Procurement Coordinator, Food Programs

Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Major medical

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Pre-tax commuter benefits

403(b) with employer contribution

Generous vacation, sick leave and paid

holidays

Job summary

Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty is seeking a Procurement Coordinator to assist in sourcing and distributing kosher and halal food for the Food Program. You will coordinate ordering, purchasing, scheduling and logistics, track inventory, and liaise with the Fiscal Department to monitor budgets and procurement documentation.

You will maintain regular communication with suppliers and network agencies, coordinate with warehouse staff, and support efficient operations while handling multiple

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher; degree preferred or equivalent work experience accepted.
• 1–3 years in procurement, logistics, warehouse ops, or admin support.
• Proficiency with Excel in Microsoft Office.
• Experience with Salesforce or other CRM/ERP systems.
• Kashruth and/or halal dietary knowledge preferred; willing to learn.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate ordering and purchasing of food from online and phone donors.
• Identify vendors, negotiate prices, and procure kosher and halal products.
• Communicate status of orders, scheduling pickups and deliveries with team and suppliers.
• Develop vendor relationships to secure donations and procurement.
• Coordinate inbound/outbound logistics with vendors and warehouse staff.
• Work with Fiscal Department to secure approvals and track payments.
• Support inventory tracking using Salesforce-based system.
• Maintain data in online inventory system and ensure consistent usage.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Project management

Independent worker

Policy compliance

Team player

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Equivalent work experience accepted

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel)

Salesforce

Job description

Met Council is America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and by treating each client with compassion, integrity, and respect. Our programs are staffed by experts who help over 325,000 clients each year and advocate on behalf of all needy New Yorkers. Our services include 100% affordable housing at 21 locations, family violence services, Holocaust survivor assistance, geriatric social work, crisis intervention and the largest free kosher food distribution program in the world. Our network of 101 food pantries, affordable housing sites, and affiliated JCCs provide services directly in neighborhoods across New York City.

Position Summary:

The Procurement Coordinator supports the procurement and distribution of kosher and halal food for Met Council’s Food Program. This role is responsible for coordinating ordering, purchasing, scheduling & logistics, inventory tracking, and interfacing with the Fiscal Department, as needed, to track budget & grant spending and procurement documentation. The Coordinator maintains regular communication with suppliers and network agencies and liaises with the Procurement Manager, Warehouse Director, and other members of the Food Program team to help ensure smooth and efficient warehouse operations.

• Support the ordering and purchasing of food through online and phone orders from donated food sources, e.g. City Harvest, whole food vendors, and donors.
• In coordination with the warehouse team, assist with identifying vendors, negotiating prices, and procuring food from vendors supplying kosher & halal products.
• Maintain regular communication with the Food Program team, suppliers, and network agencies regarding the status of orders and purchases as well as scheduling pick-ups and deliveries.
• Support relationships with vendors and others to secure donations of kosher & halal food products.
• Coordinate the logistics of inbound deliveries and outbound distributions with vendors, warehouse staff, and network agencies.
• Coordinate vendor direct deliveries to network agencies, special project deliveries, and/or emerging models of food provision.
• Work interdepartmentally with the Fiscal Department to secure approval for purchases, submit appropriate paperwork, track payments, and progress against available funding sources.
• Support inventory tracking using a Salesforce-based inventory management system to track food both in and out of the warehouse.
• Maintain data in the online inventory management system and support consistent system usage across food programs operations.
• Additional responsibilities as required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Exceptionally strong problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills, with the ability to juggle multiple, sometimes competing, tasks
• Project management skills, including follow-up across departments and job titles
• Comfortable learning and using new systems and databases as well as using technology to run reports and conduct analyses
• Collaborative team player
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to follow organizational policies, procedures, and compliance requirements
• Consistently demonstrates professionalism, accountability, and dependability in the workplace.

Skills and Education:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree (preferred), equivalent work experience (accepted)
• Minimum of 1-3 years of experience in procurement, logistics, warehouse operations, or administrative support (preferred).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Experience working with Salesforce or other CRM or ERP data systems
• Working knowledge of Kashruth and/or halal dietary laws (preferred); or willingness to learn (required)

Special Requirements:

• Occasional travel among Met Council office locations and network agencies is required around the five boroughs, typically using public transport.
• Comfort working in a shared warehouse office environment.

Physical Demands:

• Required Constantly: Walking, sitting, grasping, bending, stooping, squatting, computer input, finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination
• Required Frequently: Standing and climbing stairs; carrying laptop & files (approx. 8-10 lbs)
• Required Occasionally: Reaching above the shoulder, and lifting, pushing and pulling 5-25 pounds

Compensation:

$55,000 to $60,000 per year.

Benefits:

Major medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; pre-tax commuter benefits; FSA; 403(b) with employer contribution; plus generous vacation, sick leave, and holidays.