Food Pantry Coordinator

Goodman Center; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Employee assistance program

Free gym access

Job summary

Goodman Community Center is seeking a part-time Food Pantry Coordinator to support the Fritz Food Pantry. The role collaborates with the Food Pantry Manager and 70+ volunteers to maintain a welcoming space and smooth operations three days a week, with additional hours for Monday and Friday prep.

The position requires weekend evening coverage on Wednesdays (3:00 PM–8:30 PM) and flexible daytime hours, along with a focus on safety, confidentiality, and strong customer service.

Qualifications

• Experience coordinating volunteers.
• Strong customer service and program planning.
• Ability to manage inventory and donations.
• Comfort with food safety practices.
• Ability to work with volunteers and staff as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe, welcoming environment in the Food Pantry.
• Ensure staffing by at least one Coordinator during open hours.
• Enforce pantry policies and promote proper procedures.
• Maintain food safety handling and confidentiality of customers.
• Supervise, support and train volunteers; give constructive feedback.
• Coordinate with retailers for donation pickups and schedules.
• Weigh and record Retail Rescue donations and track inventory.

Skills

Volunteer coordination

Customer management

Inventory management

Food safety handling

Team collaboration

Job description

Description

• Position Type: Regular, part-time (20 hours per week), Benefits Eligible
• Salary: $20 / hour
• Schedule:
  • Wednesday: 3:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Required for Wednesday evening pantry management)
  • Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday: 5 hours/day between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM (Flexible within this timeframe)

Position Description

The Food Pantry Coordinators (2) work in close collaboration with the Food Pantry Manager to ensure operational excellence at the Fritz Food Pantry at Goodman Community Center. This includes directing and working alongside the 70+ pantry volunteers. The pantry is open for customers to shop three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday), while staff and volunteers work additional hours on Monday and Friday to support pantry operations.

The roles of the Pantry Coordinators encompass three main areas of effort:

• Volunteer Coordination & Customer Management: Managing volunteers and customers during open pantry hours. This requires strong customer service skills alongside experience with programmatic organization and planning.
• Inventory & Sorting: Sorting, stocking, and performing physical labor to shelve and store donations and purchased food distributed in the pantry. (We receive 10,000+ pounds of food every week that must be sorted and stored).
• Retail Rescue Program: Supporting the "Retail Rescue" program, where Goodman's Food Pantry picks up donated food from various retail locations 4 days a week. This important work provides nearly 5,000 pounds of food each week and requires a fair amount of physical labor.

In total, the pantry coordinators work both collaboratively and independently to cover these tasks.

Position Specifics & Schedule Details

Goodman is currently hiring for one 20-hour-per-week position.

• Wednesday Evening Responsibility: This particular role holds responsibility for the management of our Wednesday evening pantry. Applicants must be available from 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM on Wednesday evenings.
• Remaining Hours: The remaining hours offer some flexibility, generally falling within Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (with availability up to 5 hours a day on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays).
• Collaboration: This role will share responsibilities with the other pantry coordinator. The Food Pantry Manager works with both coordinators to assign specific roles and tasks based on interest, ability, and the ongoing needs of the pantry.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Food Pantry Manager to provide a safe and welcoming environment within the Food Pantry.
• Working under the direction of the Food Pantry Manager, support the requirement that the space be staffed by at least one Food Pantry Coordinator whenever customers or volunteers are present.
• Working under the direction of the Food Pantry Manager and with volunteers, ensure customers understand and follow pantry policies and procedures.
• Ensure proper food safety handling.
• Supervise, support, train, and provide feedback to volunteers.
• Maintain customer confidentiality.
• Work closely with retail locations to maintain a pickup schedule for donations.
• Pickup Retail Rescue donations based on schedule, loading and unloading Goodman's van.
• Weigh and record all Retail Rescue donations.
• Keep informed of inventory to help volunteers determine what items are available for restocking.
• Maintain timely communication with the Food Pantry Manager on any issues or concerns.

Special Position Requirements

• Valid driver's license and willingness to drive a cargo van.
• Ability to stand and lift up to 50 pounds regularly throughout a shift.

Desired Experience & Qualifications

• Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Experience working and/or managing volunteers.
• Ability to adapt gracefully in a work environment with frequently shifting needs.
• Basic computer skills.
• Experience maintaining confidentiality of customers.
• Ability to stay calm during stressful situations.
• Experience engaging humbly with people who have identities different from your own.

Preferences & Strong Candidates

• Multi-lingual in English and/or Spanish, Hmong, Wolof, or another language.
• Experience working with vulnerable or marginalized populations.
• Training in or understanding of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) or Trauma-Informed Care.

Benefits

• Goodman Community Center offers generous health and dental plans as well as vision, life insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, and an employee assistance program
• Free access to on-site Lussier Fitness Center
• Employee discount on room rental
• Generous PTO & Paid Holidays

About Goodman Community Center

Goodman Community Center is a vibrant neighborhood hub on Madison's east side. Each year, we welcome thousands of community members through our youth programs, early childhood education, food programs, fitness and recreation activities, community events, and more. Our custodial team plays an essential role in making all of this possible. From classrooms and gathering spaces to special events, their work helps create a welcoming environment where our community can learn, connect, and thrive.

Goodman Community Center (GCC) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. We strictly prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.