Retail Sourcing Specialist

Feeding America; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 56,250; Full time

Job summary

Houston Food Bank is seeking a Retail Sourcing Specialist to grow the Retail Rescue and Red Barrel Programs by building relationships with retail store staff and partner pantries in the 18‑county service area around Houston.

You will travel about 60% of the week to visits, educate staff on donation guidelines, analyze data and reports, monitor program compliance, and coordinate with logistics to optimize pickups and deliveries.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in a related field.
• Minimum 2 years in sales, retail, and communication.
• Bilingual English-Spanish strongly preferred.
• ServSafe Manager certification a plus.

Responsibilities

• Travel within the 18-county service area to build relationships with donors and pantries.
• Educate store staff on donation policies and guidelines.
• Analyze data trends to coordinate visits and improve efficiency.
• Monitor program compliance and coordinate with logistics.
• Prepare and maintain monthly reports.

Skills

Customer service

Organizational skills

Public speaking

Education

Associate’s degree

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

The Retail Sourcing Specialist contributes to the growth of the Retail Rescue and Red Barrel Programs through positive interaction with retail stores and partner pantries. This role is responsible for monitoring retail donor activity and partner agency activity by running reports, analyzing data and trends, and keeping management well informed of program activities. The Retail Sourcing Specialist is required to educate store staff on donation policies, procedures, and guidelines. This position is externally facing with the focus being on building and maintaining relationships with retail store staff and partner pantries. This position spends approximately 60% of the workweek visiting retail stores and partner pantries within Houston Food Bank’s (HFB) 18-county service area.

Adhere to PACT values. (Purpose: Using our strengths passionately to contribute to our mission. Accountability: Choosing to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrating ownership to achieve results. See It. Own It. Solve It. Do It. Courage: Standing up for what’s right and acting. Transparency: Doing things openly and honestly).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Spends 60% of the workweek traveling within the HFB 18-county service area building and maintaining relationships with retail donors and partner pantries who participate in the Retail Rescue and Red Barrel Programs, as well as conducting product inspections.
• Builds champions out of retail store staff to support ongoing food sourcing efforts and HFB mission/vision.
• Analyzes data and trends to coordinate store and partner pantry visits for maximum efficiency.
• Quickly solves operational issues that arise day-to-day, from software malfunctions to missing supplies to driver/store relationship challenges.
• Continually educates store personnel (meat, deli, dairy, bakery, produce managers, receivers, and store managers) on their donation guidelines.
• Works with Partner Services to identify new partner pantries to participate in the expansion of the Retail Rescue and Red Barrel Programs.
• Works with Logistics Department on routing and driver performance, including regular shadowing of retail drivers to audit store donation practices and pickups.
• Thoroughly understands HFB, its mission and policies, culture, values, history, key stakeholders, and programs, as well as retail program-specific guidelines and policies.
• Monitors retail stores to ensure program guidelines are being followed.
• Ensures compliance with HFB Retail Agreement with partner pantries and escalates any issues or findings to Retail Sourcing Manager.
• Monitors and manages Meal Connect to ensure proper and on-time reporting; trains Partner pantries as needed.
• Assists the Retail Industry Manager in applying corrective actions as needed for violations of the HFB Retail Agreement.
• Assists the Retail Industry Manager in creating and presenting annual trainings for partner pantries.
• Organizes and maintains monthly reports for donors and HFB metric reporting.
• Participates in events outside the workday schedule/respond to emergencies by working beyond the workday schedule. Ability to travel as necessary.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience:

• Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Communication, Retail Management, Hospitality, Supply Chain, or a closely related field preferred
• Minimum of 2 years of related work experience in sales, retail, and communication
• ServSafe Manager Certification a plus
• Bilingual English-Spanish strongly preferred

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

• Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and insurance.
• Must obtain ServSafe Manager certification within 6 months in the position.

Special Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse population, including the public.
• Strong customer service skills and willingness to assist others.
• Ability to accurately prepare and maintain files, reports, and records.
• Organizational skills in managing projects simultaneously while maintaining a satisfactory work product.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight.
• Ability to implement new systems and procedures and to evaluate their effectiveness.
• Ability to develop, interpret, and evaluate policies and procedures.
• Skill in public speaking and delivering presentations to individuals and groups.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Able to coordinate well with other departments and personnel.
• Attention to detail with strong organizational skills

COMPLIANCE:

Carries out responsibilities in accordance with HFB policies.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the jobholder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

COMPETENCIES:

Action-Oriented / Customer Focus / Drives for Results / Informing / Approachability / Learning on the Fly / Perseverance / Self-development / Listening / Peer Relationships / Integrity and Trust / Functional/Technical Skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required daily to analyze and interpret data, communicate, and remain in a standing or stationary position for a significant amount of the workday; and often access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. The employee must regularly move about the facility, use hands, wrists, and fingers to grip, type, and write. The employee must frequently lift 50 pounds. The employee will need to have the average ability to hear horns, warnings, and alerts associated with a warehouse.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While the job is generally performed in a pantry and office environment, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, strong food-related smells, and outside weather conditions. The employee will be exposed to loud/elevated noises throughout the workday.

TRAVEL REQUIRED:

Travel is required for this position (up to 60% of the time and on a domestic basis within our 18-county service area in personal vehicle).

*Is legally able to work in the United States.

Salary Description

Starting Pay: $45,000 - $56,250

Serving Houston and southeast Texas since 1982, Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. We provide access to 143 million nutritious meals in 18 counties through our 1,600 community partners of food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. Filling gaps on plates, we have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those in our communities, including services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability: nutrition education, health management and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston County and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for the 14th consecutive year.

Website houstonfoodbank.org; Social media: @houstonfoodbank (Instagram and X), @thehoustonfoodbank (Facebook)