Operation Food Search
About Operation Food Search:
Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve 200,000 people every month through a network of 330 partners in 25 counties in Missouri and Illinois. We use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.
Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.
Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.
Our Goals are to:
1) Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals and families by providing high-quality nutrition through our distribution network.
2) Empower long-term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.
3) Champion change through advocacy, innovative programs and by addressing systemic inequities.
For more information about OFS, please visit our website at www.operationfoodsearch.org.
Position Summary:
Operation Food Search is looking for a high-energy, experienced Volunteer and Food Drive Manager who thrives on connecting volunteers and donors to mission and impact. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Volunteer and Food Drive Manager is responsible for the overall management and execution of a dynamic volunteer and community food/fund drive programs.
Essential Functions:
Volunteer Program
- Lead all aspects of OFS’s volunteer program including recruitment, onboarding, tours, training, supervision, tracking, recognition, and evaluation
- Create a welcoming and inclusive environment that engages volunteers and donors from all backgrounds.
- Strengthen OFS distribution services and programs, and reduce operational costs by leveraging volunteer time and expertise
- Coordinate volunteer support across various areas of OFS, including warehouse, out-of-school meals, MetroMarket, special events, development, and general office work.
- Develop and maintain inclusive volunteer policies, procedures, and standards of volunteer service including maintaining United Way
- Volunteer Program Certification and identifying possible risk factors (i.e. alcohol policies, safety issues, etc.)
- Manage individual, group, and community-wide volunteer opportunities, recording them in the volunteer database, Galaxy, and distributing notifications as needed.
- Manage all volunteer data and how it’s utilized at OFS
- Create and manage a yearly budget for the Volunteer Program.
- Oversee usage of the Volunteer Center and maintain a calendar for all volunteer activity
- Plan and implement a year-round recruitment strategy for volunteers using Galaxy and other methods as needed
- Develop an ongoing strategy for attracting new corporations, organizations, and individual volunteers
- Identify and attend relevant community events to promote volunteer programs
- Manage volunteer stewardship and feedback processes
Food Drives
- Identify, cultivate, and coordinate requests for both food drives and virtual food drives
- Effectively communicate OFS mission and programs around food insecurity to potential food drive volunteers
- Create and manage Donor Perfect online virtual food drive links
- Plan and execute outreach to new potential audiences and potential friends
- Maintain donor interactions and plans through Donor Perfect
- Coordinate pickup and delivery logistics with OFS Operations team and donors, recording all OFS driver logistics in dispatch software
Special Projects
- Lead and manage various special events related to volunteers and food drives
- Manage Shop Out Hunger, a community-wide food drive, with local grocery stores
- Recruit volunteers and coordinate logistics for April Showers with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
- Oversee a Schnucks/OFS Thanksgiving meal distribution event at OFS
- Manage OFS’s participation in Scouting for Food
- Lead other special projects and events as needed
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred, with 3-5 years of experience, ideally in a non-profit or community-oriented setting.
- Experience supervising and managing volunteers.
- Fundraising experience is a plus.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- High-energy, proactive, and committed to fostering an inclusive environment.
- Effective communicator who values diversity and encourages a sense of belonging.
- Collaborative team member who can also work independently and take initiative when needed.
- Enthusiasm for engaging a community of supporters dedicated to ending hunger.
- Strong knowledge of volunteerism and best practices for volunteer management.
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, both internally and externally.
- Excellent organizational skills, detail-oriented, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Effective public speaking and facilitation skills.
- Ability to connect and collaborate with a wide variety of organizations, such as schools, businesses, government agencies, and faith-based groups.
- Capacity to balance desk work with physical activities, including operating a pallet jack, lifting and palletizing boxes, etc.
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency with MS Office (Word,
- PowerPoint, and Excel).
- Ability and willingness to learn new database systems, such as
- Donor Perfect and Galaxy.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to assess character and manage conflict effectively.
Special Requirements:
- Occasional travel required for meetings, events, and conferences
- Flexibility in working hours for occasional special events after-hours or weekend activities
- Willingness to volunteer for other OFS duties that don’t fall under regular job duties
Working Conditions and Physical Demands:
- Combination of office work and physically active duties, with limited exposure to weather conditions
- Ability to stand for extended periods of time, both indoors and outdoors
Benefits – FT Positions
- Medical, dental and vision coverage
- HRA and FSA
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Vacation and sick time, paid holidays
- Short and long-term disability income
- Company paid term life and AD&D insurance
- Voluntary employee paid term life and AD&D insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Wellness support
- Potential for student loan forgiveness, if qualified
Location: 1644 Lotsie Blvd., Overland, MO 63132
To Apply: Please submit resume AND cover letter at https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/2712315/Operation-Food-Search-Inc/Volunteer-and-Food-Drive-Manager
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.