AmeriCorps: Nutrition Programs Assistant

Published on August 5, 2019

Application Deadline: August 31, 2019

Reports to: Program Manager

Food insecurity and poor nutrition go hand in hand. For those struggling with hunger, food choices are often prioritized based on an item’s cost, not its nutritional value.  Long-term effects on children experiencing hunger include lowered academic achievement, decreased emotional development, and increased health problems.  In the elderly malnutrition exacerbates diseases, decreases resistance to infection, and extends hospital stays. In providing hunger relief, Beyond Hunger through its many programs, aims to deliver the very items our clients need most:  nutrient-dense and protein-rich foods. 

The Nutrition Programs Assistant (NPA) is critical to the success of that goal by connecting targeted groups to healthy food through special programs.  Thus, the NPA must be skilled in communicating and working with people of all ages, abilities, and walks of life.  The NPA also supervises the volunteers who work in these programs.  By combining outreach and volunteer management, the NPA helps build connections across age, ability, and interest, thus further integrating volunteers into the service model.

Essential Duties:

Home Delivery:

  • Assist Program Manager with day-to-day operations of the HD program
  • Liaise with targeted social impact agencies to coordinate the delivery of groceries to clients
  • Participate in on-going assessment of the effectiveness of day-to-day operations and detect areas where efficiency may be improved
  • Assist with all logistic aspects of HD including:
    • Communicate monthly with individual clients to confirm participation and dietary needs
    • Communicate with Registered Dietitian in revising new clients’ dietary restrictions and to ensure dietary plans for targeted medical needs are effectively implemented
    • Coordinate with Pantry Manager or Pantry Supervisor to ensure effective allocation of food items from the pantry’s inventory to the HD program
    • Create a monthly menu of groceries and order fresh produce from wholesaler
    • Create and modify distribution routes as client usage changes
    • Collaborate with Volunteer Coordinator to recruit and train volunteers for the program
    • Direct volunteers during the calling, bagging, and delivery shifts
    • Troubleshoot logistical issues accordingly
    • Assist with data collection and data entry into Salesforce and Food Bank Manager
    • Communicate with refererral agencies regularly to keep track of new clients, clients dropping from the program, and other attendance discrepancies

Summer Meals:

  • Work with Program Manager plan and organize all aspects of the Summer Meals program
  • Liaise with different community stakeholders, such as: school districts, summer camps, and other community organizations to work partnerships for the summer meals program
  • Assist with marketing outreach process targeting potential beneficiaries
  • Attend all required state and local SM training and incorporate the information learned into interns and volunteer orientations and trainings
  • Development of programming for each site, including partnering/collaborating with other social agencies to provide educational activities during meal times
  • Create daily interactive activity plans for 2-month period (focus on Physical Education, Arts & Crafts, Nutrition Education, etc.)
  • Coordinate data collection for the assessment/evaluation process

Surplus Project:

  • Assist the Program Manager with day-to-day operations of the Surplus Project
  • Troubleshoot problems as they arise during daily meal deliveries
  • Maintain meal tracking spreadsheets for all sites
  • Update Surplus Project supplies inventory and work with partners to manage ordering more supplies

Social Services:

  • Work with Social Services Coordinator to ensure ALL walk-in clients receive the assistance they need within business and distribution hours.
  • Help oversee Social Services Volunteers to ensure they have all information, supplies, and clear direction to complete their shifts.

Volunteer Management:

  • Work with pantry staff to schedule volunteers for programs as needed
  • Supervise volunteers in each of the programs
  • Plan and implement protocols and training for various volunteer shifts for Home Delivery
  • Assist in the volunteer orientation and training process for Summer Meals, ensuring all agency-specific, state, and federal requirements are met

General Responsibilities:

  • Attend staff meetings and maintain clear lines of communication among all staff members
  • Attend training and community meetings as approved by supervisor
  • Maintain flexibility with time, tasks, and priorities
  • Assume additional responsibilities as necessary or as assigned by Programs Manager to accomplish the purpose and goals of Beyond Hunger
  • Cross-train with a variety of programs’ procedures
     

Qualifications:

  • High School Diploma with some college or 2 years of related experience minimum.
  • College Degree and related experience in nutrition/education/no-profit/management preferred.
  • Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills
  • Must be a team-player and detail-oriented
  • Ability to work with and encourage interaction between people of all ages and abilities
  • Current driver’s license and automobile liability insurance
  • Food sanitation licensure (or willingness and ability to achieve it once hired—fees paid by Beyond Hunger)
  • Bi-lingual skills (English/Spanish) are a plus
  • Must be at least 21 years of age.

Member Status and Hours:

Full-time AmeriCorps Member; 1700 hours to be completed within contracted timeframe (one year).  Routine schedule Monday through Friday, during normal business hours but must be willing to work occasional evening or weekend hours.

Environment

Multi-level work area: administrative offices/work space not fully accessible to the mobility impaired.  Must be physically capable of walking up and down stairs and be able to lift 40 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Workplace is a smoke- and drug-free environment.  Equal opportunity employer.

Benefits: 

  • Living Allowance: $13,700 to be distributed in equal allotments every two weeks within the contract term.
  • Education Award: Upon successful completion of the member's term of service, the member will receive an education award from the National Service Trust in the amount of $5,920.
  • Health care insurance for the AmeriCorps member at no cost to them is available.
  • Child care assistance available, if applicable.

To apply send a resume and cover letter to adriana@GoBeyondHunger.org

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