technology at direct mobile distributions and maintains proxy listings when needed. 
• Send out recall notices provided by Feeding America to regional agency network.
• Coordinate with the Agency team to ensure:
• Agency resources on the website are accurate
• Standardization of audits and reporting
• Program standards are being upheld across the agency network
• Planning and execution of the Annual Agency Conferences through committee
• Build capacity training to ensure the sustainability of the agency network.
• Participate in relevant committees, community groups, and events.
• Cross-collaboration with the Agency Team including, but not limited to, database management, mobile distributions, and special projects. 
• Generate and maintain an atmosphere of openness and conducive to innovation to support the United Food Bank and Waste Not mission. 
• Other duties assigned as needed.