Protein Sourcing Consultant

California Food Banks; United States; Remote; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

California Food Banks seeks a Protein Sourcing Consultant to develop and grow donor, broker, and shipper relationships across the state, ensuring year-round protein opportunities and supporting the Farm to Family Program.

The role requires strong communication, independent work, and knowledge of the local protein industry, with travel to various sites and regular collaboration with food banks and donors.

Qualifications

• Excellent people skills and ability to communicate in person, by phone, email, texting, and with diverse personalities.
• Ability to work with Farm to Family Program Director and staff remotely as needed.
• Independent work style with initiative, ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and flexible hours.
• Knowledge of local protein industry, marketing, and distribution infrastructure.
• Familiarity with local producers, industry leaders, and food bank management.
• Understanding of agriculture/protein trade organizations and ability to identify trends.
• Ability to network and cold-call donors across the state.
• Adherence to safety rules when conducting field visits and on location.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Develop, foster, and grow relationships with food donors, brokers, and shippers across the state.
• Act as liaison to move protein opportunities between donors, shippers, brokers, and California Food Banks, supporting year-round protein availability.
• Respond to complaints, provide feedback, and report annual statistics to the Farm to Family Program staff.

Skills

People skills

Remote/field communication

Independent work

Protein industry knowledge

Local producers familiarity

Agriculture/trade knowledge

Networking & cold calling

Safety compliance

MS Office

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Responsibilities

Protein Sourcing Consultant core functions revolve around developing, fostering, and growing relationships with food donors, brokers, and shippers. They are the “boots on the ground” and “experts in their fields” for the associations F2F Program, providing visibility across the state for excess and cost effective protein opportunities. Protein Sourcing Consultants work closely with the local food banks and act as advocates to increase their donations of protein and work with the F2F department to move any excess to CA Food Banks. This work is immensely important in fighting hunger and reducing food waste. Protein Sourcing Consultants act as liaisons, building bridges between donors, shippers, brokers, the agricultural industry, food banks, and California Food Banks™ to locate and secure protein year around.

Protein Sourcing Consultants regularly communicate with donors, shippers, brokers, the agricultural industry, and food banks in the state to build and maintain positive working relationships. Protein Sourcing Consultants network broadly across the agricultural industry to develop new sources of protein and new donors. A primary object of this role is to secure the volume of protein requested and keep the network advised of growing trends or issues that will impact the agricultural landscape.

Under the direction of the Farm to Family Program staff, Protein Sourcing Consultants respond to complaints and mediate issues as they arise. provide feedback, annual statistical data, and positive recognition to donors.

Qualifications

• Excellent people skills, ability to easily communicate in person, by phone, email, texting and ability to relate well to a wide variety of personalities
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with Farm to Family Program Director, staff and other Food Solicitors remotely on an as-needed basis
• Ability to work independently with strong personal drive and initiative, manage priorities, meet deadlines, solve problems, and accommodate flexible hours and schedules
• Knowledge of local protein industry, marketing, and distribution infrastructure
• Knowledge and familiarity with local producers and industry leaders, local food bank management
• Familiarity with the location of protein sources, operations headquarters, packers and other supporting infrastructure and food banks within assigned area
• Familiarity with agriculture/protein-related trade organizations, websites, social media sites. Ability to identify trends and project production cycles and levels
• Ability to network and possess confidence in making cold calls to develop new donors throughout the state
• Use of reasonable precautions in the performance of duty and to adhere to all safety rules and practices as dictated by association and donors when conducting field visits or on location
• Ability to work in the Microsoft Office suite: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

License & Equipment

• Valid driver’s license and dependable, insured transportation
• Dependable equipment to receive and send email, text messages, generate or review electronic reports, and electronically submit monthly invoices for services provided

Travel

• Must be willing to travel within assigned area.
• Infrequent overnight travel may be required