Pantry Manager

Mid-North Food Pantry; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 21,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

Mid-North Food Pantry is seeking a part-time Pantry Manager to oversee daily operations, volunteer coordination, and inventory management to ensure consistent access to food for neighbors in Indianapolis. This hands-on role requires organizing space, coordinating deliveries, and maintaining a welcoming environment.

The Manager works with staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners under the Director of Operations to optimize distribution, reduce waste, and support seasonal projects and

Qualifications

• Highly organized and dependable with strong time-management.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and with volunteers.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for a diverse community.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day pantry operations five days per week.
• Coordinate volunteers and deliveries, ensuring safe, welcoming service.
• Manage inventory, ordering, and distribution with the Director of Operations.

Skills

Organizational skills

Dependability

Flexibility

Interpersonal communication

Volunteer management

Tech literacy

Driver's license

Tools

Pallet jacks

Job description

Company Description Mid-North Food Pantry strengthens the health of our community by providing supplemental food and supportive resources, removing barriers so neighbors can access what they need. Our work is grounded in the belief of neighbors serving neighbors and creating a community where everyone has access to the food and resources they need. Pantry hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon), offering consistent access to resources for individuals and families.

Role Description The Pantry Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Mid-North Food Pantry, helping ensure that food is received, organized, ordered, and distributed efficiently and that pantry operations run smoothly and safely.

This is a hands-on position that combines pantry operations, inventory and food management, volunteer coordination, and special projects. The Pantry Manager works closely with staff, volunteers, food donors, community partners, and pantry leadership to ensure our neighbors have consistent access to food and a welcoming pantry experience.

Key Responsibilities

Pantry Operations

• Oversee day-to-day pantry operations five days per week, including preparation for distribution days and receiving/organization on non-distribution days.
• Help ensure pantry spaces are clean, organized, safe, and ready for service.
• Organize and maintain food storage areas, refrigerators, freezers, shelving, and other pantry inventory.
• Sort, organize, and properly store incoming food deliveries and donations.
• Monitor food quality, expiration dates, and appropriate food rotation.
• Help identify and address operational needs as they arise.
• Monitor food and supply inventory and determine ordering needs.
• Place food and supply orders based on pantry needs, available inventory, budget, and anticipated service levels under the supervision of the Director of operations.
• Coordinate incoming deliveries and ensure food is received and stored appropriately.
• Coordinate volunteers responsible for donation and food rescue pickups.
• Occasionally pick up food or other donations from community partners as needed.
• Work to maximize available food resources while reducing waste.
• Work closely with volunteers during pantry operations, deliveries, stocking, food sorting, and other projects.
• Provide volunteers with clear direction and help ensure they have meaningful, productive assignments.
• Coordinate delivery and pickup volunteers and communicate schedules, needs, and changes.
• Help identify volunteer needs and communicate those needs to pantry leadership and post to our volunteer portal
• Support a welcoming, respectful environment for volunteers and shoppers.
• Oversee the pantry’s community garden and coordinate with garden volunteers and community partners.
• Ensure produce from the garden is incorporated into pantry distribution whenever possible.

Special Projects & Programs

• Coordinate and oversee special pantry projects as assigned, approximately once per month or as needed.
• Assist with seasonal distributions, food drives, community partnerships, special events, and other operational initiatives.
• Coordinate volunteers, supplies, logistics, and setup for special projects.
• Help implement improvements to pantry systems, storage, workflow, and distribution.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is highly organized, dependable, flexible, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on environment. They should enjoy working with people while also being comfortable independently managing operational tasks.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience in operations, food service, warehouse, nonprofit, retail, volunteer management, or a related environment.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and respond to changing needs.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with volunteers and people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Comfort using technology for communication, ordering, scheduling, and recordkeeping.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for occasional donation pickups.

This position requires regular physical activity associated with food pantry and warehouse operations. The employee must be able to:

• Frequently stand and walk for extended periods during a shift.
• Regularly lift, carry, and move boxes or bags weighing up to 45 pounds.
• Push or pull loaded manual pallet jacks weighing up to approximately 1,000 pounds.
• Walk up and down stairs multiple times during a shift.
• Bend, reach, stoop, and perform repetitive movements associated with stocking, organizing, and distributing food.
• Safely operate or be willing to be trained to operate equipment such as manual and electric pallet jacks.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Schedule

This is a part-time position averaging approximately 22–25 hours per week, with responsibilities spread across five days per week. The schedule will include pantry distribution days as well as time for receiving deliveries, organizing inventory, ordering food, coordinating volunteers, and completing operational projects. Approximate hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from about 8 am to 1 pm and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 am - 10/11 am.

Some flexibility may be required for occasional special projects, deliveries, donation pickups, or events.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Mid-North Food Pantry is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We encourage qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply.