SODO Community Market Assistant

POSITION SUMMARY:

The SODO Community Market Assistant (SCMA) engages with Northwest Harvest’s (NWH) goal of cutting hunger rates in half by 2028 by: actively collaborating with and supporting the experiences of volunteers and shoppers; engaging with local communities; supporting dignified access to food resources utilizing a customer service approach; focusing on collaboration and teamwork; helping to ensure strategy alignment of all our programs and initiatives; and putting into practice our Six Agreements and our PACI values.

As a member of the Innovative Programs Team, the SCMA will support programs and initiatives that are aligned with our strategies and contribute to a healthy, engaged, productive, and influential team committed to collaboration and innovation across our programs. The SCMA is responsible for contributing to the overall health of the SCM Team and Innovative Programs Teams by working to build trust, engaging in constructive conflict, demonstrating commitment to team decisions, holding oneself and others accountable, and focusing on results. This role will receive most of the support and guidance from the SODO Community Market Manager (SCMM).  

Schedule: This position may work into the early evenings on Mondays and may be required to work other occasional off-shift hours as necessary for special events or other duties assigned.

Travel: This position may be required to travel within the state of Washington.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Market Shopper and Volunteer Responsibilities 

• Promote empathy, dignity, and respect in all interactions with shoppers, volunteers, staff, and visitors
• Provide customer service to our market shoppers, volunteers, donors, vendors, and visitors, by assisting with access to NWH services, this includes but is not limited to; facilitating an environment that celebrates food, creativity, nutrition, dignity, holistic care, and fun
• Assist shoppers in identifying and connecting with appropriate community resources in the area, including organizations using the Northwest Harvest Community Resource Room
• Support implementation of shopper feedback through surveys, conversation, and other engagement opportunities
• Ensure a safe and friendly Market environment, and maintain an orderly and timely flow through the Market space during in store shopping and drive through distribution days
• Model appropriate crisis prevention and de-escalation skills when interacting with shoppers experiencing hunger, crisis, or hardship and participate in follow-up debriefing and documentation
• Foster community building and relationship building with shoppers and community members
• Collaborate with the SCMM and Team to provide support, direction, and appreciation to volunteers as they distribute, re-package and sort food, or other assigned tasks
• Assist with leading volunteer orientations, team huddles, and information sharing
• Set up and break down the work areas throughout the day to set volunteers up for success and maintain a clean and safe work environment

Community Market and Operational Responsibilities 

• Merchandise and re-stock the Market with available product to maintain a clean, engaging, and well-stocked grocery store setting
• Work with the SCMM and Team to ensure proper maintenance and cleaning of facility and equipment
• Assist with food receipts and distribution, ensuring proper temperature control, sanitary conditions, FIFO rotation, documentation, and appropriate handling
• Ensure all inventory protocols are tracked and observed (weights, receipts, inventory counts, data entry, etc.) 
• Assist with loading and unloading delivery vehicles from Northwest Harvest’s Distribution Center, as well as the vehicles of vendors and individual donors
• Operate Northwest Harvest forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and other warehouse equipment in accordance with OSHA standards 
• Adhere to OSHA and WISHA safety requirements to ensure a safe working environment 

General Responsibilities 

• Create and maintain a positive culture of hospitality, generosity, empathy, and graciousness, and model these Northwest Harvest values when interacting with other Northwest Harvest staff, volunteers, shoppers, donors, and visitors
• Attend team, department, and all-staff meetings, and serve on Northwest Harvest ad hoc committees/ cross functional teams, as necessary Participate in equity, strategy, and visioning initiatives
• Maintain a valid Washington State food worker card

Performs other duties as assigned by the SODO Community Market Manager. 

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to lift and/or move up to 5 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds consistently with an assisted lift or in a team lift environment and repeatedly, with or without reasonable accommodation when needed.  The employee is regularly required to stand for long periods of time; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; balance; bend and reach with hands and arms; use feet to operate foot pedal operation; and talk or hear. Occasionally required to climb ladders, sit, stoop, kneel, squat, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee is regularly required to work in an outdoor environment in both the heat of summer and the cold of winter.

Equity and Inclusion

Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency and an understanding of oppression and its impact

Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency

RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal:  This position encourages relationship building and frequent contact with staff of the SODO Community Market, Auburn Warehouse, Innovative Programs Team,, and All Staff. Communicate daily to ask questions, receive, and provide information.

External: This position will uphold Northwest Harvest’s commitment to ending hunger by acting as an Ambassador to the NWH brand by communicating effectively and frequently with Market shoppers, volunteers, vendors, donors, visitors, community members, and other NWH stakeholders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A combination of the real-life experience, education, and training listed below which provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position.

Successful completion of a Background check is required. 

Knowledge of:

• General knowledge of non-profit organizations and issues related to food, hunger, housing, poverty issues and hunger relief systems. This includes but is not limited to cultural and institutional racism and their impact on society
• General knowledge and insight into the root causes of hunger
• General knowledge of and appreciation for the experiences of people living in poverty and with food insecurity
• General knowledge of food inventory operations: accurate product receipt and safe storage, FIFO/FEFO rotation, merchandizing, and zoning
• General knowledge of safety requirements: food handling practices, equipment usage, and site-specific needs
• General knowledge or the willingness to learn new systems such as Microsoft Office applications; particularly Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook, and Teams, and ability to work efficiently and effectively with other organizational platforms such as ADP, Asana, Mural, Zoom, SharePoint, and Microsoft Dynamics NAV Systems

Ability to:

• Understand individuals who experience poverty or food insecurity and demonstrate empathy towards all shoppers visiting the Market.
• Commit to Northwest Harvest’s PACI Values: Purpose-Driven, Anti-Racist, Connected, Interwoven
• Commit to Northwest Harvest’s Six Agreements: speak truths responsibly, listen to understand, stay engaged, experience discomfort and do things differently, expect and accept non-closure, and honor confidentiality
• Integrate equity principles and practices into all functions
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, including the ability to listen effectively and to explain complex issues with multiple audiences.
• Demonstrate interest and commitment to equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ populations, people living with disabilities or chronic illnesses (including substance use), people experiencing homelessness, and people who do not speak English as their primary language
• Provide compassionate, trauma-informed customer service in demanding or potentially difficult situations
• Quickly organize, prioritize, and lead multiple tasks
• Build a high aptitude for developing trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Possess a high attention to detail to ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency, while anticipating and solving for potential problems
• Respond quickly to inquiries and issues; customer service skills are essential
• Take initiative and think critically by identifying, analyzing, and solving problems
• Ability to successfully handle independent work and team collaboration in a changing environment with multiple deadlines and priorities. 
• Be nimble and curious by asking questions to understand the merits of different approaches, and shift approach in response to demands of a situation
• Have and exercise a sense of humor

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

High School Diploma, GED Certification and/or equal combination of education and relevant work experience with a personal orientation as a life-long learner.

EXPERIENCE:   

Minimum (1) year experience in customer service, social services, human services, or similar work in a non-profit setting.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Non-profit experience is desired but not required
• The ability to speak, additional language(s) is desired but not required

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

Certification in (or ability to obtain):

• WA State food worker card certification is desired or can be completed within 14 days after date of hire.   A food worker card can be obtained by visiting https://www.foodworkercard.wa.gov/. Cost of food worker card will be reimbursed by Northwest Harvest
• Forklift/electric pallet jack certification is desired or can be completed within 30 days after date of hire
• De-escalation and conflict resolution training to be completed within 30 days after date of hire

DISCLAIMER:

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification.  It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an adaptive organization, responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and mission metrics.

BENEFITS AND OTHER COMPENSATION:
 Northwest Harvest offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package this includes but is not limited to; medical/dental/ vision/ insurance, long term disability insurance, Life/AD&D insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 401(k) retirement plan, Vacation and Sick leave, 8 paid holidays; New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, Floating holidays for you to use should you observe a holiday not outlined in Northwest Harvests current observed holidays or at your discretion, and birthday holiday.   Employees are eligible to participate in payroll deducted supplemental benefits i.e., Flexible Spending account-HRA and DCE, various AFLAC and New York Life plans.