Community Pantry Assistant (PT Regular w/ benefits)

nve; Cordova (AK); On-site; USD 29,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

The Native Village of Eyak in Cordova, Alaska is seeking a part-time Food Pantry Associate to support FDPIR/TEFAP operations at the Ilanka Community Health Center. This on-site role offers 25 hours per week, starting pay Grade 6 at $25.23/hour DOE.

You will help participants access food programs, manage inventory and distributions, and provide welcoming, confidential service while following safety guidelines and program requirements.

Qualifications

• Food Handlers Certification required or obtainable within 30 days.
• FDPIR Module Training Certificate required within 30 days.
• Civil Rights Training Certificate required within 30 days.
• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Experience with fishing, hunting, subsistence activities, seafood processing, or similar hands-on work preferred.
• Valid Alaska driver’s license and insurable driving record preferred.

Responsibilities

• Welcome and assist individuals and families accessing the Community Pantry.
• Assist participants with program applications and required documentation.
• Schedule food pickups and coordinate home deliveries.
• Maintain confidentiality of participant information.
• Prepare monthly food packages and participant orders.
• Stock shelves, freezers, and warehouse areas; monitor expiration dates.

Skills

Traditional foods knowledge

Knives & processing equipment

MS365 basics

Teamwork

Respectful communication

Education

Food Handlers Certification

FDPIR Training Certificate

Civil Rights Training Certificate

High school diploma or GED

Experience in fishing/hunting/subsistence

Alaska driver's license

Job description

Who We Are

• The Native Village of Eyak (NVE) is a federally recognized Tribal government based in Cordova, Alaska—a remote, roadless community nestled between the eastern Chugach Mountains and the waters of Prince William Sound.
• Our ancestral homelands have long served as a traditional gathering place for the Eyak, Aleut, Tlingit, and Athabascan peoples and span more than 55 million acres of land and sea, encompassing the Copper River Delta and the Northern Gulf of Alaska. This territory reflects the deep, enduring connection our people have to the land and waters that have sustained us for generations.
• NVE is governed by a seven-member elected Council, which upholds our Constitution and Bylaws. The Council provides strategic leadership and direction to the Administrative Executive Director and Health Executive Director to implement projects and programs in alignment with a strategic plan.
• The Ilanka Community Health Center is a primary care outpatient clinic serving the Cordova community. As both an Indian Health Service facility and a Community Health Center, Ilanka offers affordable, high-quality care through contract health services and sliding fee scales. In addition to medical services, Ilanka also provides behavioral health support.
• Mission: Dedicated to exercising our sovereignty to enhance the well-being of our people, culture, and homelands.
• Vision: To cultivate a resilient and thriving community where our people are healthy and empowered, our culture is alive, and we honor our lands and waters. Through our relationships, education, healing, and leadership, we uphold our sovereignty and empower current and future generations to sustain our way of life.
• Core Values: Humility, Accountability, Integrity, Kinship, Respect
• Traditional Values: God, Loyalty, Humor, Cooperation, Teaching, Cultural Pride, Sharing, Discipline, Language, Respect

Essential Notices

• Most positions require or strongly prefer on-site work in Cordova to ensure the highest quality of services for our Tribal Members. Remote work may be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the role, and may require regular travel to Cordova.
• NVE is an e-Verify employer and encourages all qualified applicants to apply.
• In accordance with P.L. 93-638, preference in hiring practices are given to Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native American applicants.
• We are committed to equity, access, and inclusion in our hiring process. If you need assistance applying, please contact our HR team at [e-mail]

About This Role

• Work Location: 100% onsite in Cordova, AK. Remote/hybrid work not available for this position.
• Team: Food Sovereignty Department (FSD)
• Salary Grade: Grade 6 (starting at $25.23 per hour DOE)
• Reports To: Food Sovereignty Manager
• Schedule: Part Time Regular; 25 hours per week
• FLSA Status: Hourly & Eligible for Overtime Pay
• Last Revised: August 2026
• Essential Notice: In accordance with P.L. 93-638, preference in hiring practices are given to Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native American applicants. Hiring preference for NVE Tribal members is in effect for this position

This position supports the daily operations of NVE’s food assistance programs, including FDPIR and TEFAP. The position assists participants with accessing food assistance, maintains program inventory and records, receives and organizes food shipments, prepares food orders, and assists with monthly distributions and deliveries. This position serves as a primary point of contact for community members accessing the pantry and is expected to provide welcoming, respectful, confidential, and consistent service.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Participant Services

• Welcome and assist individuals and families accessing the Community Pantry.
• Assist participants with program applications, required documentation, appointments, and general program questions.
• Schedule food pickups and assist with coordinating home deliveries and proxy pickups.
• Assist participants in understanding available food programs and other NVE resources.
• Maintain confidentiality of participant and household information.
• Provide respectful and nonjudgmental customer service to all participants.

Food Distribution

• Prepare monthly food packages and participant orders.
• Assist with FDPIR, TEFAP, emergency food, and other Community Pantry distributions.
• Check participants in and accurately document food issuance.
• Load food into participant vehicles and assist with deliveries when needed.
• Prepare expedited or emergency food boxes as directed.
• Coordinate with other NVE and ICHC staff when participants need additional assistance.

Inventory & Warehouse

• Receive, inspect inventory, and organize incoming food shipments, utilizing FIFO (First in First Out) practices.
• Stock shelves, freezers, refrigerators, and warehouse areas.
• Monitor food expiration dates and storage temperatures.
• Identify and document damaged, missing, spoiled, or otherwise unusable food.
• Maintain separation of FDPIR, TEFAP, Traditional Foods, and other program inventory as required.
• Assist with month-end physical inventory counts.

Records & Administrative Support

• Enter participant, distribution, and inventory information into required program systems.
• Assist with preparing reports, tracking participation, and maintaining required documentation.
• Answer and respond to program phone calls, texts, emails and other participant inquiries in a timely manner.
• Assist with outreach regarding distribution dates, program eligibility, and available services.
• Maintain organized electronic and paper records in accordance with NVE and program requirements.

Facility & Program Support

• Keep all work and storage areas clean, organized, and sanitary, including shelves, carts and equipment.
• Assist with unloading pallets and moving food and supplies.
• Assist with classes and training provided by the FSD.
• Follow food safety, workplace safety, and federal program requirements.
• Support Traditional Foods Program activities and other Food Sovereignty Department operations when needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF ALL STAFF

• Works safely in accordance with OSHA regulations and company safety policies.
• Immediately reports unsafe conditions, hazards, or injuries to HR or the designated safety contact.
• Attends all mandatory special events, meetings, and trainings.
• Assists with special events, meetings, and trainings as necessary.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.
• Maintains awareness and sensitivity to various cultures.
• Embodies Tribal values throughout all work.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL SUPERVISORY DUTIES

None. This position has no supervisory duties.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of or willingness to learn traditional food harvesting, processing, and preservation practices.
• Ability to safely use knives, processing equipment, and other tools.
• Ability to follow food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work respectfully with Tribal Members, Elders, families, staff, and community partners.
• Beginner skills in MS365 Suite helpful.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Required: Food Handlers Certification OR ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Required: FDPIR Module Training Certificate OR ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Required: Civil Rights Training Certificate OR ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Preferred: High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Preferred: Experience with fishing, hunting, subsistence activities, seafood processing, food handling, warehouse work, or similar hands-on work.
• Preferred: Valid Alaska driver's license and insurable driving record.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Regularly lifts and carries 50 lbs.
• Typically lifts, moves, bends, and walks and uses continuous physical activity to complete work.
• Stand and work for extended periods.
• Ability to operate a computer, telephone, and standard office equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and through written correspondence.
• Ability to review and produce documents and data on a computer screen and in print.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Indoor, climate-controlled office environment
• Moderate noise level (conversation, office equipment, phones)
• Stand and work for extended periods.
• Work in refrigerated, freezer, warehouse, processing, outdoor, and waterfront environments.
• Work around raw fish, game, blood, water, knives, and food-processing equipment.
• Work outdoors in varying Alaska weather conditions.
• Occasionally work evenings, weekends, or extended hours during harvests, subsistence trips, processing activities, and distributions.

OTHER NOTICES APPLICABLE TO THIS ROLE

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, [phone]. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: [phone]; or (3) email: [e-mail]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Other Requirements

Required to submit to a background check and follow the NVE Tribe’s drug policies.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer

The Native Village of Eyak has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Native Village of Eyak reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Native Village of Eyak may deem appropriate. Your signature below signifies that you understand the duties, expectations, and contents of this job description.