Food Access Program Manager

BACKGROUND 

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership was formed in 1999 as a comprehensive community development non-profit, serving Fort Greene & Clinton Hill. Read more about our organization’s mission and history at myrtleavenue.org/about. 

In 2015, the Partnership founded the Fort Greene & Farragut Fresh Pantry with local NYCHA tenant associations and community partners. In March 2020, the monthly pantry’s traditional pick-up model transitioned to a delivery-based program to better serve neighbors who were instructed to stay indoors due to the pandemic. Since March 2020, the delivery model has worked with over 30 partner organizations and nearly 100 volunteers each week to successfully make nearly 25,000 deliveries, distributing over 750,000 pounds of free groceries. This program builds on the organization's decade-long work with local community members to identify and respond to food access needs, particularly within public housing along Myrtle Avenue.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Program Manager will be responsible for management of the organization’s weekly food pantry program, which is currently operating on a delivery-based model but is in the process of transitioning back to a traditional pick-up pantry. The Program Manager will ensure smooth operation of the program, including receiving bulk food deliveries, packing of individual grocery “shares,” coordinating distribution of food to the multiple delivery sites in Fort Greene, and assisting the Executive Director in communicating with relevant partners each week about logistics and planning. The Program Manager will report to the Executive Director. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The position requires work both “on-site” at the pantry, and weekly tasks that can be completed while working from home or at the Partnership’s office.

On-Site (Fridays & Saturdays)

• Manage the pantry’s central workspace within the Brooklyn Navy Yard, ensuring the space is clean, orderly, needed supplies are stocked, and communicate any needs to the Executive Director
• Assist in receiving bulk deliveries of food items from our food providers (e.g. City Harvest, Food Bank, etc.)
• Catalog all food supplies each week and devise a distribution plan for those items for the households who’s signed up for a delivery that week
• Provide support and help manage volunteer and work crews on-site during a Friday shift (currently 11am-4pm) where bulk food is bagged or boxed up into individual portions
• Lead the effort to distribute food from the Navy Yard site to five distribution sites across Fort Greene, coordinating with volunteer crews, including volunteer drivers, and hired truck drivers to efficiently load and move the food out of the Navy Yard

Off-Site 

• Prior to each weekend, maintain communication with relevant partners and the Executive Director to prepare for any needs at the pantry’s distribution sites
• Communicate by email or phone during the week with our partner volunteer coordinators, NYCHA tenant associations, food providers, staff from other partner organizations to coordinate food supplies, delivery and other logistics
• Assist with maintaining the pantry’s delivery list and required information for recipients

QUALIFICATIONS

• Genuine care for wanting to help neighbors in need access food
• Ability to communicate with a very diverse group of people and personality types
• You are friendly, warm and comfortable engaging people – this is key!
• Critical thinker with the ability to be resourceful, anticipate obstacles and troubleshoot issues with a problem-solving attitude
• Possesses team spirit, and a willingness to pitch in and help with a wide range of varied assignments, as time and regular duties permit
• Total comfortability with email communication, most often on a mobile device, and web-based communication tools (Zoom, etc.), as well as advanced proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets
• Bachelor’s degree preferred (but not required), with minimum two years of professional experience required, with that experience demonstrating competencies in program coordination, non-profit programs, service delivery, community development, senior citizen engagement, or a related field.
• Knowledge of and past connection to the Fort Greene community is a big plus!
• Physical requirements include standing, lifting and walking for extended periods of time, sometimes in extreme temperatures, lifting up to 50 pounds, and work in a potentially noisy environment.

SCHEDULE & COMPENSATION

This position is part-time, with 21 hours expected per week at a rate of $25/hour. Weekly hours include approximately 10 hours needed on-site on Fridays and Saturdays, and the remaining hours worked remotely throughout the week as communication requires. Paid leave provided in accordance with NY City regulations. Discounted Citi Bike membership and monthly phone stipend offered.

HOW TO APPLY

Send resume and cover letter/email describing your interest in and qualifications for the position to hello@myrtleavenue.org by Monday, Sept 21.

Note: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls please.

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer