Food Drives Coordinator

UW Food Pantry Food Drives Coordinator Position Description

Department/Program Description 

The Division of Student Life serves as a hub for a variety of programs, services, facilities and operations designed to enrich the Husky Experience. Since 2016, the Office of the Vice President for Student Life (OVPSL) has led Any Hungry Husky, a collaboration of campus services aimed at reducing the negative impact food insecurity can have on student success.  The UW Food Pantry provides students, staff, and faculty with access to shelf-stable, non-perishable goods, fresh produce, and community resources at no cost.    

At the University of Washington, diversity is integral to excellence. We value and honor diverse experiences and perspectives, strive to create welcoming and respectful learning environments, and promote access, opportunity and justice for all.  The UW Food Pantry serves a diverse shopper base.  Students selected for this position must be excited to work on and learn about concepts of diversity, social justice, power, privilege and oppression, including their relationship to these concepts in the context of food insecurity among college students.     

 Job Description 

The UW Food Pantry, a unit of Student Life, is seeking a student to serve as Food Drives Coordinator. This position will be primarily responsible for all aspects of the pantry’s food drives program, including working with on and off campus partners to initiate and execute food drives, tracking food donations, preparing reports and other information about the success of the program, and leading special projects as needed. As a staff member of the food pantry, this individual will also work regular food pantry shifts to help oversee volunteers, support visitors of the pantry, and manage daily operations. 

Pay rate: $22/hr  

Hours: Negotiable between 10-15 hours per week  

Supervision: Provided by the Assistant to the VP for Student Life; indirectly by the Student Director

Students with Work Study eligibility will receive priority consideration 

Responsibilities 

Update and maintain online information about hosting food drives for the pantry  

Respond to all inquiries and coordinate and schedule food drives on and off campus 

Deliver food drive supplies and pick up donated goods  

Track and maintain food donations whether via food drives or individual/organizational one-time donations  

Develop, train, and organize a volunteer group to support food drives on campus  

Work with pantry leadership to update and maintain all promotional materials and supplies that support food drives 

Work with pantry leadership to identify items needed at the pantry and communicate those needs to potential donors 

Actively outreach to and recruit potential food drive hosts to increase the total number of food drives held annually 

Provide leadership to the pantry by working shifts during operating hours 

Develop documents, plans, protocols, and resources to ensure a smooth transition of information 

Attend regular leadership meetings for the pantry 

Maintain regular communication with supervisor and important partners  

 Commitment to Student Learning and Growth 

The UW Food Pantry is committed to student learning as part of employment.  The student selected for this position should expect to discuss learning goals and reflect on meaningful learning with their supervisor on an ongoing basis.  Additionally, the Division of Student Life will review each student employee’s academic progress via GPA reviews.  The intent of these grade checks is to offer our student employees holistic support and connect students to resources and academic support services should the need arise.  These reviews will begin after you complete your first quarter of employment.  GPA reviews have no impact on your selection for the position or your standing as an employee.  

The following have been identified as potential areas of learning for the Food Drives Coordinator: 

Establishing and maintaining partnerships 

Event management 

Working through ambiguity 

Communication 

Strategic planning 

Critical thinking and creative problem solving 

Operations management  

Minimum Qualifications 

Currently enrolled student at the University of Washington  

Understanding of food insecurity and hunger relief services/system 

Understanding of the concepts of power, privilege, and oppression, and self-awareness of one’s own relationship to these concepts  

Able to work on a collaborative team 

Able and willing to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, and the occasional impromptu coverage for a colleague  

Desire to work and learn in a multicultural setting 

Experience leading projects, events, and/or teams 

Able to lift and carry 25 lbs in order to move food around campus and in the Pantry 

Students from all majors are welcome to apply 

Desired Qualifications  

Experience establishing and maintaining partnerships  

Donation drive experience 

Able to independently and proactively seek opportunities for program improvement  

Marketing and digital communications 

Customer service