Pantry Services Manager

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Inc.; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank is seeking a Pantry Services Manager to lead the Cedar Valley Food Pantry, guiding community engagement and data-driven development for a 16-county service area. You will focus on strengthening client services, coordinating staff, volunteers, and partners to improve program impact and equity.

The role emphasizes leadership, relationship-building, and compliance with federal and state guidelines, with opportunities to shape programs that combat hunger and promote

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 4 years of management experience, plus 3+ years of experience in customer service or store/warehouse management
• Proven experience balancing excellent customer service, team supervision, and inventory management in a fast-paced operational setting
• Culturally competent with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups and individuals
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to think strategically and understand simple data to inform program improvements
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Ability to perform basic mathematical functions
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with staff and volunteers
• Ability to multitask and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work nights and weekends, as needed
• Must pass a criminal background check
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, current vehicle insurance, and ability to use a personal vehicle for NEIFB business
• Ability to obtain ServSafe Manager Food Safety Certification
• Ability to obtain forklift and electric pallet jack certifications

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of the Cedar Valley Food Pantry, ensuring a welcoming and efficient client experience
• Supervise and support the Pantry Services Coordinator’s, Pantry Operations & Safety Lead, and other direct reports; provide coaching and feedback
• Adhere to policies and procedures per standards, regulations, and local, state, and federal rules
• Monitor pantry data, client feedback, and community trends to support program evaluation and improvements
• Collaborate with internal teams and community partners on program development, reporting, training, outreach, and initiatives
• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations and coalitions to strengthen service coordination
• Support planning, implementation, and evaluation of pantry programs and client feedback initiatives
• Ensure compliance with policies while supporting volunteer engagement and serving as liaison to leadership
• Greet, train, and supervise volunteers; communicate regularly to ensure engagement and proper placement
• Perform other duties to fulfill mission and emergency response obligations

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Community outreach

Data literacy

Microsoft Office

Education

Associate degree

4 years management experience

Bachelor’s preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The ideal Pantry Services Manager for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank (NEIFB) understands and is passionate about the organization’s mission to provide nutritious food and grocery products to those in need throughout our 16-county service area. This individual will play a key leadership role within the Programs Department by overseeing the strategic direction, community engagement, and data-driven development of the Cedar Valley Food Pantry (CVFP).

This position focuses on strengthening the pantry’s connection to the community and ensuring services remain responsive to client needs and aligned with the Food Bank’s mission. The Pantry Services Manager supports program improvement through community partnerships, participation in local coalitions and advisory groups, basic assessment pantry data, and ongoing evaluation of client needs.

The Pantry Services Manager oversees day-to-day staff operations while supporting program development, community outreach, and service coordination. This role requires strong leadership, organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills to effectively engage staff, volunteers, clients, and community partners.

Cultural competency is essential, as the position works closely with diverse populations and organizations throughout Black Hawk County and the Northeast Iowa Food Bank service area. A passion for social justice and compassion for others are key attributes of a Northeast Iowa Food Bank team member.

About TheJob

The responsibilities of the Pantry Services Manager include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide strategic oversight of the Cedar Valley Food Pantry (CVFP), ensuring a welcoming and efficient environment that supports a positive client experience.
• Supervise and support the Pantry Services Coordinator’s, Pantry Operations & Safety Lead, and any other direct reports. Provide coaching, guidance, and performance feedback to ensure effective daily operations and continued program improvement.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures set forth by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in accordance with AIB, USDA, and Feeding America standards, in addition to local, state, and federal regulations.
• Monitor and review pantry data, client feedback, and community trends to identify service needs, support program evaluation, prepare simple reports, and contribute to improvements in pantry programs and services.
• Collaborate with internal teams and community partners on program development, grant reporting, training, outreach efforts, and organizational initiatives that advance the Food Bank's mission and community impact.
• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, service providers, and coalitions, representing the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in community meetings and networking opportunities to strengthen service coordination and identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of pantry programs and client feedback initiatives, including pilot programs, surveys, and other tools used to assess program effectiveness and client needs.
• Ensure compliance with Food Bank policies and applicable local, state, and federal regulations, while supporting volunteer engagement and serving as a key liaison between pantry operations, leadership, and community partners.
• Greet, train, and supervise volunteers and share the mission of the NEIFB occasionally; provide general guidance of projects; assure proper volunteer training to include specific jobs and safety concerns.Communicate frequently with volunteers to ensure they are satisfied and appropriately placed.
• Perform any other duties as needed to fulfill our mission, drive our vision, and abide by our values.
• In instances of a federal, state or locally declared emergency, NEIFB is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties.

Requirements

Required:

• Associate degree or 4 years of management experience, plus 3+ years of experience in customer service or store/warehouse management
• Proven experience balancing excellent customer service, team supervision, and inventory management in a fast-paced operational setting.
• Culturally competent with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups and individuals
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to think strategically and understand simple data to inform program improvements
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Ability to perform basic mathematical functions
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with staff and volunteers
• Ability to multitask and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work nights and weekends, as needed
• Must pass a criminal background check
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, current vehicle insurance, and ability to use a personal vehicle for NEIFB business
• Ability to obtain ServSafe Manager Food Safety Certification
• Ability to obtain forklift and electric pallet jack certifications

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Social Services, Psychology, or related field
• Experience with non-profit organizations
• Creative, innovative, and big-picture thinker
• Community involvement and knowledge of those communities in our 16-county service area

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position operates in both a typical office environment as well as in the warehouse and requires use of a computer and other office equipment, such as phones, calculators, computer printers and copy machines and the ability to operate manual and automatic pallet jacks, cardboard bailer, and cleaning equipment. This position also requires occasional nights and weekends and requires the ability to access transportation to travel to local events.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The position operates primarily in the office intake area, pantry and warehouse setting within the Food Bank. The person in this position must be able to move pallets of food using pallet jacks, stay on their feet, including walking and standing for the duration of the shift and work in the cooler and freezer. The employee will be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry objects up to fifty pounds. Occasionally, it may be required to respond to organizational needs outside of normal working hours.

NEIFB Core Values

• Attitude of Helpfulness
• Confidently Humble Clear Communication
• Empathetic to the Community
• SolutionCentered
• Striving for Excellence

NEIFBCore Focus

Our Purpose:

Collaborate + Educate + Advocate = Feed the Food Insecure

Every Meal.EveryDay. Everyone.

Northeast Iowa Food Bank hereby affirms it is an equal opportunity employer, offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender expression or identity, pregnancy, leave status, genetic information or age and provides Equal Employment Opportunity to handicapped individuals, disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era. Further, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider.