CGFB Program & Operations Manager

Job Description: Applications accepted until position is filled. Cover letter required for consideration. Who We Are: Oregon Food Bank (OFB) believes that no one should be hungry. Our mission is to eliminate hunger and its root causes. We believe that food and health are basic human rights for all. We know that hunger is not just an individual experience; it is also a community-wide symptom of systemic barriers to employment, education, housing and health care such as systemic racism, sexism, and cissexism. That’s why we work systemically to achieve our mission to end hunger: we foster community connections to help people access nutritious food, and we build community power and strengthen networks of support and the safety net to eliminate the root causes of hunger for good. We build community power to dismantle systems and policies that drive hunger and poverty. Oregon Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we strongly encourage applications from candidates who can increase the diversity of our organization and strengthen our capacity to eliminate hunger. We believe strongly in the power of lived experience — and we actively seek individuals who have experienced hunger and its root causes to join our team. Our organization is stronger because of the leadership of people who have faced food insecurity in their own lives and/or hail from historically under-represented communities. Learn more about our commitment at oregonfoodbank.org/equity. Who You Are: You care deeply about community, about people experiencing hunger and hold them in the center of all that you do. You are committed to apply equity as a process and an outcome of your work to disrupt systemic social patterns that promote hunger such as racism, sexism, and cissexism. You have a strong affinity with OFB’s 10 Year Vision and are profoundly excited to achieve this vision for and with our community. Position Summary: As the Program and Operations Manager, you will contribute to the organization’s success by collaborating with the CGFB Executive Director in overseeing branch programs and operations and supervising staff to carry out OFB’s mission within Wasco, Sherman and Hood River Counties. The Program and Operations Manager works with staff and community partners to develop and implement strategies to build food access and equitability throughout the region with particular focus on communities disproportionately impacted by hunger. Responsibilities include oversight of all facilities, warehousing, inventory, transportation, agency relations, program management, and community outreach functions. The position requires flexibility, a solutions oriented mindset, strategic thinking and a commitment to racial justice and equity. This position also requires the ability to develop a thorough understanding of OFB’s warehouse management system (WMS/Primarius), process flow and standard operating procedures, and state and federal requirements for food safety and workplace safety. Primary Responsibilities Supervise a team responsible for Columbia Gorge Food Bank logistics and operations. Design and communicate clear team roles and accountability to maintain a positive and collaborative work culture. Facilitate open communication, representing diverse experiences. Act as thought partner for Operations Leads when challenges arise and support as necessary. Make staffing decisions in the case of inclement weather or disaster response. Apply strategic decision making and tactical execution to support a strong network of hunger relief partners through robust programming. Work with a broad base of partners, coalitions and low-income people on solutions to hunger and its root causes in support of Oregon Food Bank’s mission. Provide effective communications and technical assistance to hunger relief partners, ensuring their programs are well integrated with other strategies to end hunger and are operating consistently with CGFB’s strategic direction and all relevant OFB and Feeding America partner agreement(s). Coordinate with Oregon Food Bank’s Compliance Team to ensure that partners meet or exceed all USDA, Feeding America, ServSafe, Fresh Alliance and local health department regulations. In strategic partnership with CGFB Executive Director, develop and manage internal programming including but not limited to, Wahtonka pantry, mobile pantry, volunteer management, food sourcing, community outreach, flex space usage, migrant farmworker boxes, gorge homeless outreach and native outreach. Support local independent food and fund drives and fundraising events for the Branch. Model and coach staff and volunteers to develop and exhibit strong interpersonal skills, critical thinking and creativity for problem solving, passion and authenticity, skillful time-management and compelling presentation skills. Provide regular feedback to ensure a high level of productivity, excellent customer service and professional growth. Assist the Columbia Gorge Food Bank Executive Director in developing the Columbia Gorge Food Bank annual work plan, goals, objectives and budget for incorporation into OFB annual plan and budget. Operate within the annual budget of income and expenditures and ensure successful completion of the annual work plan. Providing strategic direction and tactical execution to ensure food distribution within Sherman, Wasco and Hood River counties creates leadership opportunities and partnership with the communities that are disproportionately impacted by hunger - including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Trans- and Gender non-conforming, immigrant and refugee communities. Assist with processing donations and bank deposits, checking the mail, and maintaining branch equipment and supplies (front office). Connect partners / program participants with Oregon Food Bank’s legislative agenda and public policy priorities, which is created by the Policy Leadership Council. Participate in collaboration and peer learning amongst other Regional Food Bank managers, Oregon Food Bank colleagues and community partners to improve nutrition for low-income individuals and families: increase variety and choice in food access, increase cultural competencies, spur innovative programing and sustainable solutions. Support the management of contracts and relationships with program partners and funders – including administrative oversight, writing grant reports and assisting with applications, and tightly managing the budget and outcomes. Actively participate in Oregon Food Bank efforts to develop and support community ownership of the Columbia Gorge Food Bank. Contribute to the Partnerships & Programs (department of Oregon Food Bank) management team to define and build consensus for OFB’s strategic direction and culture; including personal learning to address systemic inequity and its role in food insecurity. Organizational level responsibilities of exempt employees include: To be an ambassador and a leader for OFB’s vision and mission, a cross-departmental collaborator, and an active contributor to building a movement to end hunger for good by addressing the root causes of hunger: systemic oppressions such as racism, xenophobia, sexism, and cisexism. In consultation and coordination with the supervisor, actively contribute to: cross-departmental efforts work culture activities and programming advisory and consultative groups such as the compensation committee, affinity groups, Equity Ambassadors, Equity Think Tank meetings, among others plan and engage in professional development activities that strengthen your capacity for your specific role as well as your capacity to contribute and advance organizational goals, OFB’s vision and mission. Identify, share, engage in, and collaboratively adjust and make necessary changes to this description of duties according to the inevitable evolution of the role over time. Skills and Experience Required: Deep passion for eliminating hunger and its root causes. Clear dedication to racial justice, inclusion and equity and an ability to effectively apply these frameworks in the context of anti-hunger work. At least 3 years demonstrated success within food banking, social services, hunger relief programming and/or community food systems work. At least 3 years of program or project management experience, including directing the work of staff or volunteers and managing budgets and work plans. Ability to analyze competing priorities and make logical decisions for prioritizing work. A collaborative and flexible style, with a learning orientation and team approach, including excellent judgment, creative problem-solving skills and the ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion when working with partners, colleagues, and coworkers. Strong written and oral communication skills, including an ability to translate technical information so that it is easy to understand and the ability to communicate with and engage diverse audiences. Proficient in computer skills and familiarity with software and applications including email, documents and spreadsheets; ability to quickly master new software and online tools. Ability to obtain food safety certification. Organizational level skills and experience required for exempt employees include: Disposition and willingness to maximize multiple perspectives to innovate, problem solve and seek creative solutions. Experience in modeling intercultural competence and demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice. Demonstrated ability to think strategically, collaborate, take initiative, and to maintain confidentiality. Project coordination and organization skills; ability to manage multiple projects with attention to detail; ability to handle interruptions, and produce timely, accurate work. Ability to both work independently and as part of a team; comfortable working in an office environment and offsite. Ability to thrive in a diverse, creative, responsive, mission-driven, and fast-paced work culture. Experience of successful multicultural immersion working and/or living within OFB's Equity Constituencies: BIPoC, Immigrants & Refugees, Single Mothers, Trans and Gender-Non-Conforming folx. Multicultural Immersion defined as: Actively integrated in one or more communities, interacting with individuals and groups, and seeking to understand the diversities within and between communities by being there and engaging in daily life activities. Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with food insecure populations, BIPOC communities, immigrant and refugee communities, low-income communities and/or personal experience of food insecurity. Proven track record with computer-based inventory management systems; experience with Primarius is a plus. Knowledge of nonprofits, proposal development, fundraising, and marketing/promotions. At least 2 years of supervisory experience with mission-driven staff; including strategies to address mission-creep, burn-out and compassion fatigue. Experience and expertise in conflict resolution. Professional or volunteer experience within food banking, hunger relief programming and/or community food systems work. Organizational level preferred qualifications of exempt employees include: Multilingual skills at a minimum professional level of proficiency or greater in English and any additional language/s, defined as being able to speak the languages with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical and professional topics. Multicultural skills of adaptation and integration are strongly preferred. Adaptation is defined as the capacity to communicate and interact with people of multiple cultures, backgrounds, and styles by incorporating and adapting to the world view and perspectives of others. Integration is defined as being able to “code-switch” or move in and out of one's worldview and help others understand different cultures, backgrounds, and styles to promote diversity and inclusion. Commitment to continued professional development to strengthen capacity to work through an equity lens for equity and racial justice. Strong capacity to consider multiple perspectives, to pivot to respond to emerging needs and lead through organizational changes. Years of successful multicultural immersion either working with and/or living within one or more of OFB’s Equity Constituencies at the time of hire. An additional step for at least 10 years above minimum required of successful multicultural immersion working with and/or living within one or more of OFB’s Equity Constituencies at the time of hire. Multicultural Immersion defined as: Actively integrated in one or more communities, interacting with individuals and groups, and seeking to understand the diversities within and between communities by being there and engaging in daily life activities. The Fine Print: Work environment: Work is performed in an office environment while sitting in meetings or at a computer screen for extended periods inside and outside of Oregon Food Bank and will use computers and phones extensively. Work is performed in a warehouse environment while moving around and/or using heavy machinery for extended periods of time. May work outside of general working hours of 8:00 – 5:00 p.m., such as evenings and weekends, and occasional travel out of town may occur. This role requires travel/personal vehicle use /work outside normal hours. Work may require to lift, move and carry objects from 20 to 40 pounds, such as boxes containing office and other supplies. Crouching, bending, kneeling and reaching when filing. Accommodations may be available upon request. Background Check: This position requires a criminal background check. Criminal background checks may be required for the following reasons: Insurance requirement Third party contractual requirement/s Job duties requirements include unsupervised administration of cash or other liquid assets. Job duties include unaccompanied work with minors, elders, or anyone legally unable to consent to touch, discipline, or sexual contact.