Food Sustainability Project Coordinator

AD WARRIOR; London; On-site; GBP 37,000; Full time

Job summary

An organization focused on food sustainability in London is seeking a Food Sustainability Project Coordinator. This role involves securing food donations, managing a community pantry, and coordinating volunteers to reduce food waste and tackle food insecurity. Ideal candidates will have experience in community projects and partnerships. The position offers a salary of £36,934 per annum for a fixed term of 4 years.

Qualifications

• Passionate about food, sustainability, and community empowerment.
• Commitment to dignity-first food provision and tackling food insecurity.
• Experience of coordinating food services or community-based projects.
• Proven ability to build and manage partnerships.
• Experience of managing volunteers or staff.
• Strong organizational skills for managing multiple projects.
• Knowledge of food safety and health & safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Secure regular surplus food donations from various sources.
• Lead the management of the RenewALL Food Pantry.
• Manage and expand the cargo bike food redistribution programme.
• Recruit, train, and support volunteers across various services.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
• Work with marketing to promote community campaigns.

Skills

Food sustainability knowledge

Partnership building

Volunteer management

Organizational skills

Community engagement

Food safety standards

Job description

Food Sustainability Project Coordinator

Location: Mainly their head office in E12, but also in other venues around the borough of Newham as directed.

Salary: £36,934 per annum

Hours: 36 hours per week

Vacancy Type: 4-year fixed term

For over five decades, the organisation has been a trusted cornerstone of the community in the London Borough of Newham, tackling the root causes and consequences of poverty, isolation, and disadvantage.

Role overview

This role is central to their mission to support sustainable living, reduce food waste, tackle local food insecurity, and foster meaningful community connections. As a key part of delivering the vision set out in their Hub proposal, you will ensure their food provision goes beyond meeting immediate needs to build inclusion, wellbeing, and pathways into wider community support.

Your primary responsibility will be to secure regular donations of surplus food by developing and maintaining strong partnerships with local supermarkets, shops, restaurants, and national redistribution organisations like the Newham Food Alliance, Felix Project, and Feeding Britain.

You will manage the effective use of this food across their services, including the foodbank, food pantry, warm meals programme, and cooking classes. This will involve careful stock management, menu planning, and coordinating with lead staff to ensure their food provision meets Newham’s environmental, health, and cultural needs. A key part of this will be overseeing the successful operation and promotion of their expanded food pantry.

Coordinating volunteers will be essential, particularly in managing and expanding their cargo bike fleet for surplus food collection and redistribution. You will also explore opportunities to monetise these sustainable transport services. To further engage the community, you will organise and host quarterly workshops on reducing food waste and eating on a budget.

Ultimately, you will play a vital role in coordinating their surplus food operations, managing volunteer teams, and strengthening partnerships to ensure their food services are impactful, sustainable, and community-led.

Key Responsibilities

Food Supply & Partnerships

• Secure regular surplus food donations from local supermarkets, shops, restaurants, farms, and redistribution networks (e.g., FareShare, Felix Project, Newham Food Alliance).
• Build strong partnerships with local and national food aid providers to maximise supply, reduce duplication, and ensure continuity of stock.
• Ensure culturally appropriate, nutritious food options are consistently available.

Food Service Delivery

• Lead the operational management of the RenewALL Food Pantry, ensuring it is welcoming, respectful, and centred on dignity and choice.
• Oversee twice-weekly pantry sessions, ensuring high-quality customer service, stock availability, and culturally relevant food.
• Maximise the effective use of volunteers in the operation of the pantry.
• Use the pantry as a gateway to wider support by integrating referrals into health, wellbeing, advice, and volunteering pathways.

Sustainable Food Initiatives & Logistics

• Manage and expand the cargo bike food redistribution programme, ensuring effective logistics, safety, insurance, and maintenance.
• Champion environmental sustainability, embedding low-waste, low-carbon practices across all food services.
• Organise and deliver quarterly workshops on food waste reduction and eating on a budget.

Volunteer Leadership & Team Management

• In partnership with the Volunteer Manager, recruit, train, and support volunteers across the Foodbank, Food Pantry, café, warm meals, and cargo bike services.
• Work with colleagues to develop food collection rotas, provide training (food safety, customer care), and ensure smooth operations across all food-related services.
• Foster an inclusive, positive volunteer culture, ensuring volunteers feel valued and engaged.

Compliance, Monitoring & Resource Management

• Ensure compliance with Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, and Environmental Standards, maintaining accurate records and certifications.
• Manage budgets effectively, ensuring value for money and accurate reporting.

Innovation & Development

• Work with colleagues to explore and develop revenue opportunities linked to sustainable food and transport initiatives (e.g., monetising cargo bike deliveries).
• Together with partners and colleagues, explore the implementation of employment focussed opportunities for residents, for example via deliveries on the cargo bikes.

Project Awareness & Marketing

• Work with their marketing team to introduce creative community campaigns (e.g., Reverse Advent, seasonal drives, sponsorships) to encourage donations of both food and direct funds.
• Promote the projects with local partners, for example working with local schools to maximise harvest deliveries and raise the profile of the project.

Person Specification

• Passionate about food, sustainability, and community empowerment.
• Commitment to dignity-first food provision and tackling food insecurity.
• Experience of coordinating food services, hospitality, or community-based projects.
• Proven ability to build and manage partnerships with suppliers, community groups, or external organisations.
• Experience of managing volunteers or staff, including recruitment, rotas, and supervision.
• Strong organisational skills, able to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and stock systems.
• Knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for the organisation, please do not hesitate to apply.