Volunteer & Community Engagement Associate

GO-HR; Springfield (OH); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Second Harvest Food Bank is seeking a Volunteer & Community Engagement Associate in Springfield, Ohio. The role focuses on welcoming volunteers, leading projects, and building relationships to create meaningful impact in hunger relief efforts.

You will coordinate orientations, oversee volunteer activities, and support mobile and on-site food distributions. This position emphasizes teamwork, customer service, and a mission-driven approach to community service.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service skills and ability to communicate clearly with volunteers and the public.
• Ability to motivate and guide volunteers while maintaining a welcoming environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting.
• Experience working with diverse groups and community partners preferred.

Responsibilities

• Greet volunteers and groups and provide orientations.
• Lead volunteer orientations and explain work assignments.
• Coordinate volunteer activities and oversee special projects.
• Assist with volunteer recognition events and reporting.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Leadership

Teamwork

Event coordination

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Volunteer & Community Engagement Associate

Second Harvest Food Bank

Springfield, Ohio | Full-Time | Hourly Non-Exempt

Be the Reason Someone Has a Great Day

Every year, hundreds of volunteers choose to spend their time helping Second Harvest Food Bank fight hunger in our community. As a Volunteer & Community Engagement Associate, you will be the person who turns those volunteer hours into meaningful impact. You'll actively welcome volunteers, lead projects, build relationships, and help create an experience that keeps people coming back to support our mission.

If you enjoy working with people, thrive in a fast-paced environment, aren't afraid to roll up your sleeves, and want a career where your work makes a real difference, this opportunity may be exactly what you're looking for.

Why Join Second Harvest Food Bank?

At Second Harvest Food Bank, every box packed, every volunteer organized, and every distribution completed helps families, children, seniors, and neighbors facing food insecurity.

As a Community Engagement Associate, you'll be at the center of that impact. You'll work directly with volunteers, community groups, staff members, and neighbors while helping make sure our warehouse and distribution operations run smoothly and efficiently.

This is a great opportunity for someone who:

• Loves meeting and working with new people
• Enjoys leading groups and creating positive experiences
• Wants a mission-driven career
• Values teamwork and community service
• Enjoys a mix of people-focused and hands-on work

What You'll Do

Create Amazing Volunteer Experiences

You'll be the face of the volunteer program, ensuring every volunteer feels welcomed, informed, appreciated, and connected to the mission. Responsibilities include:

• Greeting volunteers and volunteer groups
• Leading volunteer orientations and explaining work assignments
• Answering questions and solving problems
• Coordinating & overseeing volunteer activities and special projects
• Assisting with volunteer recognition and appreciation events

Lead Meaningful Work

You'll help volunteers accomplish projects that directly support hunger relief efforts by:

• Leading packing and sorting activities
• Supporting food distributions
• Encouraging volunteers to meet productivity and accuracy goals
• Helping maintain food safety standards
• Assisting with warehouse organization and cleanliness

Support Community Impact

You'll contribute to the overall operation of the Food Bank through:

• Tracking inventory and reporting needs
• Helping compile volunteer metrics and reports
• Assisting with warehouse and program operations
• Supporting mobile and on-site food distributions
• Working collaboratively with staff across departments

Be a Leader

While this position does not supervise employees, it does provide leadership and direction to volunteers throughout their service experience.

What We're Looking For

We're searching for someone who combines excellent customer service with a passion for helping others.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Ability to obtain and keep ServSafe certification for food handling
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience working with customers, volunteers, community groups, or the public
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Comfortable leading groups and providing direction
• Ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment

Successful Candidates Are:

• Positive and energetic
• Organized and dependable
• Patient and coach-oriented
• Respectful and inclusive
• Adaptable and flexible (especially with hours based on needs of groups, distributions & events)
• Passionate about serving others and strengthening the community
• Take ownership and accountability
• Ask questions with a curious intent to help others and better our processes

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

This is an active, hands-on role that operates primarily in a warehouse environment. Team members should be comfortable:

• Standing and walking throughout the day
• Working in warehouse, cooler, and freezer environments
• Lifting up to 60 pounds
• Working occasional evenings and weekends during events, distributions, or volunteer activities
• Being part of a fast-paced operation focused on serving neighbors in need

What Makes This Role Special?

Many positions allow you to interact with people. Few allow you to inspire them.

Every volunteer who walks through our doors is choosing to give their time to help others. Your ability to welcome, encourage, organize, and support them has a direct impact on how many meals reach our community.

At the end of the day, you'll know your work helped turn compassion into action.

Compensation

Starting Pay: $18.00 per hour

Join Our Mission

Second Harvest Food Bank is more than a warehouse. We are a community of people committed to ensuring our neighbors have access to nutritious food and the dignity that comes with it.

Come help us feed hope, strengthen communities, and change lives.